Only 60 year old employees can collect sick leave pay on retirement regardless of length of duty or grade. (Rule of 80) A 40 YO new hire works 20 yrs retires at 60 and gets paid for 720 hrs of unused sick leave. A 21 YO employee works 29 yrs retires at 50 but won't get paid for his sick leave. Below is the policy cut from the Employee Handbook Unused Sick Leave Hours Employees who retire from the County with 10 or more years of service and are age 60 or above are eligible to receive pay for accumulated sick leave up to 480 hours for 40 hour employees and 720 hours for 56 hour employees. Employees who meet the Rule of 80 can use remaining sick leave hours as credited service toward retirement.