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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
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9

Swine Flu Highlights Debate Over Paid Sick Leave

Half of US doesn't get sick pay; businesses defend policy

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(Newser) – The second coming of swine flu has reignited the debate over paid sick leave. “You have all of our top officials saying, ‘Do the responsible thing. If you're sick, stay home,’” an advocate tells CNNMoney. “And at the same time, we have a country where almost half the workforce doesn't have a single paid sick day.” Though small business owners feel their employees’ pain, many say they just can’t afford it.

Half the workforce can’t take paid sick leave unless it's scheduled ahead of time. Laws requiring around 5 to 10 days, depending on company size, have passed in some locales and are making headway elsewhere. New York City is engaged in a fierce debate, and even Congress could soon consider a bill mandating paid leave. But the cost is too high, one advocate for business says: “Government is trying to do something that's well-intentioned, but they have no idea what the effect is on a small business.”

A UAW member.
A UAW member.   (AP Photo)
A sign.
A sign.
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I wish we lived in a world where we could count on everybody to do the right thing, but unfortunately we don't. And the employers that do the right thing often would tell you: They would like it to be a more level playing field. - Debra Ness, employee advocate

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9 comments
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proud_prude
Sep 28, 09 12:53 PM CDT
The public support is overwhelrning, across the political spectrurn: http://www.norc.org/NR/rdonlyres/D1391669-A1EA-4CF4-9B36-5FB1C1B595AA/0/PaidSickDaysReport.pdf Reply
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+2
Jojo
Sep 28, 09 1:23 PM CDT
What's more funny is that for over 20 years, I've only had jobs where you could be on your death bed and they would STILL hassle you because you called in. I've never once worked somewhere that preferred I stayed home if sick. In fact, when I spent a decade working at a huge hospital, we were penalized severely for calling in sick. I had bronchitis that turned into pneumonia once and I was written up for calling in and sent to personnel and almost lost my job. They actually called my doctor to verify, all while I was coughing, shaking, and sweating from fever sitting in front of them. I'd sure like to know where all these jobs are that actually want you to stay home when you're sick. Reply
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+4
IN RESPONSE:
Toon
Sep 28, 09 2:26 PM CDT
I doubt any job wants you to stay home but in my experience the same jobs that give you paid time off also don't hassle you about it as much as the jobs where you take unpaid time off because of illness.
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IN RESPONSE:
Toon
Sep 28, 09 2:35 PM CDT
Webqueen are you talking about yourself? I can't tell how scrubby you are but I can hear your whining and shrieking and I doubt you work half as hard as most minimum wage workers.
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proud_prude
Sep 28, 09 1:43 PM CDT
Webqueen- pathetic excuse for a hurnan being. Excellent exarnple of a bottorn dwelling troll. Reply
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+6

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