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Journalists Are Not Mathematicians

Thursday, May 15, 2008
Sick-Leave Abuse Prompts Calls to Compensate for Unused Time

"For weeks that had a holiday falling on a Monday, 27 percent of all sick leave at the IRS was taken on a Tuesday in 2005 and 2006, the report said. And 24 percent of all sick leave taken by IRS employees during non-holiday weeks was on a Monday. "

Now, I can't even decipher what the first sentence means. But for the second sentence: Well, if it were just random chance, you would expect that 20% of all sick leave would be on a Monday - and 20% on Tuesday, and 20% on Wednesday, and 20% on Thursday, and 20% on Friday. So 24% doesn't seem that out of line to me...

3 comments:

  1. Fred T. said...

    The first sentence is pointing to holiday weekends like Memorial Day, MLK Day, Columbus Day, or Labor Day. The holiday falls on a Monday, which gives people a 3-day weekend. The sentence means that instead of the expected 25% use of sick leave (four-day work week divided equally), it was 27%.

    And that, too, doesn't seem that out of line.

    Just seems like another report that was a waste of money to produce and now it's creating "action" that'll be a big waste of money.

    All to get that 2% and 4% back in line.

    2:09 PM  

  2. Mrs. B said...

    Ah. What a horrible sentence.

    I think we could easily attribute that 2-4% to "weekend warrior" injuries, sports injuries, visiting other people who make you sick, and too much partying (which, while self-inflicted, can indeed make you ill).

    6:44 PM  

  3. OH Bee Juan said...

    When I party, I get(s) ill?

    8:31 AM  

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