My payroll processing firm has re-jiggered things so I no longer get sick leave and vacation, just PTO (paid time off). I think I'm also supposed to play "mother may I" with my supervisor about non-illness PTO. I play nice with the system, by my lights, and let him know when I'm going to take off. Funny thing is none of my last three supervisors ever said anything about filling in the form and getting it signed. Most of the time I let them know ahead of time, but sometimes I just throw a "doctor appointment" in my calendar that lasts a few hours. Or most of the day.