"They don't seem to believe in doctors' notes," said Ordis W. Whitmore, a cook at Quincy House.

Besides alleging violations of fair labor standards for sick leave, the dining hall employees said their managers may be putting students at risk.

"I've seen people come in working with colds," said a cook at the Union, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Berry has vigorously denied the claims.

The HDS director cited the latest contract between Harvard and the dining hall workers' labor union, which requires the University to conduct audits of employee absences two times a year.

According to the contract, employees with three or more years of service are eligible for 15 fully paid sick days each year.

But Berry acknowledged that he has ordered managers to crack down on abuses of sick leave.

"It has been tougher since I've been here," Berry said, adding that the type of illness affecting the worker is not a concern.

"We're not concerned with why the person was out," he said.

And according to Carolyn R. Young '76, Harvard's associate director for labor relations in the Office of Human Resources, the sick days are only to be used when employees are actually sick, not as extra vacation time.

"That whole mindset is an important one to change," Young said. "A doctors' note is not enough to keep someone out of discipline if their attendance record is bad."

But workers said that policy is wrong, and some said it might turn Harvard into a dangerous place to eat.

"Years ago if you had a cold and were coughing all the time, they'd send you home," said James H. Neil, an assistant chief shop steward for the labor union. "Now, they don't even do that.