Posted on 05/21/2009 5:30:47 AM PDT by truthandlife
Rep. Alan Grayson was standing in the middle of Disney World when it hit him: What Americans really need is a week of paid vacation.
So on Thursday, the Florida Democrat will introduce the Paid Vacation Act — legislation that would be the first to make paid vacation time a requirement under federal law.
The bill would require companies with more than 100 employees to offer a week of paid vacation for both full-time and part-time employees after they’ve put in a year on the job. Three years after the effective date of the law, those same companies would be required to provide two weeks of paid vacation, and companies with 50 or more employees would have to provide one week.
The idea: More vacation will stimulate the economy through fewer sick days, better productivity and happier employees.
“There’s a reason why Disney World is the happiest place on Earth: The people who go there are on vacation,” said Grayson, a freshman who counts Orlando as part of his home district. “Honestly, as much as I appreciate this job and as much as I enjoy it, the best days of my life are and always have been the days I’m on vacation.”
According to the Center for Economic and Policy Research, 28 million Americans — or about a quarter of the work force — don’t get any paid vacation. The center says that a lack of vacation causes stress and workplace burnout and that those evil twins cost the economy more than $300 billion each year.
One more if-you’re-reading-this-then-you’re-probably-not-on-vacation fact: The United States is dead last among 21 industrial countries when it comes to mandatory R&R.
France currently requires employers to provide 30 days of paid leave.
Not surprisingly, some in the travel industry are salivating over Grayson’s bill; Grayson spokesman Todd Jurkowski said the U.S. Tour Operators Association and the Adventure Travel Trade Association are both on board. Other tourism and labor groups are expected to sign on in the coming days. The Politico 44 Story Widget Requires Adobe Flash Player.
The U.S. Travel Association has not yet endorsed the measure, but Senior Vice President Geoff Freeman says Congress does need to consider new ways to stimulate the vacation industry and travel economy.
So far, no group has come out in opposition of the bill. Nor has anyone announced opposition to roller coaster rides, cookouts on the beach or salt-water taffy on the boardwalk.
But with many Americans out of work and an economy in shambles, some say this may not be the best time to propose more time away from the office, especially on the boss’s dime.
The Society for Human Resource Management issued a statement Wednesday warning that “a one-size-fits-all, government-imposed mandate is not the answer.”
Because of the 50- and 100-employee thresholds, most small businesses wouldn’t be directly affected by the bill immediately. But the National Small Business Association warned of indirect consequences; companies might artificially hold their hiring at the 50-to-100-employee level to avoid the costs of paid vacation time.
The bill also could have a negative impact on manufacturers already bracing for higher costs that could be associated with the climate-change legislation working its way through the House.
One place where the bill wouldn’t have much of an effect: Capitol Hill.
Congressional staffers already get paid vacation, even if they don’t actually have time to take it. And members can take time off during recesses — as they will next week — albeit not as much as they once did.
While members once had much of the summer off, Congress will be in session this year virtually all of June and July. That leaves August, and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) says that’s not really enough time to unwind.
“I’m off in the state for a full month catching up on all the things I’ve missed throughout the year, but you don’t have time for yourself,” she said. “You don’t have much time for your family. And after a while, you do start to get just tired.”
Grayson’s bill is part of a larger move by Democrats to improve employee and workplace standards. Earlier this month, Democrats introduced a bill that would make employers give mandatory sick time.
“The committee is looking at a number of proposals to help workers balance family responsibilities and work duties,” said House Education and Labor Committee spokesman Aaron Albright. “The fact is the United States is behind the rest of the world in ensuring that workplaces have paid leave policies. These policies not only benefit workers but also help the employers’ bottom line because of lower turnover and better job satisfaction.”
But in the workaholic world of Washington, not everyone is so impressed with the restorative — or stimulative — powers of time unplugged.
Asked Tuesday what he’d do with an extra week of paid vacation, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said: “I’d keep the cash and spend the week working on the farm, with my BlackBerry and office files.
That's why it's called "public service". An item that too many of our politicians have forgotten.
What they omit here is the fact that unemployment in France is >10% during boom times. TANSTAAFL.
