Vicksburg employees’ uniform and sick leave policies are changing, officials decided Friday.

For one thing, a uniformed worker caught doing something inappropriate can now be penalized, said South Ward Alderman Sid Beauman.

&#8220If you have your uniform on and you’re doing something you shouldn’t be doing, you can be reprimanded up to termination,” Beauman said. &#8220The uniform is an identifying factor.”

The new policy includes drinking or breaking any law, Beauman said, even while off-duty.

In another change, the city’s new sick leave policy will allow employees to use their sick days for illnesses in their families. Previously, Beauman said, sick time was limited to personal illness.

Also, employees must now provide a doctor’s excuse if they miss more than three days of work due to illness. Before, employees were allowed to miss five days without an excuse.

The Mayor and Aldermen also adopted a donated leave policy, something the city has never had, Beauman said.

An employee can donate up to 50 percent of unused personal days to another employee, said North Ward Alderman Michael Mayfield. The policy is for employees dealing with a personal or family illness that is catastrophic.

&#8220It has to be very extenuating circumstances,” Beauman said.

According to the city’s Family and Medical Leave Policy, an employee is allowed up to 16 weeks of leave.

In other business the board: