Former Madigan aide due $130,000 for unused vacation, sick time
Tim Mapes is also in line for a six-figure pension.
A top staffer for House Speaker Mike Madigan who resigned amid sexual harassment allegations is owed a six-figure sum in unused vacation and sick time, according to documents obtained by the Associated Press.
The AP reported former Madigan Chief of Staff Tim Mapes is entitled to $130,000 stemming from 91 unused vacation days, worth $72,000, and 146 unused sick days, worth $58,000, from his 40 years as a state employee. He’s also set to collect a six-figure pension, courtesy of Illinois taxpayers.
On June 6, Mapes resigned from his posts as Madigan’s chief of staff, the clerk of the House of Representatives and the executive director of the Democratic Party of Illinois. A longtime worker for the speaker’s office in Springfield, Sherri Garrett, came forward alleging Mapes “has made repeated, inappropriate comments to me, and around me, both in the office and on the House floor.”
“They should be held to the highest standard,” Garrett said. “Instead, they behave like they are above reproach and the speaker’s office is a locker room.”
In a press release, Madigan said Mapes resigned “at my direction.” Mapes took home a $200,000 salary from the state in 2017, according to the Illinois comptroller’s office.
Beyond Mapes, Illinois state workers represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31 enjoy overly generous contract provisions regarding sick time.
Under the union’s most recent contract with the state, each employee receives one day of paid sick leave for every month of service – for a total of 12 sick days in a calendar year. This sick time is cumulative, meaning employees can carry over unused sick leave each year with no limit. If a 40-year employee used only half of his sick days each year, he would have the opportunity to bank 240 sick days.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that for more than half of private-sector workers, sick leave does not accumulate from year to year.