Evening star., 1936-03-29
SICK LEAVE LAW
RETR0ACTWEFOR
G.P.O. EMPLOYEES
Entitled to Benefits as of
Last January |, Nc.
Carl Rules.
CLEARS UP OTHER
POINTS IN MEASURE
Civil Service Commission Names
Three Committees to Draft
Regulations.
BY J. A. FOX.

BY J. A. FOX.
Handing down the first decision COW
ering the new leave laws, Controller
General McCarl yesterday held that
employees of the Government Printing
ONCE were entitled to sick leave re-
troactive to last January /, and at
the same time, passed on some other
questions that have general applica-
ton.
Concurrently, the Civil Service Com
mission announced the appointment
of three committees to draft annual
and sick leave regulations designed for
uniformity. These regulations even
tually must be passed upon by the
Budget Bureau and the President, and
it is also intended to have McCarl
rule upon any doubtful points.
The Government Printing Office gets
sick leave, under the new legislation,
for the first time in its history. The
question as to the date of its applica-
bility arose because the appropriation
for the current fiscal year-antedating
passage Of the leave egislation-nat-
urally made no provision for sick
leave.
1t was feared that the leave might
not become effective until July l,
when the 1887 appropriation applies,
but McCarl held charges against the
current appropriation would be al
lowable as the effective date Of the
leave act was January l.
Paid for Time Lost.
In conformity with this finding, he
decided also that employees of the
G. P. O., who were sick, and on leave
without pay, between January l and
March IA, when the legislation was
enacted. could be reimbursed for time
lost at the rate of one and one-quarter
days a month, or that if they had
taken annual leave, when sick. this
! absence now could be switched over
against sick leave. He explained that
the one and one-quarter days allow
ance is the statutory limit for sick
/ leave, except in those instances where
administrative officers may grant it in
advance of its being earned. In this
connection, he said that the authori-
cation for advancing sick leave in
excess of accruals is not retroactive.
Explaining the difference between
sick and annual leave provisions, Nc
| Carl said:
The act does not base the granting
Of sick leave on the entire leave year
as does the act authorizing "26 days
annual leave with pay each calendar
year." but sick leave is granted with
out regard to the leave year at the
rate of one and one-quarter days per
month the total accumulation
not to exceed 80 days"
For General Application.
This principle is for general applica-
ton, as. presumably, is another the
controller general laid down in re-
sponse to a question as to whether
employees on an hourly or per diem
basis are to be charged for Sundays,
holidays and non-working days fall
ing within the period of absence. or
whether the charge would be only for
the days on which they otherwise
would have worked.
| annual
leave law provides the time granted
shall be exclusive of Sundays and
holidays, McCarl adds: THE act here
IN question, providing for sick leave.
Is silent as to Sundays, holidays and
non-work days.
The uniform rule has been, in con-
STRUNG leave statutes, that, unless the
statute otherwise provides, Sundays,
holidays and non-work days are in
cluded in the leave period, except
that when Immediately preceding or
following a period of sick leave, Sun
days, holidays and non-work days are
for excluding from sick leave, If the
employe was in pay status immedi-
ately prior to or Immediately follow
ing such Sunday, holiday or non-
working day. This rule is the same
whether employees are paid by the
hour, day or otherwise.
The Leave Committees named by
the Civil Service Commission yester-
day were in conformity with a deci-
sion reached at a meeting with the
Council of Personnel Administration
on Thursday, when leave questions
were discussed.
Committees Are Listed.
The Committee on Sick Leave Is
headed by Frank A. Birgfeld, chief
clerk of the Treasury, and includes
also c. D. Jones, National Training
School for Boys; Charles Piozet, Navy;
r. w. Rigby, Farm Credit; w. w.
Richardson, General Accounting;
George Scott, Social Security, and
G. H. Sweet, Veterans Administration.
l. p. L. Gladmon, chief of the Division
of Appointments, Agriculture, heads
the Committee on Sick Leave. Other
members are Edward j. Gardner,
Commerce; James L. Martin. Public
Utilities Commission of the District;
Mrs. Julia A. Maulding, Interior; Sid
ney Morgan, Tariff; Henry w. Riley,
Federal Deposit Insurance Corp, and
John B. Switzer, Interstate Com
merce.
On hours of duty and overtime. the
committee is headed by Maj. Daniel
j. Donovan auditor for the District
who is aided by Gordon r. Clapp
Tennessee Valley Authority: Harvey
c. Donaldson, Justice; Russell H. Her
rell, G. P. O.; w. D. Searle. War; Mrs
IB. M. Stern, Labor Relations, and r
r. Zimmerman. Home Loan.
This latter committee will report &c
the Civil Service Commission on pro.
cedure for listing overtime monthly
between July and December Of this
year, for compiling data for Con-
gress. This will be used in consider
ing the question Of compensatinl
workers for overtime.