Manadatory Paid Sick Days - for it or against it?
By coffeebreak
@coffeebreak (17797)
United States
June 15, 2008 1:07pm CST
Read This article today about the labor board (the board that helps employees that are not union) and their next aim of attack to help low wage employees is to make it law employers have to offer 72 hours paid SICK DAYS per year as part of the employment package.
I worked many places, and never a one had paid sick days or personal days - nothing. 6 paid holidays per year and 2 weeks vacation after the first year and that was it!
Just cause we are low wage earners, doesn't mean we don't get sick and deserve the sick days! 72 hours is 9, 8 hr work days a year.
But of course the employer balks at it saying that they will have to "cover the cost" by reducing health insurance offerings (never had one of those!) and cutting wages or employees.
I can say so many things about employers, ones I've had, my husband, my kids and others have had - all the stories I am sure you all have know, like there wasn't enough money for me to have a raise after carring the company for 3 years, but there was plenty of money for the owner to take a 2 week family cruise, buy homes and cars and eat out every night of the week, but not enough to give me a raise, etc. But I won't go there - you know what I am talking about! When I was working, I went to work sick, couldn't afford to miss a day's pay.
So..what do you think? For it or against paid sick days for all of us?
Here's the article
http://news.yahoo.com/page/parade/sickpay
5 people like this
17 responses
@Trace86 (5030)
• United States
16 Jun 08
My employer does offer sick days to all, but has a sneaky way of never having to pay out. You have to be sick for more than 2 days AND have a Dr's note. No note, no pay. I don't know anyone, other than management who had surgery, who have ever gotten sick pay. And it doesn't carry over past a certain point. I think you can carry 3 days a year and accrue a total of 30 days, or 6 work weeks.
I think everyone deserves sick days and that if you don't use your sick days, you should get some perk, like them paid out even if it is halftime.
2 people like this
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
16 Jun 08
Employers are so concerend how it will effect their "profit", why not be concerned about how it will effect them if they have to replace a person that quits for a better job and they have to spend the time and money to hire another employee! Not to mention that if you keep your employees happy and give them a desirable place to work, they will not only stay longer, but do a better job and all. If they know they have to go to work sick, or miss pay cause of illness, they aren't going to be very happy and have no problem looking for another job.
1 person likes this
@chiyosan (30186)
• Philippines
15 Jun 08
in our company we are given 30 paid leaves. we have 15 paid sick leave and 15 paid vacation leave. from what country are you again? i am totally supporting this, just the same. people should get what they deserve and they do deserve to have a decent work and an employer who would be compassionate about them too.
2 people like this
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
15 Jun 08
I'm in USA. Sure hope this passes. Workers sure need it and it would sure encourage them to want to stay with the company. Employee bene's are keep employees at the job!
2 people like this
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
16 Jun 08
Of course FOR it…which low and medium paid worker would be against it? I sure hope in your country the labour board would be able to implement it. The most difficult part is the implementation. Employers are like slimy fish…they always find ways to wriggle out of labour issues. And small time employers have it all the more better. Showing off small business, they employ less, pay less yet make good bucks for themselves. Here in India, the company I am working for gives me yearly 12 paid leaves, 7 sick leaves, 7 personal leaves and 15 earned leaves. It’s a mid sized company but it looks after us well. Bigger companies of course have better facilities for their employees. It’s the smaller hole-in-the wall offices that really squeeze their workers. I used to work in one such place and I know what you mean by reporting to work even on sick days…my salary would be deducted on days I did not show up! The saddest part is that these companies abound everywhere, they employ a handful of people who do all the work, they have no benefits for their workers and they escape the labour board coz their no. of employees are shown on paper as one or two and thus they project themselves are more of one-man private enterprises. But they really laugh their way to the bank at the expense of these hapless workers.
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
12 Jun 09
Depends on the topic. Before I do a BR, I want to make sure I get the most information I can on ones I have asked for that reason. Others I want to get the most information for research purposes or just general knowledge. As just cause it is in the news today...doens't mean it will be done and over by midnight! MOst things takes weeks, months and years to complete and I try to stay on top of things that will eventually effect me or someone I know... I try to spread the info! I've revived old discussions others have made cause I did a search and there it was and lots of info but now things have changed, so I want to get the current scoop!
