Hundreds Of Cook County Jail Employees Ditched Work Monday

By Stephen Gossett in News on Jun 20, 2016 5:36PM

Like dibs in the winter or (most years) sputtering baseball teams in the fall, the Cook County Sheriff's Office has to contend with its own smh-worthy local tradition: a rash of callouts following a holiday and/or major sporting event. Of course, Sunday was a double whammy, with Father's Day coinciding with Game Seven of the NBA Finals—the highest-rated basketball championship game since the Michael Jordan-era Bulls beat the Utah Jazz in 1998. The tradition did not falter, as Cook County Jail was placed on lockdown Monday morning. It was lifted a short time thereafter.

Cara Smith, Chief of Policy, gives credence to the link. "It's certainly our suspicion," she told Chicagoist. "Over the last four shifts, we've had 524 employees call in. It's very tricky to know with absolute certainty, but trends definitely point to the nice weather, the holiday, and Game 7 as factors."

Smith said the CCSO attempts to discourage absenteeism prior to such events. "We identify people who are abusers. We talk to them and encourage everyone to come to work. But we have very, very limited tools for when people call out or use FMLA coverage."

Cook County Jail previously issued lockdowns the day after Mother's Day and Monday following super Bowl Sunday.

Cook County Jail was placed on lockdown this morning after a total of 317 staff members called off for the 7-3 and 3-11 shifts.

— CCSO (@CCSOPIO) June 19, 2016

The lockdown was ordered to ensure officer safety

— CCSO (@CCSOPIO) June 19, 2016

Detainee movement is limited to visitation, discharges and medical appointments and emergencies.

— CCSO (@CCSOPIO) June 19, 2016

The lockdown at Cook County Jail has been lifted.

— CCSO (@CCSOPIO) June 20, 2016