The UW System found itself under heavy scrutiny Friday following the release of a state audit questioning whether university employees are ethical in reporting sick leave and vacation time.
State employees can convert unused sick days to a health insurance cash benefit upon retirement. Across the state, the program costs taxpayers nearly $2 billion yearly. The audit recommended the UW System review its sick leave policies.
The audit found university employees collect on average $50,000 to $150,000 more in the retirement health insurance benefit than fellow state employees.
According to the audit, the average UW faculty member uses less than 1 sick day a year, compared to the 6.8 sick days a year used by classified staff. In 2005, 45 percent of UW employees, and nearly 80 percent of all professors did not use their earned sick leave, compared with 17 percent in other state agencies.
State Rep. Scott Suder, R-Abbotsford, said blame for this sick leave misuse lies on the UW System Board of Regents and Gov. Jim Doyle.
""The regents and governor have failed in their duties to properly manage both sick leave policies as well as ‘back-up' positions, consultants and sabbatical leave,"" Suder said, referring to secondary university positions filled by tenured faculty and staff when they are removed from their original positions for some reason.
He added that the state Legislature, when it reconvenes in January, will ""force"" the UW System to reform.
""The Legislature will have to be the adults here,"" Suder said.
State Sen. Fred Risser, D-Madison, said he suspects that UW System's administration and the Board of Regents will review and change system practices and policies before the Legislature meets in January.
""The comments made in the audit are worth reviewing and checking out,"" Risser said.
UW System President Kevin P. Reilly said the university remains committed to strengthening its personnel policies and practices.
""The UW System will act decisively on the [audit] recommendations regarding sick leave and vacation; limited and concurrent appointments; consultants; and faculty sabbaticals,"" Reilly said in a statement. ""We will report back as requested to the Joint Committee on Audit by June 1, 2007.""
