Dodd to Announce Legislation Providing Paid Leave for Workers

[The Straight Story]

Dodd to Announce Legislation Providing Paid Leave for Workers

February 1, 2007

Washington- Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), author of the landmark Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which has enable approximately 50 million Americans take leave from their jobs for the birth or adoption of a child, and in order to care for themselves, their children or an immediate family member, today announced legislation, which he will introduce in the coming weeks, to provide paid leave for employees. Sen. Dodd’s bill would also expand the number of individuals eligible for FMLA. Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK), has announced his intentions to co-sponsor Sen. Dodd’s legislation.

“Besides our nation’s families, our nation’s economy, its production and its competitiveness are threatened when families are forced to choose between the job they need and the family they love,” Dodd said. “FMLA was a milestone in our nation’s dialogue, acknowledging that families, workforce production and competitiveness are not mutually exclusive.”

Sen. Dodd’s bill will push for at least six weeks of paid leave for the worker to care for themselves, their children, and immediate family members. The program would be funded by a shared-cost mechanism, involving the employer, the employee and the Federal Government.

Today, the Work, Family and Equity Index, released by Harvard and McGill University researchers, indicates the United States is far behind other countries when it comes to family-oriented workplace policies such as maternity leave and paid sick days.

http://dodd.senate.gov/index.php?q=node/3723

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

1. You know, it's funny.

For years now, the corporations and it's vicious, well-paid sociopaths in HR(Where Sociology and Psych majors go to not give a shit about anyone but themselves...) have eroded sick time to the point that it is nearly non-existant in some companies. Get good and sick? There is a real good chance they will can your ass. Real charitable.

Fast forward to the recent Davos Economic Conference. No limit on the heavy hitters and Smartest Guys in The Room at that thing, right? You would think so, but you might be wrong.

One of the really big and well-attended conferences there was about illness in the workplace and how it was a whole lot better and a whole lot smarter to have sick employees stay home and get better. Of course, it was spun as the employees' fault, because they were too dedicated to their jobs and felt too guilty about staying out of work.

Right.

Yes, these are our intellectual betters. Learning something revolutionary every day. :eyes:

[The Straight Story]

2. Common sense sometimes flies out the window when folks get too heady

They come up with ideas (which have been done before...) and then think if they just apply them in a different manner slightly they will work.

When it dosen't work they blame the people they made the change to :)