I agree. A friend of mine worked for a young company that did the same thing - combined sick/vacation days and with the number too low (though it was more than 5, it wasn't by much). It's the kind of stupid decision that only young men regularly make when starting up a company or setting benefits. They fail to understand other perspectives than their own young, relatively healthy, unmarried (or at least without kids) lives. Those of us who are older, have kids, and actually pay attention to the women around us (like our wives) know better.