Mayor Lightfoot cracks down on absenteeism and abuse of family leave among city workers

The Chicago Sun-Times reports:

Mayor Lori Lightfoot has put city department heads on notice they will be held personally responsible for employee absenteeism and abuse of the Family and Medical Leave Act that one influential alderman says is costing Chicago taxpayers “tens of millions of dollars.”

In a July 26 memo addressed to “commissioners and department heads,” Lightfoot called reining in absenteeism “an issue of great importance to me.”

As she prepares to lower the boom on Chicago taxpayers to erase a $1 billion-plus shortfall, Lightfoot noted that, “there is still a significant amount of work to be done” to reduce an absenteeism rate that, according to Ald. Michele Smith (43rd), remains quadruple the rate in private industry and in other government agencies.

“As a department head, you are responsible for effectively managing employee absenteeism and maintaining accurate records in the Chicago Automated Time and Attendance system,” the mayor wrote.

“All city employees are expected to swipe in and out each day, work a full day for a full day’s pay, abide by all personnel rules and ensure that absences from work are properly requested. These are non-negotiable expectations for every city employee, regardless of position, title or function.”

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