Corporette.com

Updated: Jan 4, 2022 109 Comments · by

Happy New Year! Some Sales…

Sales

This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Fun fact – I thought yesterday was Dec. 30th until about 6 pm. Big plans here, obviously! Happy New Year to everyone (whether it's 2020-2 or 2022)… may we all have the year we want. (And if you're like me, may you finally attempt and finish the stuff you repeatedly put on your yearly goals list.)

Sales of note for 9.30.24

About Kat

Kat Griffin is the founder, publisher, and editor-in-chief of Corporette. You can read more about her here.

Comments

  1. Anon

    Happy new year all. May your year be as fun as Andy Cohen’s and Anderson Cooper’s New Year’s Eve!

    • Notagirl

      Happy new year to all the hive! I hope that for all of us it is much better, calmer, healthier and happier than the last one. May our health be better and those combatting illnesses overcome them; may our kids be calmer, our families kinder, our colleagues more reasonable, our bosses saner and for anything that isn’t quite so – may the hive always be there to help us through it.

  2. Nora

    I have a gift card for Ann Taylor and I’m not sure how best to use it. I bought some tops from there a while ago but even though they were what I would think was my size, they were boxy and not flattering. I don’t live near an Ann Taylor so I can’t really go in person.
    I’m 5’4″, 150 lbs, have bit of a tummy, like to emphasize my waist and generally like the high-waisted-pants-and-shorter-top silhouette. The too-boxy tops were a size S, maybe I should try petite even though I usually don’t think of myself as at all petite.

    • Anon

      Try accessories: gloves, scarves, sleepwear, scarves. This is the problem with gift cards, but you should still be able to get something usable. Just think of it as a gift (which might not be exactly what you would buy if you were spending your own money) rather than cash.

    • anne-on

      I find ann taylor has good quality shoes – I’d use it on those. If you don’t see any you like, I swear by the Ann Taylor camisoles (the stretch cami) for a smothing/warm layer under sweaters. With your measurements I’d say a medium for a snugger fit or a large if you want it to skim more would work well.

    • Anonymous

      You might like one of their stretch jersey tops. Those are slim fitting and can be tucked.

  3. Holiday?!

    I just learned my company (financial services) marked today as a holiday. I found this out after calling a meeting with my analysts at 9a. Who is the jerk ? …raises hand… We’re not known for gratuitous holidays and the markets are open. So confused, but ok!

    • pugsnbourbon

      Whoops! The first year I handled payroll for my department (years ago) I didn’t know that new year’s day was a federal holiday and folks who worked got time and a half. There was some scrambling …

      • Anonymous

        Seriously. I work for a company where nothing is scheduled before 10 due to folks being on other time zones and it is heaven. Nothing worse than feeling like you’ve got new fires before the week even starts.

        • Ellen

          I wish I worked there. My boss starts work early even tho he comes in from Long Island, and he expects me to be there and to have coffee and prune and cheese danishes on the conference room table each Monday, with Bagels and coffee on Friday, all by 9:15 AM. So that means I have to get up and walk in and must leave by 7:30 so that I have enough time to stop at GCT to get the danish and bagels, and then I have to have the coffee ready to go in our Keuregs with half and half in the fridge. But the Firm Pays for it and I get to bring home all the danish and bagels that are not eaten, unless the tech guy shows up. FOOEY on him.

      • OP

        9-12 Monday is pretty sacred pipeline/team meeting time slot. It’s been like that for the 15 years I’ve been in this world and among different companies, too. I don’t mind it and actually kind of enjoy it as it’s a way to force focus at the start of the week.

    • Bonnie Kate

      It never occurred to me that today was a holiday…I suppose it makes sense since the 1st was on a Saturday. Is that why there’s no new post today?

      • Anon

        When the holiday is on Saturday, most places give it to you on Friday. Having today off would be pretty unusual unless you work somewhere with an extended holiday shutdown.

        • Anonymous

          Except for those of with big year end closings. 12/31 is a very busy day for a lot of us — year-end and quarter-end. Today is a day we could rest because the work is now behind us.

