I am currently negotiating as a Shop Steward a new contract for a District Water Department.

Our Superintendent has made the following proposal of which we find most disagreeable.

Under the topic:

2. An employee who has been determined to have abused sick leave shall be subject to discipline up to and including termination. In addition, any employee who has been determined to have abused sick leave shall be placed upon the sick leave restrictions in 2(a) and 2(b) for a period of one (1) year unless she/he has been dischaged:

(a) Any employee placed on sick leave restriction shall remain at his/her residence during the workday when he/she calls in sick unless he/she receives permission from the Superintendent to leave his/her residence.

(b) Employees shall contact the Superintendent to request permission to leave their residence for the following specific purposes; in each instance, the Superintendent shall grant permission to be absent from their residence for a reasonable times for specific purposes.

(and then he has added a list of items)

My question is this, how is it a Superintendent can require a person call in and ask permission to leave their own house if they are indeed on earned sick leave?

Well, he legally can because the law doesn't prohibit it. But I'd be fighting that one tooth and nail.

A boss can really have authority over when you leave your own house huh?
Yikes that is frightening. Seems like House Arrest to me...

Well we plan on fighting it mollar and ax! Thanks for the response.