The Ritter administration is considering a plan to change the time-off policy for 30,000 state employees, which could cost the state millions of dollars when those employees leave their jobs.

The proposal, which the administration says is in response to a 2003 outside audit and to remain competitive with the private sector, is also likely to increase the number of days employees take off each year.

Since August, the state Personnel & Administration Department has held 29 meetings attended by 3,000 state employees as well as numerous government representatives to discuss the proposal.

The plan would switch from a system in which employees have "vacation" and "sick" days to a single time-off designation called "personal time."

The payout for unused time off when workers leave their jobs would increase by seven days.

However, the administration has yet to calculate statewide cost estimates for the plan and this week backed off an initial July 1 date for the plan to take effect.

"It is under consideration and is something we will continue to examine," said Evan Dreyer, spokesman for Gov. Bill Ritter. "We aren't moving forward with this at this time."...

Full story: http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_8631396