COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio will pay cash to tens of thousands of state workers this month to make up for personal days they gave up over the past two years to help balance the state budget.
The Associated Press has learned that each full-time employee is receiving the equivalent of four days' wages plus four sick days. That's in exchange for eight personal days conceded under the union contract negotiated under former Gov. Ted Strickland.
Swapping sick for personal days is beneficial for the state. Sick time - unlike personal time - is only partially reimbursed when unused.
Payouts will total $40 million to $45 million, which averages to about $8 a week per employee.
Pay, health care and other contract concessions saved the state about $400 million during the past two years.