One thing that I've hesitated to take advantage of is the FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act). I'm not even sure of how it works (I know there is paperwork that has to be signed by a doctor to document your medical problem, or your family member's problem, and it goes before a review board), but at my job, if you have FMLA you can call in (or be late to work) up to a certain amount of hours per year & not have to provide a doctor's note, and the company cannot subject you to progressive disciplinary action if they have those kinds of policies in effect. When you call in under FMLA, you can't even be asked why you're calling in except that it's under FMLA so the company can log the off-time.

A lot of people that I work with abuse the heck out of it, but for some people (a woman's husband was paralyzed in an accident, for example) it can be beneficial because you can be sick & not lose your job for too many absences. Of course, it's not paid sick leave, but not many people work for companies that are that kind, anyway.

I haven't taken advantage of it mainly because I know if I wasn't going to get in trouble for calling in sick, I would. A lot. And I'd never get a paycheck & end up losing my insurance coverage...