HRM employees are getting a lot more time off for sick leave than people working in the private sector in the same jobs.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) broke down collective agreements and determined that HRM employees are entitled to 18 sick days a year, and can accumulate up to 150.

CFIB Atlantic vice president Leanne Hachey tells News 95.7 that on average, private sector workers take 8.2 sick days a year; far less than municipal workers are entitled to.

Hachey says there is already a wage disparity between public and private workers and when you break down benefits and now sick days, it demonstrates the uneven playing field in the work force.

She says it creates a problem in the workforce.

“There’s a compensation premium for working in the public sector,” she explains. “Not only are you typically paid more for the same occupation, but you’re entitled to a much more generous package than in the private sector and we start digging down to sick days, there’s a huge premium there too.”

By comparison public workers in New Brunswick are entitled to 15, 20 in PEI and 24 in Newfoundland.