        • Anon

          For unknown reasons my company made this and not 12/31 the holiday. We do not have a shutdown over the holidays.

        • anonymous

          My company gave us off the 31st. We also had the 27th off so a lot of people were out of the office last week.

        • Anon

          Because Friday was in 2021 and the holiday fell in 2022, my company gave us a floating holiday instead of Friday off. Something about accounting for leave time.

        • meara

          Yeah, I only found out a couple days before Christmas (and being out until the new year after that) that today was a holiday for my company. Very unexpected! But happy to take it…though since I was out I’m thinking I’ll log in a bit later today so I’m ready for everything tomorrow!

      • Nora

        I’m confused about today. I get why it would be a day off with the holiday on a Saturday, but I’m back at work right now. My office closed completely between Christmas and New Years so maybe that is why.

    • anon

      So strange, I would have assumed that Friday was the observed holiday or that a floating holiday would be granted. I was so confused why there wasn’t a post here today!

    • pugsnbourbon

      I’m grateful that 2021 me cleaned off my desk before I left. Even though I don’t remember how to do my job, at least my desk was nice and tidy.

    • Anon

      Same. And it’s snowing so much here in DC which is unusual and I love snow days! So I can’t really be expected to work, right???

    • Anon

      I’m just… slogging through this morning. I knew it would be rough so I started by hitting off all the quick things I could on my to-do list.

      And now… I honestly might have to go get a fancy coffee as a reward for making it through.

    • Anom

      A. Can’t focus. B. Have no IMMEDIATE deadlines. And C. Just got the new Outlander book from the library and have only 20 more days to finish it. Guess what I’m doing instead of billing time…?

  5. I hate change

    I need a pep talk about leaving a job that I don’t hate for a better opportunity. I really like (and will miss) a number of my coworkers, and I don’t dislike going to work on a daily basis. That said, I have known for a long time that I probably should leave for a variety of reasons that appear unlikely to change. I haven’t done it, mostly because I hate change, my work “conditions” are good, and I would miss some of my coworkers. But now I have a really great opportunity that is a little less money initially (would be leaving a large-ish law firm so the money difference is expected) but more in line with something I can see myself doing long term. Why does this feel hard?

    • Anonymous

      It feels hard because it IS hard. Leaving is not a slam dunk for you professionally (you like lots about your job) or personally (you dislike change and disruption). There’s no reason to expect this kind of move NOT to feel hard, or to expect that it shouldn’t affect you. You’re conflicted. That’s OK.

    • Anon

      How old are you? If you are 30, the calculus is completely different than if you are approaching retirement. If you are early to mid-career, you know that you need to make this move for big picture life goals. This is a great time to make a change, when lots about the world is grim, but you can feel like you are taking positive action to position yourself for more career satisfaction. You can keep in touch with those work colleagues you value in your new position.

    • Anon

      are you me? I have a dear friend who keeps trying to recruit me for an amazing role at a company he just moved to in the past 6 months or so. It is exactly what I would want in a new role, but I have a lot of respect for most of my coworkers. I’m comfortable where I am, have a lot of leeway, and change is hard. I haven’t decided to do it yet, but I’m definitely warming up to it. Issues that have been bothering me about my current role have been exacerbated during the holidays (last minute nonsense, minimal respect for people’s pto, among other things)
      I’m 30 fwiw and I do know it’s the right next step in my career. Change is hard.

