Michigan City Puts Private Investigator On Contract To Check On Firefighter Sick Leave

From WWMT TV, October 24

Battle Creek, Mich. – Firefighters who call in sick in Battle Creek should expect a knock at the door. The city has decided to enforce a sick-time policy by using a private investigator.

The policy has been part of the firefighters’ contract for years. A person who is sick has to stay home or be at a medical office. "We suspect there has been abuse of sick leave," says Russ Claggett of the city’s employee relations.

Battle Creek has put a private investigator under contract. Each morning, he gets a list of who called in sick and makes sure they are either at home or at a medical facility.

"The private investigator won't ask why you are sick or what condition you are suffering from,” explains Claggett.

Chuck Asher, the head of the firefighters union, says the membership sees this method of enforcement as extreme. "We expected phone calls, a visit from battalion chief. We didn't expect a private investigator to be hired," he says. "There's a morale problem in the Battle Creek Fire Department, this makes it worse. We average three sick days a year per person. I don't think that's extreme.”

The private investigator gets $25 per home visit in Battle Creek; $35 within 100 miles; and $45 if it's over a 100-mile trip. "We are paying for an individual who's off sick, plus pay for a fill-in," says the city’s Claggett. “That’s worth more than the $25 visit.”

The firefighters say since the enforcement went into effect three weeks ago they have not noticed a change in the pattern of sick time.

The city points out that because of the way firefighters’ shifts work, if a person works Sunday, they may have two days off; work Wednesday and then have two more days off. So by calling in sick, that could mean a firefighter has five days off in a row.