It is the policy of the State of New York to provide full-time and part-time eligible employees sick leave as a financial protection against illness, injury or temporary disability. Employees will accrue sick leave as noted in the various bargaining agreements or according to state policy. Sick leave accruals may be used for the following purposes:

1. Illness or injury of the employee including but not limited to surgery, hospitalization, pregnancy, illness and other related conditions that disable an employee.
2. Illness or injury of an employee's family member including a parent or any person with whom the employee makes his or her home up to the specified number of days per year (see individual bargaining Agreements).
3. Medical/dental appointments of the employee or employee's spouse, child, parent where the employee's presence is considered necessary.

When an employee retires, the number of accrued sick days is converted to a dollar figure. That money is then used by the New York State Department of Civil Service to help pay for the costs of health insurance after retirement for the employee and his/her spouse. Employees should make every effort to build the maximum sick leave accrual bank to insure that these costs will be paid in retirement and not taken directly from the pension check.

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