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
4 Jul 08
For, of course. I have to say that I was lucky so far because all the places I worked gave me sick days. It should be part of a basic contract, and if employers really look at it they could see that it's in their benefit as well.
People are prone to make more mistakes when they're sick. They tend to work slower and be less attentive. Allowing an employee to stay home with the flu will prevent the bug from being spread in the whole workplace and end up with a bunch of sick people - each one working slower and making more mistakes.
Knowing that the employer is looking at the employers as people and not machines, gives an incentive for each employee to work harder and do his/her best, feel more loyal to the company.
It's in their interest really, if they only think about it.
WHen we think at the kinds of bonuses and benefits some jobs have - usually jobs that are already very well paid - we kind of thing darn, those guys can afford to loose a day's pay, still they got it all. We can't and ... well , we just can't! Grrrrr
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
4 Jul 08
Of course it would help the employer/company and make for happier employees - any employee knows that! These employers step over dollars to pick up pennies - and we employees suffer the consequences.
@bfarrier1 (2082)
• United States
16 Jun 08
Yes I am for it as you say people get sick.Where I work we get 4 days per year for sick time,1 floating holiday you can use when you want and 6 paid hoildays I myself get 4 weeks vacation because I have been there so long(will be 11yrs in July)and I am a supervisor. I believe ever employer should offer some kind of sick pay.You have a great night.
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
16 Jun 08
Good for you for your longevity at your job! That is not so common these days - companies go under or merge and dump those from the "other" company all the time, so haveing that many years is a novelty. Have fun on your paid off days!
1 person likes this
@bfarrier1 (2082)
• United States
17 Jun 08
Thank you,I have a week coming up in July which I will have the 4 grandkids for the week,we will do all kinds of fun stuff and eat junk food when we want,thats the best.What we Do at Grandmas Stays At Grandmas
You have a great night.
You have a great night.
@Elixiress (3878)
•
16 Jun 08
I am for it as it is not good for someone to go into work sick, firstly because it is unpleasant for the individual and it also effects their work, so if they are doing poor standards of work and making mistakes, which will cost the firm money, isn't it better that they are at home? I think that my argument for sick days shows how it benefits both the worker and the firm.
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
16 Jun 08
My point exactly - The employers complain how it will cost them to have paid sick days, and say they will have to "accomodate the expense" by cutting health benefits (now we are sick already, cut health benes so we can't go to the doctor when we are sick to get better quicker and back to work - can we all say "how stupid is that!") cutting wages or firing someone...like you said - sick people bring germs and spread those germs to all! Mpw there are more people sick and loss of production etc...so where's the expense?
@Elixiress (3878)
•
17 Jun 08
Exactly, there are probably more expenses being caused by having sick people working.
@jbl1975 (374)
• United States
16 Jun 08
Paid sick days would be wonderful. That way, we could actually stay home sick rather then bring our germs to the workplace, like so many of us (me included) are inclined to do.
Of course, at this point getting laid off or fired for whatever dumb reason there is out there completely ruins all that you accumulate. (Well, the job I got laid off from gave me my vacation pay, but no sick time.) That also includes health insurance, which makes for a good reason to have it like Canada, but of course that'll never happen here.
You know, in Europe, they have, like, six weeks of vacation? Isn't that nice? And we're lucky to have two.
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
16 Jun 08
Yeah we're sure lucky! I never had any! And like you, just couldn't afford to stay home so I went to work sick. ONly time I had no choice was when one of the kids was sick and no one to keep them as they are not allowed in school/daycare if they are sick. Kind of like getting the big "one two" sick, and no income!
@lingli_78 (12821)
• Australia
16 Jun 08
well, my company pays me for my sick leave depending on the number of hours we work per fortnight... i used to be part-time ans getting about 8 days of sick leave per year... now that i am full-time, i have about 10 days of sick leave per year... i think it is mandatory for employer here to give sick leave to their employees... in fact, i just get sick about 3 months ago for 2 weeks and i get paid for it in full fortunately... i definitely support it whole-heartedly that we should get a paid sick leave... take care and have a nice day...
