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Onorato Lashes Out Against 'Super Bowl Flu' At County Jail

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato is lashing out against corrections officers who called off sick over the Super Bowl Weekend.

"Grow up. You got a job, go to work, you're getting paid," said Onorato.

Onorato says nearly 160 corrections officers called off between Saturday and Monday morning. Onorato says 80 called off Super Bowl Sunday alone.

"They now have to produce a medical excuse. If they don't have a medical excuse there will be disciplinary action taken because this is something that the taxpayers don't want to see – I don't want to see it and it does send the wrong message to everybody – including our other workers," he said.

Onorato tells the KDKA Investigators that overtime is paid to corrections officers called to cover shifts for officers who call off. Onorato says the call-offs from last weekend could cost taxpayers in excess of $30,000

"You got hired to be there on this day to do a job and you're getting paid by the taxpayers. You got nice benefits, you have health insurance," Onorato added. "People would love to have that job. If you're not going to show up then don't take the job."

Union leaders have been unavailable to comment on the Super Bowl call-offs. However, union leaders have stated in the past that officers face a dangerous, stressful job.

Union leaders also say most corrections officers do not use all of their sick days and do not call off on Super Bowl Sunday.

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