Sneed Exclusive: CPS discovers maternity leave
By MICHAEL SNEED msneed@suntimes.com February 16, 2012 12:28AM
Jean-Claude Brizard | Sun-Times Library
Updated: March 17, 2012 10:13AM
Sneed has learned Chicago Public School officials have found a way to partially revise an accrued sick day policy costing the district $37 million a year.
It’s called maternity leave.
◆ Upshot: Watch for CPS to do something it has never done before: announce a plan to offer “non-union” CPS employees maternity leave.
◆ The kicker: They’ll call it “short-term disability” related to an illness: pregnancy.
◆ Next shot: Sneed hears it’s also a safe bet CPS, which is currently negotiating a new contract with the 23,000-member Chicago Teachers Union, is also pitching the union a similar “maternity leave” package.
◆ Backstory: CPS officials planned to introduce a new sick-day policy to the school board next week to end the multiple-year practice permitting employees to accrue unused sick days.
◆ Buckshot: Although the plan to be announced Thursday includes only maternity leave for approximately 3,100 non-union employees — composed largely of principals and CPS central headquarters staff — out of an approximate 43,000 CPS work force — it’s “a huge part of the problem,” said a source.
◆ Upshot: If the Chicago Board of Education approves the plan at its meeting Feb. 22, it will go into effect July 1 of this year.
◆ Backshot: “CPS has never before offered maternity leave,” said a source. “Previously, the practice of saving up sick days caused some to work through illnesses in order to accrue enough for a proper maternity leave.”
◆ Sidenote 1: The plan would allow for maternity leave of up to 90 days, with employees receiving 100 percent salary for the first month off, 80 percent for the second month and 60 percent for the third. “It’s a policy that falls closely in line with the private sector,” a source said.
◆ Sidenote 2: CPS does not offer paternity leave.
A new job?
Hmmmm. Will U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton become the next World Bank President now that Robert Zoellick is stepping down from the power post in June?
◆ Fact: Sneed is told Clinton expressed interest in the world-class power job last year . . . albeit privately.
◆ Fact: Recently, Clinton stated she was thinking of taking a break “to find out how tired I really am.”
Is it gonna be a yawn? Or is it gonna be a power pawn to a presidential run in four years?
Hell, Adele . . .
“Someone Like You”
. . . is gonna take a five-year break?
◆ Translation: In an upcoming Vogue magazine interview with Adele, the six-time Grammy winner claims she’s going to take a break for four-five years to develop a successful relationship with her beau — which might lead to marriage, family and a vegetable garden patch.
◆ Update: It’s not gonna happen. She’s changed her mind . . . and whittled the much-needed break down to five days. Natch.
The Houston chronicle . . .
To go or not to go? Reports abound singer Whitney Houston’s ex-husband, Bobby Brown, may not be able to attend her funeral at noon Saturday in New Jersey.
◆ The big question: Is it because the allegedly abusive former husband has been asked by Whitney’s mother, Cissy, to stay away? Or is it because he has a gig that night in Connecticut?
◆ Music mogul Simon Cowell, who is known for his cutting candor, felt “horrible” about the Houston tragedy — but referred to the singer’s “appearance” on the British show “X Factor” in 2009 by stating: “She probably wasn’t altogether there, but it was still Whitney Houston and you knew you were in the presence of a legend.”
◆ The kicker: Cowell is reported to have talked to Houston as a possible judge on his American “X Factor” show the night before she died.
Putin place . . .
In case you missed it, Russia’s Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is urging the populace to start having more children — via cash incentives — to put a stop to the country’s declining population.
Dress’ em . . .
Kate’s palette: It was Valentine’s Day minus her soldier hubby Tuesday, so Kate (nee Middleton), the duchess of Cambridge, opted not to wear red — and chose a brown wool coat — which sold out within hours, don’tchaknow.
Shoe ’em . . .
Safety factor? Pregnant reality star Kristin Cavallari was spotted in New York during Fashion Week wearing killer diller spike heels.
Say whaaa . . .
Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has replaced her “you betcha” catchphrase with a new one: “goodness gracious.”
Daley data . . .
Former Mayor Richard Daley, who certainly has had reason for being under the radar since leaving office, will discuss his legacy during a keynote speech at NeoCon, the furniture trade show at the Merchandise Mart in June.
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