oil on canvas by Paul Kelpe
Paid Days Off is a term that can replace the terminology ‘sick days’ and ‘vacation days’ – apparently employees like it. I was introduced to this concept by two different respondents to a question I posed on Linked IN regarding ‘reframing work / life balance’. This small change in wording can yield big rewards and a huge shift for both workers at every level and their bosses. Both paid ‘vacation days’ and ‘sick days’ place expectation on the time that you are given off from work. These days of paid rest must be justified- you must use them when you are sick or to take a vacation. Labeling and categorizing this time puts employers in a position of policing employees and employees in the position of justifying using time that is technically theirs to use as they wish. By simply calling this time what it is, ‘paid days off’, companies can better the work environment at zero cost to the company.
Paid Days Off – vs – Sick Days:
If you are in management you know the feeling of getting the call: an employee calls out sick at the last minute – it must be at the last minute to be credible – leaving you short staffed. Perhaps you had a plan today, perhaps there was a meeting or a project that needs all hands, eyes, and brains to be focused and present. Maybe this worker is a teacher or nurse and now you need to call in someone to cover his or her class or shift. You are left scrambling, resentful and wondering if this person is even really sick.
As an employee, your paid sick days are part of the benefits of your job – you are due those paid days off of work – period. In order to take them you must be or pretend to be sick. You really only have one option: lie. Are you too sick to work – maybe. Do you just need a day to catch-up – probably. But now in order to take the day that is due you, you must call your boss, feeling guilty, child-like, and disempowered and play-up your ‘symptoms’ to take your day off. You will face the judgment of your boss and co-workers tomorrow. You will have to lie to each of them about how sick you were yesterday. You have just participated in the paternalistic, degrading and dishonest system that is prevalent in most US companies.
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