    • Anon

      Are you by any chance going to a smaller law firm? I’m sort of in the same boat. I’m in biglaw and I love my co-workers and the work is interesting enough but I hate the long hours, weekend work, the pressure, the internal politics, managing teams, etc. So I’ve been looking at smaller law firms or just completely leaving law for good. I’m ok with less money but then when I see the money figures I’m like yikes should I really give up a pretty cushy job? But then I’m like could I get something cushier since to me cushy means good opportunities, good pay and good hours. But then I’m also like it’s sooo much work even though the convos I’m having with people has been nice, everyone I talk to is great, etc. I like change but sometimes it’s so much effort to change. All this is to say, I go back and forth a lot on it too so I totally get it. However, I will say that every time I’ve made a change, it’s been for the better and I was so happy I made the change and wondered why I didn’t do it sooner. So that’s what I’ve been telling myself now to make sure I keep pushing myself to leave. So if you have this great opportunity, do it! It’ll be hard to say goodbye, but they’ll understand because they’ll want what’s best for you (if they are good people who care about you and if they’re pissed you’re leaving for a better opportunity, well, now you know they only cared about themselves).

      • OP

        Yes! This exactly. Much smaller firm, different type of practice. I know deep down it is the right move for me and I also really don’t love my current job – there’s a lot I’m ambivalent about and some I hate. It also just isn’t working long term for a variety of reasons. But it isn’t terrible on a day to day basis and I know it could be worse.

    • Anon

      Also would need to know what career and life stage you’re in before answering this question. I am later career and “good enough” is just fine for me right now. After going through a series of jobs and employers, I have concluded that most organizations are dysfunctional in some way, there are good aspects and bad aspects of every job, and as long as I am making some kind of incremental forward progress on things, I will choose to be happy in my job and not keep looking for greener pastures. However, if I were in my early 30s that would absolutely not be the case, and especially if you feel like you’re stagnating – make a change before you stagnate too long and your skills get stale and it gets hard to move. I also think the current hot employment market isn’t going to last much longer, and so if people are thinking about moving, they should get out while the getting is good. If you feel like the opportunity you’re being offered is good and you have enough indicators that the org culture is supportive, remember that you can always make new friends in the new job, while also doing work that is professionally satisfying and will advance you.

    • Anon

      I did this in September. Loved my manager and my peers, but everyone above our department was awful. Archaic policies, s3xist behavior, zero chance for advancement unless my boss met an untimely end (not kidding–she was a year younger than me and was vocal about staying there until retirement).

      My new job is permanently remote, in a new industry that will allow me to get a foot in the door of tech, and I’m earning 60% more. Everyone is kind and professional from the top down.

      Even better, my former boss and I have started an actual friendship. We always got along like wildfire, but she is extremely formal about her professionalism and preferred to keep a clear line.

    • FP

      Oh my goodness I am in the EXACT same situation. Like down to giving notice tomorrow, the initial pay cut, and leaving a large-ish law firm. I’m so excited about my new job but feel super guilty. I’ll cross my fingers for you if you cross your fingers for me! We’ll do this together!!

      • OP

        I’m glad I’m not the only one! It’s a good thing but it feels really hard too!

    • Senior Attorney

      It feels hard because change, even good and necessary change, is hard.

      That said, I agree that whether you “should” change depends a lot on what stage of your career you are in.

      • OP

        Thank you! – I’m in my mid/late 30s and while I’ve been successful and it’s not early in my career, I really don’t want to do this forever. There are som long term issues combined with some more recent ones (and admittedly some covid factors – we never shut down, required in person, masks not required even in elevators and common areas, etc.) Not sure if the covid parts should factor in but they’ve definitely affected how I feel about things for some reason. I’m having trouble explaining what is really just a strong gut feeling that I’ve had for years.

    • Anon

      I just did this (today I’d the first day of the new job). Leaving was so hard – the environment / leadership was toxic and the absurdly high expectations, low pay, and lack of work life balance were laughable but I did enjoy what I did and I had awesome coworkers/friends.

      I even cried on my last day. All that said, I’m so glad I left. I hope this new job is a good fit, but if not, at least I got out of my old job – bittersweet as it was.

    • Anonymous

      I have seen them advertised but they seem incredibly expensive for what they are. I also prefer squeeze bottles so I don’t have to dip my fingers into the product.

      • Waffles

        I almost bought them but when I saw the cost of shipping/duty/taxes to Canada, I could not justify it. They are so expensive for what you get.
        Personally I like using contact lens cases (acquired before lasik) for small serums and creams.

