Who holds the basic authority for controlling employee sick leave usage?

The department head holds the basic authority for controlling employee sick leave usage because they are responsible for overseeing the daily operations and management of their specific department. This includes ensuring that the policies regarding sick leave are enforced consistently and fairly within their team.

Department heads are typically closest to the employees and have the best understanding of workflow and staffing needs, which empowers them to make informed decisions about when an employee can be absent due to illness and how that absence affects overall department functioning. They also play a key role in evaluating the legitimate use of sick leave and ensuring compliance with organizational policies, thus enabling them to manage resources effectively while supporting employee health and well-being.

In contrast, a controller, while involved in financial aspects and budgeting, does not typically manage employee leave policies directly. Personnel departments might manage the administrative side of employee leave policies and maintain records but do not control the day-to-day decisions regarding sick leave usage within departments. The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) oversees broader organizational policies and may set guidelines for sick leave but delegates authority for specific management to department heads.