Sick Day Reimbursement

[bangs111]

My question involves employment and labor law for the state of: New Jersey

I am a teacher who was subject to a reduction in force last year after working in the same school district for 20 years. The contract under which I was working provided for sick leave compensation upon retirement. The contract states: "Payment for unused sick leave shall be made the the Board of Education to emloyees who have been employed by the B.O.E. for a minimum of 15 years and have filed with their respective retirement systems."

I am working for another school district but will be retiring in one year. Do I have a legal right to sick leave compensation from my former district? I will be filing with the same retirement system. They refused to pay me after I was let go since I was not retiring. The amount consists of several thousand dollars.

Thank you.

[eerelations]

What did your union say when you asked it this question?

[cbg]

If you are asking whether the law requires that unused sick leave be paid out, no, it does not.

We cannot read your full contract from here, and therefore cannot know if there is other language elsewhere within it that modifies the single paragraph you have shared with us.

If this is a union contract, then I agree with eerelations - ask your union. If it is not, then ask a lawyer who can read the full contract.

[bangs111]

The union representative spoke to the school board attorney. The attorney said that I would get anything I was entitled to when I retired. However, he would not put anything in writing. I guess I will just have to notify the board of education of my retirement and see if they agree to pay me.