Does This Make Sense To You?
In The Dispatch account of Phil Hare’s press conference about how he was “doing his best” to get more H1N1 vaccine to the area, there was this odd bit at the end:
“Rep. Hare urged employers to be more flexible in granting sick leave to people with flu symptoms. He said his office is receiving phone calls from sick people—some of whom are food service workers—who are hesitant or unable to take the needed time off work.”
This flies in the face of all logic—and reality.
I’d like to know which businesses don’t allow sick people to take off work—I want some names. It seems especially unlikely that food service businesses would discourage their workers from taking sick leave—I suspect the opposite is the case.
In my entire working career, it never once occurred to me to call my congressman when I was ill. So what did these people expect Hare to do for them?
Force taxpayers to make up their lost pay?
Become their employer’s “worst nightmare”, which worked out so well for the Seaford workers?
Are local Democrats just more dimwitted than most workers?
Is Hare just making stuff up again in order to please his Big Labor paymasters by bashing business—again?
I’m sorry Philster, but your statement strains credulity; no business would force sick workers to stay on the job and infect others.
I want the names of these businesses and I want the names of people who called Hare expecting him to intervene with their employer—otherwise I’ll assume this is more palter.
I think you know the answer to why they are contacting Hare in fact you suggested it “taxpayers to make up their lost pay”
They have become use to the bailout mentality and freebies that government provides so why not ask?
Comment by Tspud1 | November 3, 2009
Some say the whole H1N1 “epidemic” is major hype. 30,000 per year die from regular flu, and though this flu may be early, it may also mean the regular flu season will be less intense … people that are susceptible already have had it. More people are getting flu shots out of fear, and Big Gov probably sees that as a success … another use of manufactured crisis. It also helps sell their health care bill.
The test for H1N1 is expensive, so flu like symptoms are often counted as H1N1, just to fit the story line that’s already been written. But it does give us yet another look at how well prepared Obama is to handle a takeover of national health care. The promised doses are mostly still back-ordered.
Still, if the death toll is “only” 30,000, we can count on Obama appearing with his superman cape and hands on hips, declaring he thwarted a global pandemic. (I’ll spare qce the visual of Hare in a superman costume … oops, too late)
The people appealing to Hare amid all the hype, probably see an open door for an extra week of paid vacation …
Comment by bill | November 3, 2009
It might be possible with illegal aliens whose employers have them over a barrel.
Comment by Larry Fine | November 3, 2009
I’m pleased someone is looking out after our interest in Moline. The last thing we need is more SWINE FLU. Three cheers to Phil for getting us the shots we need.
Comment by Halfwaygone | November 3, 2009
Are you daft, he hasn’t is the whole point but yet you cheer.
Comment by Tspud1 | November 3, 2009
These far left Democrats won’t need death panels, they’ll kill us with incompetence and Marxist ideology … if they get their way.
Comment by bill | November 3, 2009
It didn’t take long:
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE59J58H20091103
Comment by Tspud1 | November 3, 2009
Lost pay is exactly what they want and exactly what they’re going to get: http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE59J58H20091103
I also received an e-newsletter from Hare reminding me to cover my face when I sneeze. Apparently, he’ll also send someone over to wipe my a**, too. At taxpayer expense, of course.
This is the logical conclusion of the nanny state.
Comment by Sassenach | November 4, 2009
Nice catch T and Sass—every one of Hare’s talking points was in your linked article.
Which makes me think that his supposed off-hand remark about how people were calling his office, etc. was really just a set up because he knew this piece of legislative nanny statism was in the works.
Comment by qcexaminer | November 4, 2009
I feel a headache coming on, Phil can you send a check?
Comment by Tspud1 | November 4, 2009
Another chance for the manipulative and dishonest “workers” to take advantage of the employer, at a time when higher taxes and health care burdens and recession are already forcing layoffs.
If the worker needs money for the sick time, he can use vacation days. But this amounts to a government mandated additional week of vacation time. Only honest workers will “volunteer” to work that week “for free”.
Brilliant strategy … (of course it falls right in line with all the other BigGov destructive and unfunded mandates)
Comment by bill | November 4, 2009
Hmmm, now that I’m thinking about it, this new scam could be played to the hilt by those of us with two X chromosomes:
“oooohhhhhhharrrrgghhhh, it’s that time of the month—the pain, the agony, the cramps, the bloating—Phil, I can’t make it to work today, so make my boss send me a check for lost wages. Oh yeah, and have him get one ready for next month, too”.
Comment by qcexaminer | November 4, 2009
["it’s that time of the month"]
I used to work with a woman that constantly used the excuse in an attempt to go home early. She especially like to try it when her direct manager left and one of us from the other departments were her manager for the night. She was a royal pain.
Comment by thescoundrel | November 4, 2009