Do you think public officials should get bonuses for perfect attendance at work?

Pile of Money
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Assemblywoman Donna Simon (R-Flemington) is pushing legislation to ban annual bonuses given to some public officials for showing up to work every day.

"Just the thought process that people get bonuses for perfect attendance - I think your reward is that you have employment," Simon said.

The bill was introduced on Jan. 16 and referred to Assembly Labor Committee, but the committee still hasn't heard the bill or taken a vote on it.

For Simon and bill co-sponsors Assemblywomen Caroline Casagrande (R-Freehold) and Mary Pat Angelini (R-Ocean), the issue first came to light as a result of a 2009 State Commission of Investigation (SCI) report entitled "The Beat Goes On: Waste and Abuse in Local Government Employee Compensation and Benefits."

According to the SCI report, several municipalities, including East Windsor, Hoboken, Rutherford and Union City provided their employees with bonuses for perfect attendance or the non-use of sick leave.

"Getting payouts at today's salaries is pretty insulting to taxpayers. Certainly it doesn't happen in the private sector. To expect taxpayers to pay for it (in the public sector) is asking too much," Simon said.

Simon called her legislation a "no brainer," for New Jersey residents suffocating under the burden of high taxes.

 

 

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