Question for the Peanut Gallery

[kybearfuzz]

As part of our benefits, we have the option to donate our vacation time to someone who is sick or has a loved one in the hospital. This person has to be on an approved list for donation and they have to have no leave of their own, vacation or sick.

One of my co-workers in the lab recently had her husband go into the hospital due to a complication with his diabetes. I donated a few days of leave to her so she could spend time with her hubby while he recovers. Her hubby is a nice guy and a big cuddly teddy bear sort. However, I had wondered why she had no leave of her own as she had been in the agency longer than I have and people generally have a storehouse of sick leave built up. One of my co-workers told me that she often comes in late or leaves early, because she doesn't feel like being there, and that she often will take off an entire sick day because she had a headache.

Now I'm a little irked. Although, what happened to her husband is awful and I'm glad I donated leave to her to help him, I'm feeling a bit used in that she's sqandered all of her leave for trivial things and "illnesses" and is now using mine. Should I feel bad about this or angry?

Comments

[jprtoronto.livejournal.com]

I don't think you should feel bad nor feel used. From what you told me it was your decision to give her the time and, from what I read, she didn't ask you to give her time.

I think you did a nice selfless thing :)

As for saving and not squandering Vacation Time for emergencies. To me, emergencies should be outside the boundary of vacation time. Vacation time is just that, time away from work to relax and recharge my batteries. I shouldn't have to use my Vacation time to visit my husband in the hospital or to make plans for operations and such. That's not a vacation. Those things should automatically be given or should be part of sick days that you get.

Although that's if I lived in a perfect world :)