Quick poll: Government-mandated sick/family leave
December 11, 2008 by Jim GiulianoPosted in: In this week's e-newsletter
Tell us what you think about government-mandated paid time off for workers, and see how your peers voted.
How do you feel about a law mandating paid sick/family leave for employees?
- It should be left up to the employer. (54%, 1,107 Votes)
- I oppose it. (22%, 458 Votes)
- I'm in favor. (21%, 429 Votes)
- Don't know. (3%, 60 Votes)
Total Voters: 2,053
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December 15th, 2008 at 10:40 am
Paid sick leave is much different than paid Family leave. I would vote for paid sick leave within the parameters of the employer’s sick leave policy, but paid family leave could be very difficult to monitor and control abuse.
December 15th, 2008 at 10:47 am
When the government mandates anything, it’s never good for all. The government will come up with a one size fits all approach. Some employers will adapt to such a law and move on. Others will suffer a significant cost, which may be passed onto the employees in the form of fewer or smaller salary increases, or less benefits. The best thing for Corporate America to do is to put into place a meaningful Sick Leave plan that balances the needs of the company with the needs of the changing demographics in the workforce.
December 15th, 2008 at 10:49 am
When are elected officials going to understand that paying people not to work is part of the reason we have our current economic meltdown?
December 15th, 2008 at 11:50 am
Given that lawmakers have no negative outcomes for laws like this, I am opposed.
“Leaving it up to the employer” is the same to me as opposing a law mandating any action by employrs, even at the discretion of the employer. Why have a law like that when employers are currently free to do what they want?
This is why…if not enough employers adopt plans acceptable to the poltical class, then they will step in and impose a mandate. The first law would be labeled an “encouragement”, which in the political realm is almost always followed by “do it”, when the “encouragement’ fails to provide the desired response from the governed.
The paralell is in gun control, with the failure of laws leading to stricter controls, more failure, stricter controls. The problem is with the law in the first place.
December 15th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
In NYS we have paid leave for disability. With that, it is so minimal (max $170/wk) that most companies either pay for an enriched policy or offer that option to ee’s out of their pocket. Beyond the 26 weeks of STD, many co’s offer LTD which generally pays 66 2/3 pay. The only option I would be open to is increasing the current $170 to at least minimum wage at 40 hrs/wk. Many times, the FMLA run concurrent with the DBL thus the ee receives pay while out on leave. Once plans/benefits become mandated, they simply make it more difficult for businesses to run, especially small businesses. We pay such an exurbanite amount for worker’s comp, this could just put some companies over the edge.
December 15th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Gary & Ray have both hit the nail on the head. And Diane also mentioned the tracking and abuse of a paid family leave. It could be very time consuming and costly. After all, how many employees will be concerned about returning to work if they are being paid whether they work or don’t work? I would like to see the paperwork requirements too.
December 15th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
I feel that to have an over all sick day policy would be a good thing. I feel 3 days a year would be
liveable. If it is left up to the employers it wouldn’t happen. What happens is everyone comes to work sick because they can not afford to give that day up and so they spread it to others. As far as
the reason we are in an economical break down isn’t from having something like this it is because of paying out so much for CEOs and other higher ups in huge bonuses and millions of dollars a year without anything backing those costs and company jets going all over the world for personal use and
payoffs. It is not because of the hard working class that are the ones that need this.
December 15th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
I’m a retired federal employee currently working for private industry. Years ago I wasn’t for this type of programs but now on the other side of the fence and watching my employer take all he and his wife can while the employees have NO benefits is just wrong in my opinion. I do not have health insurance, paid leave, paid holidays or any other type of leave. As employees for this company we work our butts off for them to enjoy their new cabin in the hills, new house remodel and new vehicles all at the expense of the company
December 15th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
What is frustrating to me is the expectation benefits like this are “only fair” or the company is wrong if they don’t offer them. I was brought up that if you go to work you get paid. If you don’t go to work you don’t get paid. While it is nice for employer’s to offer benefits, note the word “benefit”, they should never be mandated. Small business is the life blood of our economy yet mandated benefits, increaseing taxes, and every present litigation because someone doesn’t like the way the company is run is squeezing the life out of business. Where will it end?
December 15th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
I am not for the family leave only the 3 sick day policy. Family leave could really get out of hand.
September 22nd, 2009 at 2:15 am
Hey, could we know more about some important points about it rather than leaving us to think?