  7. Anonymous

    What is the highly recommended spill proof mug folks like here? Maybe starts with an X?

    • Anonymous

      How spill-proof is it really? My family hasn’t tested it and I refuse to believe it. We can break anything and should operate as a underwriters laboratory for claims like this.

      • anonymous

        I keep my zojirushi in my purse sideways with the lock on the cap engaged. Never had a spill! Also keeps hot drinks very hot and cold drinks very cold for a long time.

    • Anon

      The one I like is Contigo. I am pretty clumsy and have often carried unstructured bags. I can imagine something pushing against the release button and causing a spill when smashing my tote up against something (e.g. on public transit), but it’s never actually happened to me.

    • Anon

      I love a yeti rambler with a hot shot cap. I throw it in my tote bag on its side and it’s never leaked. I also love that the kid is easy to drink from – you keep the lid on and twist it to drink from it. And it’s all machine washable!

      • Anan

        This is what i have and it was the “dish washer safe “ that sold it for me.

  8. Weasley sweaters always on point!

    I have many feelings during the Harry Potter anniversary special but one particularly lingering effect is an obsession with Bonnie Wright’s sweater! It was navy, I think? Short sleeved, but with a very subtle puff and bobble knit on the sleeve. Any idea where it might be from?

  9. Lina

    Now that it is interview season, I need advice. I get very nervous and tend to have verbal vomit to fill any space or when I sense I’m not giving the right answer. I am also sort of awkward, socially, and that gets worse under moderate stress like this. I would be a good worker but I cannot get out of my own way long enough to get the job.

    • PolyD

      One trick I’ve used to control the verbal vomit is to finish what I’m saying and then in my head, I go, Don’t talk don’t talk don’t talk… I guess silence is more comfortable when I have voices in my head. Sometimes I’ll also hold my hands in my lap and slightly press my fingernails into my palms (discreetly). I guess having another stimulus going helps me deal with lack of another, i.e., silence.

    • Anonymous

      You are probably already doing this, but rehearse very succinct answers to common questions and workplace examples and really focus on an end statement. Sometimes having a summarizing statement in your head–like recasting the question–can help a bit with that feeling like “how do I stop talking.” I also try to practice some body language in a mirror. If I nod after my final sentence it’s become my internal (and external) cue for “I’m done,” which helps keep things moving.

  10. Jigsaw puzzles

    I’ve been doing more jigsaw puzzles again, and was wondering: fellow puzzlers, how is your puzzle setup? Do you you use any special equipment like mats, sorting boxes or similar? Any recommendations or tricks to share?

    I’ve just used my dining table so far, but don’t really have enough space in a small city apartment to keep puzzles out at all times. My best investment so far has been a daylight OttLite bulb for better lighting at night.

    • Nina

      I was in the same position, and I got a puzzle board from Amazon. It’s the same size as a normal tea tray but the pieces stick to it, and it can easily be stored under the couch etc

    • Senior Attorney

      Yes to mats and sorting boxes! One good thing about sorting boxes is you can stack them up when you’re not actually using the pieces.

    • Anon

      I do a lot of puzzles and used a small table for the longest time. However, once I had a baby I needed more space so I invested in the Bits and Pieces Fold and Go Wooden Jigsaw Table. I don’t regret the purchase, but if I had to do it again, I’d go with something different. The table itself is beautiful and worth the money. It folds and fits under my couch, but I basically just leave it out all the time because it’s hard for me to fold and unfold by myself, which defeats the purpose of why I bought it. My husband can easily fold and unfold it, so maybe it’s just me. That company–Bits and Pieces–sells a lot of different puzzle storage tables so you might want to check them out.

    • Jigsaw OP

      Thank you! What kind of color mat/board do you have (or wish you had)? I’ve seen a lot of different ones, from green and cobalt to black and more muted greys and whites.

