Only in the public sector

Okay, I don't get it.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Students with perfect attendance generally just get a certificate of recognition. But their teachers in several West Virginia counties can get pay boosts of up to $1,200 for good attendance.

The Kanawha County Board of Education is the latest school board in West Virginia to pass an incentive policy for faithful attendance. Under the policy approved Monday night, school employees without any unexcused absences in the 2007-2008 school year will receive $1,050 bonuses. One missed day of work will net them $980 each in extra pay and two absences, $910. ...

Kanawha County Schools Treasurer Harry Reustle has said the price tag could be as much as $2 million a year, depending on how much the policy helps cut back on substitute teacher pay. Substitute teachers now cost the county about $4 million a year.

In March, the Jefferson County school board approved a policy that provides an annual bonus of $1,200 a year for perfect attendance to employees with at least 15 days of accrued leave in their accounts. Jefferson County Superintendent Steven Nichols said he proposed the incentives in response to what he calls “a disturbing trend in public schools.”

“A lot of folks look at it as part of their benefits package,” he said. “That’s never what they were intended for. It’s an insurance policy.”

Okay, I'm calling GateHouse and telling them I want a bonus for not using all my sick time last year. They will laugh at me the first time I make this demand. The second time, they will refer me to journalismjobs.com, which I will probably need.