Absent workers force Cook County jail to go on lockdown

May 14 (UPI) -- Cook County Jail in Chicago was placed on lockdown for the second Mother's Day in a row because so many employees did not show up for work.

Thirty-five percent of those assigned to the 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. shift (206) Sunday called in sick or invoked the Family Medical Leave Act for the shift, the Cook County Sheriff's Office said. The represents 35 percent of those scheduled to work.

And at 3 p.m. Sunday, about 25 percent of staff for the second shift of the day also had called in sick.

"It's the perfect storm of situations: It's Mother's Day and there is beautiful weather,'' Cara Smith, a spokesman for the sheriff, said to the Chicago Tribune. "Unfortunately, it's devastating to the people who do come to work and for the taxpayers.''

Read more: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2017/05/14/Absent-workers-force-Cook-County-jail-to-go-on-lockdown/9891494811534/