  11. Seeking Input

    Happy New Year! I’m a non-union school district administrator. If I need to use a sick day for a COVID-related reason (or really any reason, but COVID sick days tend to last longer), I am required to:
    1. Stay home.
    2. Use my very limited sick days .
    3. Still get my job responsibilities done from home .
    4. If my children are home too, create a plan that allows me to be available during the work day but also working at night to make up for any time I missed due to caring for kids.

    Is this reasonable? Is this even legal? I brought my concerns with this policy up with my superintendent, and she basically told me to suck it up because school admins don’t have work-life balance (although we need to try to find work-life balance when we can!). She added that if I’m truly sick, I need to get better, but that’s not the case if caring for a child with COVID, and, since I’m boosted, I’m unlikely to get sick from COVID.

    • anon

      Can’t address the legal aspect, but it’s at the very least unreasonable for an employer to require you to both use your sick days and work from home. If you’re not using sick days, it’s reasonable for your employer to ask you to get your job responsibilities done from home and to create a plan for childcare. That may require making up time at night, but I certainly wouldn’t put in more hours of actual work than I would if I were working on site.

      • Seeking Input

        OP here. I’m happy to work from home, even if sick. Superintendent said that unless I’m physically present at work, I have to use a sick day. But, I still have to get all work done. I’m an office of one with no backup, and I’m expected to meet every deadline as I would on a regular day.

    • anon

      This is not reasonable. If you’re on sick leave, you should not be trying to complete your job responsibilities. In an ideal world, of course, but I’m well aware of how this plays out in real life, and I’m sorry. :(

    • Anonymous

      Probably not. But also no one is coming to save you on this. If you have to take a sick day, do it. And then don’t be available, don’t work.

    • Z

      If you’re required to work while staying home, that should not count as using a sick day whether or not you are the one who is sick.

      • Anon

        +100

        If I have to handle something urgent while on sick leave, I do the urgent task (and only that task), and don’t charge sick leave for that time (so if it took me 2 hours, I’d put 6 hours sick leave, 2 hours regular work on my time card).

        And obviously save this for only actual urgent tasks, not “urgent” ones.

    • Anon

      Is this common? Probably, yea. Is this reasonable? No. My two cents: If I am required to use a sick day from my bank, then I am not doing work during that time. I get paid to work. Using my leave so that I can work is effectively paying to work. 2022 is my year of boundaries with my work, and I’m done with paying to work. (I’m in government.) Easier said than done, of course.

      Can you work from home such that you don’t have to use sick days? Can you use partial sick days? For example, my kid’s daycare has been intermittently closing for covid. I’m trying to take only partial sick days and work the other half of the day from home.

      • Seeking Input

        OP here. I’m happy to work from home, even if sick. Superintendent said that unless I’m physically present at work, I have to use a sick day. But, I still have to get all work done. I’m an office of one with no backup, and I’m expected to meet every deadline as I would on a regular day.

    • Anonymous

      Totally unreasonable. Do not record sick time for hours spent working.

      As far as her argument that you won’t get sick…Omicron causes many breakthrough infections. Over 1/3 of covid cases in my state are in fully vaxxed people (not sure if they’re boosted or if that is separately tracked).

      • Seeking Input

        OP here. I meant that people who are boosted are less likely to have symptoms if positive. My boss is OK with staff resting if they’re “truly sick,” but if they’re “just home for COVID” and feeling well, they are considered well enough to work. Again, I am absolutely happy to work-from-home, even if sick, but it just feels wrong to be required to use a sick day when doing so. Ugh.

    • Coach Laura

      It’s not reasonable and may be illegal, depending on your status and your state.

      First, are you exempt or non-exempt? If you are salaried (as opposed to hourly) and your work just sits there until you get back to do it and you aren’t eligible for any overtime, ever, then you are likely exempt. Exempt employees usually get paid the whole day if they do any work. This is balanced by working “extra” to complete needed tasks outside of normal work hours and not getting overtime for it.

      So if you’re salaried and you do any work on a certain day, you should be paid for that day. If I work, for example, one hour in the office and then go home sick, I’m normally paid for the whole day. This is standard across many industries. [Some, however, like US Government jobs, require people to take an hour off for doctor’s appointments, for example, but often give “comp” time later. So it does vary.]