“Either that, or the gubmit will shut down the entire Disney enterprise as a “luxury” just as they killed the general avaiation industry. “
Luxury tax on all E ticket rides!
That is your "choice". You "chose" a career that has an irregualr employment schedule. There are millions of other careers that do not and that offer paid vacation. If paid vacation is so important to you, why did you "chose" a career that did not offer it.
Actually, they do offer it, you "choose" not to save for the times that your employment is not needed. If you "chose" to save for those periods that you were not working, it would be paid time off.
Hey, I would advocate mandatory 30 day vacations for ACORN workers in October and November of each year (provided they take it out of the country,
Since Congress has mandated that you be paid 52 weeks a year for 51 weeks of work, your pay will be reduced by 2%. In 2012 when the second week of vacation is required you will receive another 2% pay cut.
[signed] Your Boss
While members once had much of the summer off, Congress will be in session this year virtually all of June and July. That leaves August, and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) says that’s not really enough time to unwind.
Waaaaah! How many places get a week of vacation for holidays which everyone else gets a day off, if even that much. Sorry, but I haven't gotten a week off for Easter since I was in high school. I swear those people have more recesses than first graders. (However, there is something to be said about keeping them away from Washington to try to save what little is left of the Constitution and my wallet.)
This is too funny. Late last year when the government first started doling out these bailouts I jokingly suggested to my wife that the government should give American families the “Disneyland Vacation Relief Plan.” The plan would give a family of four $5000 (or $1250 per individual) which they had to use within a calendar year on a vacation of their choice. If they didn’t use the money they lost the benefit.
I argued that the plan made more sense than what the government was doing by just throwing free money (well not free it’s actually our money) around in the desperate hope that something would stick and the economy might rebound. At least with the Disneyland Vacation Relief Plan it would be money put to practical use that could: help the airline industry, help give a boost to the hotel industry. People would spend money at restaurants, gas, and for merchandise. Everyone would benefit.
Ah well, one can dream.
Yancy
This is so dumb, on so many levels. First of all, the vast majority of employers already give more than a week of paid vacation because they realize it is good for productivity and the labor market generally demands it. Companies that don’t give paid vacation already find themselves at a competitive disadvantage and will tend to be stuck with an inferior labor force, which will hurt those companies. Let the market do its work. It has already provided more than a week of paid vacation for the vast majority of Americans.
Secondly, I’d imagine that those of those “28 million” workers, very few work for companies with over 100 employees, as small businesses are much more likely to lack paid vacation policies. Also, I bet a huge chunk of them are seasonal workers or illegal aliens.
Third, employers who really don’t want to give a lousy week’s vacation will simply cut salaries by 2% (or more subtly hold back that much from the next pay increase) to make up the difference. There is no real way to force a company to give truly, “paid” vacation.
Fourth, if the government sets a one week standard with this law, many companies might start offering only a week, instead of 2 or more, though the market might not allow this.
Finally, this will create more regulatory hassles for the government and businesses.
A good, smart company will give its full time workers paid vacation, but the government should not be forcing companies to do so.
No, it should work like this. You should request paid vacation from your employer, if the employer agrees, great. If not, you should decide whether or not you are willing to work for that employer, under those terms.
They’re not “on vacation” when they have the week off for a holiday. They’re “in the district”. ;)
How stupid democrats are is a never ending source of my entertainment. This bill is worse that what is currently offered at most places of employment. Typically one gets TWO weeks of vacation on their 1 year of employment and then 3 weeks after 5, then 4 weeks at either 10 or 15 years.
Doesn’t seem quite fair because it doesn’t include consultants or the self-employed. We get all the time off we want of course but don’t we deserve to be paid for it?
Middle son in retail for 2.5yrs; 1 week now, 1 add’l added in July.
Get the frickin’ government out of free enterprise. Under what article of the constitution does this a**hat have the right to submit such a bill? Under what article does the legislature have the right to pass such a bill?
Anyone who has mixed feelings over the government interfering in private business had better turn in their conservative credentials because they are liberal not conservative. There is no upside to the gov telling businesses they have to give people paid vacations.
Yeah, right.
There used to be a time when you'd be ashamed to offer such nonsense. But now all "opinions" are "equally good".
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.