Grayson proposes requiring at least a week's paid vacation for many workers

[Hugabear]

Source: Orlando Sentinel

U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson introduced a bill Thursday that would require U.S. businesses of a certain size to provide workers with paid vacation.

Citing existing practice in Europe and other industrialized regions of the world, Grayson called for Congress to embrace the measure, which would initially affect businesses with 100 employees or more.

"Why are paid vacations good enough for the Chinese, French, Japanese and German employees, but not good enough for us?" he said. "In other countries, it's a matter of right. In our country, it is a matter of class."

The Paid Vacation Act of 2009 would extend a benefit of at least one week's paid vacation to millions of workers who currently have none, the Orlando Democrat said. Three years after taking effect, it would also apply to companies with 50 or more employees.

Read more: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/orl-bk-paid-vacation-grayson-052209,0,1637421.story

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It's about time the US caught up to most of the industrialized world. Even if workers don't travel or spend lots of money on their time off, it's still valuable time that can be spent with families, loved ones, or just taking a much needed break. The people complaining that this will kill small businesses are the exact same ones who predicted doom & gloom over minimum wage.

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. But that is SOCIALISM!!

:)

[Fearless]

2. Damn you beat me to it.

:rofl:

[truedelphi]

3. I am really loving this Grayson fellow. He obviously understands

What the Big "D" after his name is supposed to mean.

[sasquatch]

4. Why not two weeks?

[Hugabear]

10. An earlier version of this article did say it would be two weeks after 3 years

The first version I read stated that 3 years after the bill's passage, employers with over 100 people would be required to give 2 weeks vacation, and those with over 50 people would have to give 1 week. By the time I got around to posting this article, it had been changed, and I couldn't verify if the 2-week provision was still in the bill.

[Jeep789]

5. A week? And only for businesses with 100 or more employees?

Won't this keep some employers from hiring more than 99 employees? Doesn't the worker who works for an even smaller business deserve a paid vacation? And only one week? Oh well, baby steps better than no steps, I guess.

[saorsa]

6. Oh well...

bless his heart anyway, you are right, I am grateful for the baby steps, at least they point to a change in attitude if nothing else. I work for a small company, less than 10. Sure could use a paid sick day now and then, or a health plan. Nearly lost my marbles after a couple of years without a vacation. I was saved by an iPod. I put some old comedy shows on it and walked around giggling all day

[tomm2thumbs]

7. 'These Democrats - maybe they ought to do a week of WORK first...'

I'm sure that's what all the Republicans are grumbling - not that it isn't a good idea, but not sure his timing is perfect for announcing 'vacation time' when unemployment is at a record high, millions are still hunting desperately for jobs and companies are going out of business left and right as the economy falters. He may have thought it would benefit the themed entertainment industry, but I don't know that business people across the other 99% of industries are going to say 'uh, yea, another great Democratic winner idea'.

Maybe a good idea after things start to pick up a bit - but now? Why give the other side more ammo when we don't yet have health care.

[tomreedtoon]

8. Since there will be few American jobs left...

...this sounds like a workable plan.

[Wednesdays]

9. K&R

:kick: