The Bueller Act: Sick Leave

[demopublican]

Two articles on sick leave were published in the Sun today. I guess because I am a cynic, I assume that is because the O'MalleyCrats in Annapolis will son be pushing a sick day requirement on business.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/mar...,419568.column

Rodricks wrote a refreshingly critical piece about the crazy number of sick days taken by teachers. Although he wrapped it up by blaming that (in part) on parents for having to send sick kids to school because THEY lacked the sick days required to stay home with the sick child.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/business...,3625222.story

Jamie Hopkins had this piece about advocates pushing for a larger system so that everyone can have ten sick days to play with.

Nationwide, there's a have-and-have-not aspect to paid leave. Most high-wage workers have it; most low-wage workers don't. "All of us at some time do get sick, our kids get sick, our parents get sick," said Jason Perkins-Cohen, executive director of the Job Opportunities Task Force, one of the organizations behind the new Working Matters coalition. "If you aren't able to accrue leave … what are you supposed to do?"

Paid leave is guaranteed in much of the world but only in a few places in the United States: Connecticut, San Francisco, Seattle and the District of Columbia. Activists are also pressing for laws in several other cities, including New York, and more than a dozen states.

Local business groups aren't eager for Maryland to join in. They say that requiring paid leave would burden companies that don't have a lot of workers — or a human-resources department to manage leave.

[demopublican]

Of course Rodricks missed the point. You see how teachers abuse the privilege? 35% average 10 days out from their already less than full time job?
That is why businesses don't offer sick leave. People abuse it.

[overtaxed]

Who pays for it?

[demopublican]

Who pays for it?

The awful terrible evil business owners

[overtaxed]

The awful terrible evil business owners

who will then pass it on to their customers. that part is, of course, missed by our fearless leaders.

[Steveg85321]

Just what Maryland needs - more burdensome regulations on business to make our state less competitive for employers to start/stay/come here. But of course Maryland relies mostly on government as our employer of choice.

If somebody wants a job with paid sick leave, they should go out and get a job with paid sick leave. They're out there; of course you might have to actually qualify for/earn it, but that is up to us, isn't it?

[demopublican]

I am sure the teachers will go after Dan for speaking on the issue. Oh they have it so hard. They need sick days just to keep up with the massive workload.

[USP9]

Of course Rodricks missed the point. You see how teachers abuse the privilege? 35% average 10 days out from their already less than full time job?
That is why businesses don't offer sick leave. People abuse it.

Can you explain what you mean by part time?

[demopublican]

I did not say part time. I said less than full time.

[demopublican]

180 school days 8 hours a day is 1440 hours. Add in an additional week for prep in summer and maybe 10 days more for professional days when the teachers are there and not the kids and you get more hours or 1560.
Full time is 50 weeks at 8 hours a day minus 6 days for normal holidays = 1952 hours.

[OldBay]

180 school days 8 hours a day is 1440 hours. Add in an additional week for prep in summer and maybe 10 days more for professional days when the teachers are there and not the kids and you get more hours or 1560.
Full time is 50 weeks at 8 hours a day minus 6 days for normal holidays = 1952 hours.

I don't know one teacher who works so few hours, crabs. My wife is a science and math teacher who works more than you estimate - each semester, counting the grading and lesson plans at night and weekends, as well as parent conferences, calls and emails for about 250 students. I would love for her to put in only 1952 hours in a year LOL.

But bash away. Weird that you can't find more worthy targets of your scorn than dedicated people who leave the house at 0530 and crash at 2300 with grading papers in hand...

[mythoughts]

who will then pass it on to their customers. that part is, of course, missed by our fearless leaders.

It's not missed by our fearless leaders at all.
Let's just use a person that makes $8/hr and works an 8 hour day.
If that person works that's $64 of taxable income.
If that person calls out sick that's $0 of taxable income.
If that person has "the right" to a sick day, they still get off, and our fearless leaders still get their $64 of taxable income.

[USP9]

180 school days 8 hours a day is 1440 hours. Add in an additional week for prep in summer and maybe 10 days more for professional days when the teachers are there and not the kids and you get more hours or 1560.
Full time is 50 weeks at 8 hours a day minus 6 days for normal holidays = 1952 hours.

It's full time for the 190 days of contractual employment, and then some.

I'm averaging 11 hours a day in my building, everyday.

[demopublican]

It's full time for the 190 days of contractual employment, and then some.

I'm averaging 11 hours a day in my building, everyday.

Good for you. I work crazy hours as well.

How many sick days do you take?

[bystander]

Just what Maryland needs - more burdensome regulations on business to make our state less competitive for employers to start/stay/come here. But of course Maryland relies mostly on government as our employer of choice.

If somebody wants a job with paid sick leave, they should go out and get a job with paid sick leave. They're out there; of course you might have to actually qualify for/earn it, but that is up to us, isn't it?

Steve, you know those are evil words.

[Mom49of4]

Good for you. I work crazy hours as well.

How many sick days do you take?

I work in a school system but not as a teacher. I have tons of sick leave that I never use. Additionally, there is lots of work I do at home.

[Saticon3]

Sick leave is of course a benefit, part of compensation for employees, that should not be regulated by government.
But, if it were up to me I'd give employees more vacation- what most people get two weeks? Double it to four, then maybe designate half for "sick" as in you call in unexpecdely due to illness whatever, its not held against you for lack of notice-- that way you use the sick days, it comes off your vacation, you stay healthy, you get a longer vacation.

[mythoughts]

Sick leave is of course a benefit, part of compensation for employees, that should not be regulated by government.
But, if it were up to me I'd give employees more vacation- what most people get two weeks? Double it to four, then maybe designate half for "sick" as in you call in unexpecdely due to illness whatever, its not held against you for lack of notice-- that way you use the sick days, it comes off your vacation, you stay healthy, you get a longer vacation.

I think businesses should consider offering employees 4 or 5 paid sick days per year. They couldn't be carried over BUT for any sick days (or hours) not used they would receive as a check at the end of the year.
So say I make $100/day and have been given 5 sick days by my employer. If I use 2 sick days during the year I wouldn't lose those $200 because I came down with the flu or something, and at the end of the year I would receive, what would amount to me, a $300 "bonus" for my 3 sick days that I didn't use.

[USP9]

Good for you. I work crazy hours as well.

How many sick days do you take?

Taking one today. Does that hurt your feelings?

[demopublican]

Taking one today. Does that hurt your feelings?

Not at all. I am sure your students are going to appreciate the day off.