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.
Beat me by 14 seconds on my posting of this.
You know, if you don’t like the company’s vacation policy...you could try not going to work for them in the first place.
What companies don’t? Aside from junk-food outlets that is.
Any fast food job or retail job. This is all about “spreading the wealth.”
Barack, Hillary, Nancy, Harry, et. al. are busy turning America into France as fast as they can. Only the politicians will like the result.
Cry me a frickin' river, Murkowski. 22 years in the military, with 30 days paid leave, IF you can take it (the mission always comes first), and I didn't get paid anyway near to your cushy salary... Or get to be a senator.
Many a year I didn't even get to come back to North America, let alone my home state.
This bill by Alan Grayson (D-Disneyworld). Kind of says it all, huh? Who says dems are always for the little guy and Republicans are always for big business? The Mouse has its own Congressman in Grayson, IMHO.
Either that, or the gubmit will shut down the entire Disney enterprise as a "luxury" just as they killed the general avaiation industry.
I’m looking for the “satire” tag and don’t see it.....
That’s the sad thing in this land that used to be called America.
There appears to be no end to the socialist agenda being pushed by the DhimmiRat LibTards.
This is preposterous. But, then again, a year ago I’d have scoffed at the notion of the Federal government dumping billions and billions of dollars down the auto industry rat hole...
It’s time to take back the country.
Sadly, their unemployment rate is less than the US right now. And they have a healthier attitude towards nuclear power. But being a cheese-eating-surrender monkey, that's not for me. Those French unemployment rates must be wrong, with all those North African Mudslims smoking hash and burning cars. Sarkozy is cooking the books.
unconstitutional.
Why should they?Now is the time. The fools and idiots said via their vote on November 4, 2008 that they would prefer to be governmental property than free men and women.
I agree that there should be a mandated period of PAID TIME OFF or vacation time earned for each 52 weeks of work, even if the work is preformed over several CONSECUTIVE SEASONS.
IT SHOULD WORK LIKE THIS: When you have worked a total of 52 weeks ( even if it is over several consecutive years you should be granted a week of PAID VACATION. After the second 52 weeks of work is preformed you should be granted TWO WEEKS of PAID VACATION. All vacation time or vacation pay must be taken outside of the operating season.
Let the legislatures show the way. Here’s a better idea. Let them have 2 weeks work and 50 weeks of vacation per year. They’ll be happy and their constituents will be happier.
NO! No mandatory paid vacation! Don’t like your job? Either get smarter or better educated.
THIS PROPOSAL SUCKS!
This will only help China and others further kick our asses in the global marketplace.
Please note that my job CAN NOT be preformed on a year-a-round basis for the same company.
Yeah, buut so is income taxes, and a whole friggin boatload of other crap Libs (and some repubs) have thrown at business in the last long time.
IT SHOULD WORK LIKE THIS: When you have worked a total of 52 weeks ( even if it is over several consecutive years you should be granted a week of PAID VACATION. After the second 52 weeks of work is preformed you should be granted TWO WEEKS of PAID VACATION. All vacation time or vacation pay must be taken outside of the operating season.
If you can negotiate those terms with your employer, that sounds like a great deal. OTOH, if you are working 19 weeks out of the year it sounds like you have 33 weeks off during the year during which you can be working elsewhere or taking your leisure time. You want government to force your employer to pay you for a couple of those weeks as if you were working?
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.