It seems like two entirely separate concepts have gotten blended in this discussion. Ability to verify before hitting the triggers vs legitimate use of sick leave. While your finger might be “non-qualifying” and thus not eligible to be verified if you are below the verification triggers, it is absolutely 100% legitimate under the terms of the contract for you to use sick leave for it. You call in sick for it and get paid. If you are below the verification triggers, you can’t go ahead and verify the occurrence so that it doesn’t count in your lookback. I think that’s silly, but that’s the way it was written after initially being that nothing could ever be verified before hitting the triggers.