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
16 Jun 08
Now see, there is a good solution. The paid sick days you get are earned (albeit not fair, but at least a somewhat reasonable solution) you get an hour of paid sick leave for every day you work. Or something like that. OR don't call it sick days, call it personal days. THat way all could use it - sick or not. And the employers has some really happy employees with a reason to show up every day other t han just to pay the bills. A little happier attitude going around!
@jhartana (1084)
• Australia
16 Jun 08
My employer would always ask me to bring the medical certificate whenever I was sick to make sure that my sick was genuine. I'd rather get paid for my sick leave because if they don't pay me then why should I bring my medical certificate? I work somewhere between 34-40 hours a week depending on how busy the work is, but in the end for every fortnight I work I will get approximately 1 extra day to go to my annual leave. The company so far have been quite fair although they have once put me on sick leave when I accompanied my wife to hospital for a week. It supposed to be personal leave, but neither annual leave or even sick leave. I've been explained they would count it as sick leave but I guess I have to let the boss win because otherwise I might be sacked. Because of this incident all the sick days allowance have been all used up in this year so I have to work as much as I can to gain sick days allowance. I know this sucks but what can I do? Any suggestion?
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
16 Jun 08
Like you said, you can't afford to be fired s there is nothing you can do. "He who has the gold makes the rules"... and the rest of us pay the price. And the thing is, if you have just a cold or flu - no one goes to the doctor for that. Usually you could be well by the time you could get an appointment anyway! So you don't have the option of a note, but it doesn't mean you weren't really sick.
@Liasonfan (1702)
• Canada
24 Jun 08
Sorry I am late to this party, lol! Busy week. I guess we are a little more spoiled here in Canada. We are kind of getting used to being treated with respect by our employers. Not sure if it is 72 hours or not, but I know we get a couple of 'sick days' per year and alot of companies are incorporating 'mental health' days to boot! No one wants sick colleagues at work passing their germs around to everyone else. We also get paid statutory holidays: New Years Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day (May), Canada Day, July, Labour Day, (Sept), Thanksgiving (Oct), Christmas and Boxing Day (Dec). Not to mention provincial holidays such as (Ontario) the new Family Day in Feb, Civic holiday in Aug and Remembrance Day (Nov). Don't think I have forgotten any, but MAY have. Keep on fighting, good friends south of the border, I say all deserve a paid holiday per month and a couple of sick days per year as well. And those mental health days? Well, we sure need them too with the cost of EVERYTHING, especially gas at $5-$6 per gallon lately, on average, we sure need paid 'stress days', I tell you!
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
25 Jun 08
Seldom seen at smaller companies down this side of the falls. And "Stress Days" now that would be a good way to put them! Like that is going to go over with employers! Regardless of the fact that usually it is the employer and the over work load that is making our stress! I worked for alot of smaller companies and all we got were the 6 paid federal holidays and 1 week vacation (5 days) after first year and 2 after second year and that was where it stayed. They'd have such happier employees if they'd just get off their high horses and see what it slapping them in their faces!
@skinnychick (6905)
• United States
16 Jun 08
I have been lucky to have jobs in the past with paid sick days which came in handy when I got sick or the kids.
I'm a bartender for now so they can't really judge my paid day, if that makes any sense. I only make 6.50 an hour without the tips, so technically I'm not losing that much (other than the tips) when I get sick.
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
16 Jun 08
That's about where I was, but %6.50 an hour times 8 mius one hour (for taxes) made a large impact on my budget.
@chinnu3579 (661)
• India
16 Jun 08
Its mercy less and shame on mankind.Atleast at the time of health disorder we donot get paid leave means its rediculous.No I donot work under such circumstances
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
16 Jun 08
YOu got that right, but even more so...it isn't necessary! It could easily be handled and all happy with the outcome. But employers don't want it. That means they'd have to give in to employees and they won't allow that to happen. Regardless of the fact that it doesn't cost them anything, and if it did it would be a tax write off, and it'd make a happier group of employees. I remember when I was working if someone came in sick. I didn't get mad at them as I know where they were coming from, but at the same time, spent the day avoiding them and where they've been so I don't catch it and get sick or take it home to the kids! And if all employees are doing this, where's the teamwork that makes the office go round? IT stops till that one person gets well...talk about loosing time and money! Employers are just to greedy to see it in the common sense light that it is.