      I would argue that if you are working most of the day when home, and they require you to use sick pay for the whole day, they are “double dipping” and abusing their employees by dinging them for sick pay but also requiring work. Your sup is ignoring the spirit if not the letter of the law. This is the stupid stuff that makes employees want to form unions. Many times, union employees get much better working conditions than non-union just for this reason.

      For your specific circumstances, you might need to do some state-specific research, review the HR policies handbook for the district and perhaps consult an employment attorney. Check – if you have an HR portal – to see if there is a classification of exempt/non-exempt in your HR file. You could also talk to others in your district to see if there might be safety in numbers and all voice the same concerns. But an attorney can help navigate this and any retaliation that might occur after you raise the issue.

      • Seeking Input

        I’m exempt. If I’m salaried, go into the office, work two hours, and then go home, I would get paid for the whole day, but I would have to use a 3/4 sick day.
        Thank you for this guidance. Our HR also opposes any work-from-home, and I’ve already reviewed policies and could not find anything that would be helpful to my cause. I’m an office of one, and our work culture values workaholism of its leaders; I’m trying to quietly get some support from other colleagues.

      • Coach Laura

        This is you, I expect: Administrative exemption
        Employees must meet the following criteria to have administrative exemption status:
        Perform office or non-manual work directly related to the business operations or management of the organization and its customers
        Exercise independent judgment and discretion over important business decisions without reporting to another person
        Professional exemption
        Employees must meet the following requirements to have a professional exemption status:
        Perform job duties that require specialized education and exercising discretion and judgment
        Have a college degree or higher educational qualifications in their particular field
        Hold a creative professional exemption that applies to employees who work in a creative or artistic field, and use their originality, talent, imagination and inventiveness to perform job dutieshttps://www.indeed.com/hire/c/info/exempt-vs-non-exempt-employee

        This article talks about sick time: Quote “Salaried employees – those considered exempt – can take off a partial day for sick time and not have their pay docked, but when they take off a full day, their employer is entitled to deduct the equivalent of a full day’s pay from their paychecks.” https://bizfluent.com/info-8670937-salary-employee-pay-sick-day.html

        You might want to review the Fair Labor Standards Act – this is a bit more negative regarding hours. But you still wouldn’t get docked for hours you worked on sick days and you should get credit for extra hours you work on other days. Quote: An exempt employee has virtually “no rights at all” under the FLSA overtime rules. About all an exempt employee is entitled to under the FLSA is to receive the full amount of the base salary in any work period during which s/he performs any work (less any permissible deductions). Nothing in the FLSA prohibits an employer from requiring exempt employees to “punch a clock,” or work a particular schedule, or “make up” time lost due to absences. Nor does the FLSA limit the amount of work time an employer may require or expect from any employee, on any
        schedule. (“Mandatory overtime” is not restricted by the FLSA.)

        Keep in mind that this discussion is limited to rights under the FLSA. Exempt employees may have rights under other laws or by way of employment policies or contracts.
        https://www.flsa.com/coverage.html

        • Seeking Input

          OP here. Thanks, Coach Laura. My employer wouldn’t dock any pay unless I ran out of sick time. (And if I have to “serve” a couple of COVID quarantines due to kids or myself, I would run out of sick time.) When I recently discussed work-from-home and sick time with my superintendent, she did mention that exempt employees are required to work whenever needed, including evenings, weekends, uncontracted time and, yes, sick days. I don’t mind working on evenings, weekends and my uncontracted time (which is the school equivalent of “vacation time”), but using sick time while working a regular day is hard for me to support.

          • May

            Yeah, their interpretation of that clause isn’t how those clauses actually work. Would you and your coworkers consider unionizing? An organizer could help you work through this to a fair outcome.

