Tribune Co. sick time policy changes

From: AsktheBSC
Sent: Thursday, June 30, 2011 9:48 AM
Subject: Your Tribune Benefits – Sick Time/STD Changes

Human Resources recently completed a review of Tribune’s policies regarding “sick time” and “short term disability” (STD) and has decided to implement two significant changes effective immediately.

Going forward, any unused sick time that you have remaining at the end of a calendar year will be converted to “Full Disability Pay Days.” These days can be used to supplement your STD benefit in future years. Employees may accumulate up to a total of 20 Full Disability Pay Days.

Full Disability Pay Days can be substituted for days you would have received STD pay and will be applied on a day-for-day basis. For example, if you are off work on approved STD leave and have accumulated five full Disability Pay Days, you may substitute those days for five STD days. This will enable you to earn your full pay on those five days, rather than STD pay, which is paid at either 40% or 60%. Full Disability Pay Days may not be used for any other purpose. Only full sick days (in 8 hour increments) will be converted to Full Disability Pay Days. Neither Full Disability Pay Days nor sick days will be paid out upon termination of employment.

In addition, effective immediately, you may supplement your 40% or 60% STD benefit with unused accrued vacation time. This will enable you to receive 100% of your pay while on STD. Such time will be applied on an hour-by-hour basis. For example, if you elected the 60% STD benefit and you work a 40 hour week, you may deduct 16 hours from your available vacation time in order to increase your STD benefit to 100% of your pay for the week. The decision to supplement STD pay with accrued vacation time is yours alone, and can be made at the time you are approved for STD leave.

For more detailed information on the company’s STD policy or any of your Tribune benefits, please visit the Benefits Service Center page of TribLink.

Mike Bourgon
VP/Human Resourses