Man prints fake obit of mom to get time off

(AP) 

BROOKVILLE, Pa. - Authorities say a U.S. man published a fake obituary for his living mother in a ploy to get paid bereavement time off from work.

Relatives called The Jeffersonian Democrat newspaper in Pennsylvania after the obit appeared to say the woman was actually alive and well.

The woman herself then visited the paper.

Police charged 45-year-old Scott Bennett on Tuesday with disorderly conduct.

Newspaper editor Randy Bartley says he accepted the obituary in good faith after being unable to confirm the funeral arrangements at press time.

He told The Derrick newspaper on Friday that the woman was very understanding.

Police Chief Ken Dworek says Bennett wrote up the memorial notice because he didn't want to get fired for taking time off.

[shazbat34]

Well, you know what they say about Pennsylvania. A large state with Pittsburgh at one end, Philadelphia at the other, and Alabama in the middle.

[jennifer-marie]

Um ... While I fully admit that this man is an idiot, and I hope his mother ripped him up one side and down the other for publishing her obituary, how in the world is this a CRIME?! He should be fired from his job and apologize profusely to his family, but my God! Charged with disorderly conduct?! Why? Are the police and district attorneys that hard up for something to do?

[RunsWithWolves]

Employers have created fear in their employees since they can get away with it these days. America has really crappy employee leave policies. What this guy did was wrong but underscores the desperation to get some paid time off. Europeans get 5 weeks paid mandatory vacation every year no matter how long you have been working or how old you are. What do Americans get?

[Goofer-Buddy]

He should have used a fake name. Or posted the Obit in another state where no friends or relatives are. And I can't believe his relatives ratted him out.

[julesarcher1]

lol

[flexsf]

@Charly440, you don't speak for "US". Your self-righteousness is nauseating.

[talltimber41]

This is not the first time, nor I suspect, will it be the last time. What really is aggravating, at least in my experience, is that when the truth is discovered the union will defend him...jeesh.

[DocD--2008]

Where does it say he even belongs to a union? It doesn't even say where he works for gods sake and you are blaming it on a union already. Can sure tell where your head is, bust all them unions right?

[gadfly65]

If he had a union job he wouldn't have to use deception to get time off. Right wingers beware - if you succeed in getting rid of unions and other worker advocacy don't think employers will just be generous out of the goodness of their hearts; there will be no more forty-hour week, benefits, or paid vacation and holidays.

[thejoker12]

Only in the US where people have to invent ways to get a few days off from work without it reflecting on their evaluation.

[credibility2]

A form of greed on the part of this guy. Hope he gets maximum time and fines for what he did. His mother should disown him.

[Blackhawk82]

Liberals will do anything for money but work.

[thejoker12]

What are you saying. Liberals? You must be incredibly bored. Probably jobless too.

[gadfly65]

Where does it say he's a liberal or that he was paid for his time off?