@wangchunlin (155)
• China
16 Jun 08
i am still in campus but i am really against it.
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
16 Jun 08
Care to share why you are against it? If you are still in school, and not had a serious required job, I can understand your not being for it...it's not an issue to you. But once you get out there in the work field, and you have to accomodate that employer and a life that sometimes you have no control over as things happen, you'll understand where we are comiing from.
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
16 Jun 08
And that is a perfect reason why employers should have it. If you go to work sick, you spread germs to others. then one by one they get sick and for a month the whole office is sick, and production is slow so how has keeping that one sick person there helped the company? It hasn't... it has cost the company alot ...and all over a single days pay.
@subha12 (18441)
• India
16 Jun 08
in our country there is nothing like mandatory sick days and that too paid. its as far as I know. but in my present organization, if supported by documents and doctor's certificate, there is unlimited sick leave. when i had accident i was away for 15 days. they also paid salary for these days.
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
16 Jun 08
Here in US, if you have a doctor note and are gone that long, you probably won't get fired, but they won't pay your for any days. But it also puts you in a bad light with the employer and since employers don't want employees with any kind of problem, it will be duelly noted mentally if not physically and when the lay off time comes around - you will seriously be in the running for that.
We are just talking a day out for a cold or flu or what about if you have kids and they get sick - day cares and schools won'tallow them to be there so what does a mother do? Employer don't care.
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
16 Jun 08
I am all for some mandatory sick leave, but I have two further thoughts on that subject.
1) Those who do not get sick should be given extra money for wellness, or allowed to take well days off too. It is not fair to people who sacrifice much of their personal lives to be work-ready to have fewer benefits than others, some of whom are legitimately in need of sick leave, but some of whom got one on the night before.
2) Employers must also be forced to allow the workers to take the sick leave without undue restrictions and/or retaliation. One place I worked assigned 12 days of sick leave each year but fired anyone who used more than 6 days of it. The law said they had to give the sick leave, but it was silent about recriminations. Another place also was required by law to give 12 days but fired people for using more than 2 in a row.
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
16 Jun 08
I totally agree with you. OF the few government places I know of that do offer paid sick days, if you don't take them in the year you do get the pay for them and start over the next year. But that is a govt employer. Those smaller ones that the majority work for, that'll happen when hell freezes over. But definately...if you are well all year, why not be able to have the earnings the sick ones got?
And yes, if you are sick for any reason, the employer will make note of it, mentally or physically and when lay off time comes around or raise time (I hear they ahve something called that..never saw it in action, but I have heard rumors to the effect!) an employee will be documented for it and be the first on the list for layoff and such. Employers don't want employess with a life or problems. Their company is all that matters to them. If a mother has kids and the kids get sick, daycare and schools don't allow them to come to school, so what's the mother to do but take the day off to take care of their kids? But most employers don't want to be bothered with this and if it happenes to you, it will be duely noted. One the other hand, like you say, if someone is there every day, never takes off for sick, are they on the top of the "to stay" list? No, they are just taken advantage of because they are there all the time - they get all the extra work the ones that are sick should be doing.
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
16 Jun 08
coffeebreak I am all for it as we have needed something
'like that for years. I know all about those bosses
who cannot give raises but have all sorts of freebies'
themselves too. I too have gone to work sick because the
library system did not give paid sick days to employees
who did not work full time. I worked thirty hours a week.
they were talking about amending that for parttime workers
after I had already quit. lol.
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
16 Jun 08
Yeah, that is a sneaky thing they do here in CA - part time used to be 20 hours a week, no bene's at all. Then about 10 years or so ago, they changed it to "less that 40 hours a week" is part time and employers still didn't have to offer any bene's to a part time person! A person could work 39 hours a week and not get anything but their hourly wage, including no holidays or vacation time or health benefits. That is SO WRONG!!!!! But it is law.
