looking for assistance

Submitted by Serious_Service5137 t3_119y0xn in Connecticut

Have a friend who is a Hartford public school teacher who broke their foot. She's out of work for a few weeks while it heals. Come to find out that they don't get short term disability. Tried to apply for CT paid leave program but no dice. Doesn't seem like the Hartford public school HR or the teachers union is helping much with this situation.

Anyone have any recommendations on getting financial assistance for this teacher for about a month?

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Kolzig33189 t1_j9oolm2 wrote

Why wouldn’t they qualify for the CT leave program? Instances like this is exactly what it’s for.

Also, does a typical teachers benefits generally include STD or is that something they opt in or out of everywhere like a lot of private sector jobs?

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Serious_Service5137 OP t1_j9oq0ra wrote

Schools are exempt from the program.

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nikedude t1_j9oux7n wrote

I would push their union harder. There is almost certainly a short term disability option offered by them. Also, not to be an asshole, but why can't they work with a broken foot?

https://ctpaidleave.org/s/article/Can-you-provide-clarity-on-which-schools-are-exempt-from-the-paid-leave-program?language=en_US

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Serious_Service5137 OP t1_j9pvaf9 wrote

I agree on the union. It seems the union is pretty weak for it's members until they retire.

I believe once the teacher is in a walking boot, they can return to work

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DeskFan203 t1_j9tiiq5 wrote

If the union offers a STD policy like aflac, you have to pay into it BEFORE you need it. Also, it doesn't help if you need to take leave to be a caregiver (the state paid leave does).

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coolducklingcool t1_j9qgokv wrote

It may be dependent on accumulated sick leave. That’s the case in my district. But we roll over unused sick days so it’s not hard to build up a few weeks worth - provided you aren’t a first year teacher, and then you’re out of luck.

If they don’t have any sick leave, some districts allow a ‘sick bank’ where teachers can donate a couple of their sick days. 🤷🏻‍♀️ That is a specific question for the union rep.

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coolducklingcool t1_j9qarwb wrote

We don’t pay into the program.

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Kolzig33189 t1_j9tf4ow wrote

I’m genuinely curious why teachers were exempted…was that a union decision or something that came from the legislature when the program was being put together?

If I were to think of an occupation that would most benefit from the program, teachers probably would be in top 3.

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coolducklingcool t1_j9u1f49 wrote

I don’t know the full answer to that. I know that we do not pay into it. I did read somewhere that any union job doesn’t have to pay in if alternative programs are offered - I.e. A lot of people use it for maternity leave and individual districts already have provisions for maternity leave. I looked into it and the six weeks full pay that I get from my district (assuming I then take six unpaid) is ultimately going to get me more money than twelve weeks of partial pay. I don’t know how it applies to the injury though.

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kimwim43 t1_j9qqerj wrote

My husband is a Hartford school teacher. They don't pay into a short term disability program, so they aren't entitled to disability pay. If she wants to contact Carol Gale, the union president, she can, but it won't go anywhere.If your friend wanted to, she could buy short term disability ins. on her own from any insurance company on her own, long term disability, life insurance, it's like any other ins. policy. But it's not covered in their union contract.

edit: It's another reason AFLAC is purchased by people.

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Serious_Service5137 OP t1_j9rfw1c wrote

Thanks for the confirmation. I have worked at small business and they had STD insurance. Can't believe that the teachers union is so weak

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DeskFan203 t1_j9tisko wrote

It's not necessarily weakness. When the law was passed, there may have been things that people didn't like, and didn't want to absorb the law into their contract. Or, they were mid contract when the law was passed and had to wait until new contract to incorporate the law. (This last one is the case for my employer and was why I couldn't file this summer)). I do have an aflac policy but as I wasn't the sick person, I was a caregiver, I couldn't use it)

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One-Awareness-5818 t1_j9pycv0 wrote

Unpaid leave, food bank, call all your bill and ask for delay. Union might have something where coworker can trade in 2 days for teacher to take one day off. I would try to push hard for the school to "accommodate" teacher

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coolducklingcool t1_j9qb19v wrote

Every district is different, but in my district I would be able to be paid as long as my sick days covered it. And since sick days roll over and accumulate, you can have dozens, well over a hundred, depending on how long you’ve been in district.

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gregra193 t1_j9rh5me wrote

Sick bank? Can she use donated sick days?

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Serious_Service5137 OP t1_j9rkjrt wrote

She's a first year teacher so she doesn't have any close relationship with her coworkers yet

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gregra193 t1_j9rl6u0 wrote

In some districts, you just write to the sick bank, and they will give you some days. No need to ask somebody to donate— others have already donated to the bank if one exists.

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DeskFan203 t1_j9ti8mk wrote

Municipal employees, State of CT employees, Federal employees working in CT

All do not qualify for CT paid leave. Something with the unions (and I'm not IN a union 🙃) I needed to go on leave this summer and found out that I didn't qualify since I work in one of the above categories. Even talked to my state representative who verified this.

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