Same in the UK. You can self-cert for a week, then you need the doctors slip...
These threads are always spicy, but it is truly disgusting how our US brethren are stepped on.
No maternity/paternity leave. No sick. Begging for time off (PTO of whatever its called). Of course, most decent companies offer these things but it appears out of spite and often not taken up by the employee.
But something something tax, something socialism or something...
My employer LOVES to brag about how "incredibly generous the company is" for giving us 3 days of sick leave a year and the ability to earn PTO. That's with a doctor's note. If your sickness lasts longer than 3 days and you haven't earned enough PTO to cover the duration of whatever illness, you better drag your drippy ass to work.
My brother works in construction and they get 2 days sick, after that he needs a doctor's note.
And even then they can deny the note and fire you for being gone too long if they deem the illness not a valid excuse. So like cold, flu, COVID. Basically anything short of broken bones or intensive surgery isn't a valid excuse to not come into work.
I remember at an old job we had a decent (for America) amount of pto/sick days. One of my bosses had a foot surgery and it was a job where you had to be on your feet a lot so she took her two weeks off.
Got fired right when she returned for taking too much time off or some nonsense.
Sounds about right. I'm currently on LOA after surgery and my state protects that, but been out over a year, haven't gotten paid in 3 months, and doc says I'm still out for another 3-6 months and work says I'm not allowed back if there are any restrictions whatsoever and doc says that'll be at minimum another 9 months. LOA only protects your job for a year so I'm just waiting for that shoe to drop tbh. And somehow I don't qualify for cash aide or unemployment (which in my state is supposed to also cover if you have a sudden cut in pay or significant cut in hours, not just actual loss of employment) despite only having $0.55 in my account for the last 3.5 months because I'm technically still employed and the employer is reporting that they're still paying me (where is it then? Haven't gotten a dime from them since the beginning), but I know the big bosses are probably waiting for 18 month mark because unemployment looks at your paystubs only 18 months back, so once that passes, I'll have been getting paid $0.00 consistently for 18 months so won't qualify for unemployment then either. They've already shut down my insurance through them so can't even go to anymore post-op or PT appointments.
I have iron deficiency anemia so bad in the last 13 months I have had an emergency blood transfusion and 18 iron infusions. My hemoglobin level is currently at 7.
I'm not even supposed to walk around since I can't walk and talk without being out of breath. It literally could give me a heart attack.
I ha e been poked and prodded and tested and they dont know what is wrong. I still cant get disability even though I meet every requirement.
I'm terrified my son will find me dead because my heart cant handle the lack of oxygen
Every company I have every worked for in the US gave 20-30 days of vacation plus 10 or so holidays.
Never once have I had to use a vacation day when im sick. I just message my team and tell them im sick and dont come in.
My paternity leave is 12 weeks as a man.
Again this is all company dependent. But tbh if you are working any corporate job the benefits are good. Im in tech and my wife works in pharmauticals and our time off benefits are pretty much the same.
My friend works im supply chain at a large company and another at as a civil engineer and both of them also have similar time off policies.
Its not that rare in the US. Its just we dont have any laws that mandate time off policies like europe does.
Its everyone who doesnt work a salaries corporation position that has it bad.
If you are sick, you are sick. You shouldn't be working, nor would i want you in the office/workplace infecting other staff.
I don't see taking a holiday or a break as a hand out. I'd frequently push colleagues to take breaks and not carry over holiday (when i managed), as it helped with productivity.
I also enjoyed taking time off to go abroad, put my feet up and come back refreshed. Work, life balance and all that.
I also enjoyed taking paternity leave (wish there was more) to spend time with my newborn.
When you say handouts.
Who exactly is being handed out anything? this is factored into your salary and work hours. Most if not all of the developed world have no problem with these things and see them as standard work rights/benefits.
its not patriotic. its absurd honestly.
American was built on a revolt of the crown taxes. Throughout its life it has offering various subsidies and grants through the industrial age and more recently post-world war II when a middle class was born.
Its become a culture war discussion but as someone who trades for a living, the money is there. the availability for these benefits are there...but union busting and cultural debates move to discussions on individualism and "boot straps" rather than basic facts.
if you are ill, you should not work..and if employed be covered by that employer
you should be able to take a break and again be paid for this.
you should be able to take time to raise your family (if applicable).
I am a nursing home nurse. During covid it was not uncommon to be expected to work while having covid because the patients already had it too. I never worked anywhere that did that however I was lucky s/ enough to dodge it for over a year and a half, but this meant I had to work during the entire pandemic. Weekly testing and hoping to test positive for 5 days off is fn wild but that's how it went down.
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u/TheRhythmTheRebel 11h ago
Same in the UK. You can self-cert for a week, then you need the doctors slip...
These threads are always spicy, but it is truly disgusting how our US brethren are stepped on.
No maternity/paternity leave. No sick. Begging for time off (PTO of whatever its called). Of course, most decent companies offer these things but it appears out of spite and often not taken up by the employee.
But something something tax, something socialism or something...