      • Bewitched

        I agree with Coach Laura but it’s not clear to me whether you are sick in the scenario or your kid is sick? The end of your question mentioned caring for a child sick with COVID. For my employer, if my child was sick, then that is not a sick day for me (employer policies can vary). That’s either a vacation day or a work from home day . So, it may not be unreasonable for your employer to expect you to work from home if you, yourself are not sick.

        • Seeking Input

          OP here: Sorry for any confusion! I was including two hypotheticals.

          For example:
          * If I was home due to confirmed or suspected (test pending) COVID, I would still be required to use sick days AND work full days from home.
          * If my kids had COVID or if my kids (all three are too young to get vaccinated )had to quarantine because they were a close contact or if daycare closes because of a positive case, my husband and I would need to take turns staying at home with them. (Daycare was just closed the past two weeks, but luckily that was my winter break and I was home.) We don’t have backup childcare, and I would have to use sick days and still work full days from home + nights to make up for any time missed during the day.
          * As a school district admin, I have zero vacation days, but I can use my sick time to take care of my dependents. Instead of vacation time, I have specific chunks of time (two weeks for winter break; one week for spring break; two weeks in June and two weeks in July) that are uncontracted time. This is time that I’m not paid to work and not expected to work in the office. I am expected to get some work done during this time, and I typically work about 25% of the time from home, but I’m otherwise off.

          Hope that helps clarify!

          • Woof

            This is so unfair, and would make me angry and resentful of my hard work and then the exploitation that comes from taking a sick day (forced) while also working. Time to look for a new job?

      • Anon

        “Some, however, like US Government jobs, require people to take an hour off for doctor’s appointments, for example, but often give “comp” time later. So it does vary.” Huh?? I don’t think it’s common to get comp time for doctors appointments, at least not in my government workplace. It is totally legal for an employer to require a salaried employee to use PTO for time they didn’t work during the week. You’re right that it’s double dipping if they also make you work. That is bs and OP should push back.

        • Coach Laura

          Sorry, I was unclear- trying to rush. What I meant is that, based on friend at one US agency has to take paid sick time to go to a two hour dental appointment but if they end up working long on a trial, they get comp time off later. This is only secondhand knowledge (and I realized agencies may differ) – IANAL. Whereas I’ve never had to take sick time to go to a 2 hour (or even a 4-6 hour) medical appointment in my 30 years in corporate America.

          • Seeking Input

            OP here. Interesting about comp time. Last month, I used a quarter sick day to go to the doctor. I worked until 10pm that day because I was a hosting an evening school district event. I worked 11 hours that day, and still had to use sick time.

    • pugsnbourbon

      Are there others in your office/district that aren’t union? Can you push back as a group?
      Agree with others that it’s cruddy to force you to burn a sick day to WFH.

    • Anon

      I don’t know the legal issues but I agree it seems unfair to say you have to work AND use sick leave. It should be one or the other.

      An additional point that no one else made: healthy, boosted people can get pretty damn sick with Covid. My triple-vaxxed SIL and BIL have it now, they’re in their 30s and perfectly healthy, and they were out of commission for a week with fevers, terrible fatigue and body aches, vomiting etc. You’re unlikely to need to be hospitalized (although it does happen!) but I would not count on being able to work through Covid.

    • CB

      Late to this but I think you have leverage here. If you are one person doing mission critical business and push back, what are they going to do, fire you? Then they’d really be screwed. What would happen if you were in the hospital, had a severely ill kid or parent, suffered a bereavement? Would they still expect you to work?

  12. Seeking Input

    OP here, with an update, in case anyone is still reading. :)
    The hypothetical is the reality now. My littlest one got exposed and needs to quarantine 14 days, per daycare policy. If she tests positive, my 2 and 4 year olds will also need to quarantine. HR told me to “take a many sick days as you need” but “remember, you’re a leader, so you still need to work full days and get everything done from home!”
    This is an incredibly busy week for me ; there’s no way I can use sick days and “fake” working from home. My husband is an incredible help and has an understanding company; even so, I don’t expect him to shoulder the entire responsibility of childcare for the next two+ weeks. He is with my kiddo now. Ugh.

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