tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5804190908625204938.post1637506103789608063..comments2024-03-27T15:31:34.077-04:00Comments on The Halmanator: Family DayHalmanatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05633928715321475524noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5804190908625204938.post-70282618815627447932009-02-19T07:34:00.000-05:002009-02-19T07:34:00.000-05:00I had to work without extra compensation precisely...I had to work without extra compensation precisely because I already get more than the minimum number of holidays mandated by Ontario's Employment Standards Act. For example, I get Easter Monday off. Most others don't. This is a loophole that was left by the McGuinty government and exploited by my employer. <BR/><BR/>While I commend Mr. Baker's attitude, not all employers are so generous. Wal-Mart probably couldn't take advantage of the loophole because they likely provided only the minimum number of paid holidays to their employees to begin with. Some of us work for Fezziwig. Some of us, unfortunately, work for Scrooge.<BR/><BR/>Understand I'm not criticizing the holiday itself or those who get to enjoy it. My criticism is for the McGuinty government's failure to think through the ramifications before passing it, and for failing to legislate it in such a way that everyone can truly take advantage of it.Halmanatorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05633928715321475524noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5804190908625204938.post-31138601909910289682009-02-18T23:08:00.000-05:002009-02-18T23:08:00.000-05:00I don't understand why you had to work on Fami...I don't understand why you had to work on Family Day. According to the Ontario government, most employees should have the day off, with the exception of federal civil servants, employees outlined in the Employment Standards Act, and people who under contract already receive more paid holidays than the provincial statutes dictate (e.g., if you got Remembrance Day off though it isn't a stat holiday). Here in Thunder Bay, retail stores were shut down. The malls were closed. Most tellingly, Wal-Mart and A&P were closed. The only reason Wal-Mart and A&P close their doors for an entire day is if they don't want to pay their employees time and a half. A quick poll of friends revealed that construction workers and hospital staff got paid time and half on Monday. <BR/><BR/>From the Canadian Press, comes this text, that was published before Family Day ...<BR/>"Jordan Barker, who runs Barker Roofing in Waterloo, will be spending the day with his wife and three young children. He said it's worth the money to allow his four employees - who also have children - to do the same. "It is a cost but like everything it's part of doing business," he said. "I feel, as far as actually having to pay for holidays, it's certainly one of the better holidays to have to pay for." <BR/><BR/>In summary, no, it's not fair that you didn't get the day off or that you didn't get paid extra. But really, it is a worthwhile holiday.Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11715027640936904449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5804190908625204938.post-32714454930308578422009-02-16T22:58:00.000-05:002009-02-16T22:58:00.000-05:00Fair point about schools being open an extra day t...Fair point about schools being open an extra day to compensate for the Family Day holiday, although it also supports my argument that the implementation of the new holiday was mishandled and not completely thought through.<BR/><BR/>I'll challenge your statement about those people who still have to work being paid extra. Can you back that up? I personally know of several who still had to work without extra compensation. I'm one of them.<BR/><BR/>I'll also argue that McGuinty won the election, not because of his promise to create an extra stat holiday, but because of John Tory's ill-advised proposal to extend government funding to non-Catholic faith-based schools, not that I disagree with his desire to correct an egregious double-standard. But that's an entirely separate discussion.Halmanatorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05633928715321475524noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5804190908625204938.post-34521806448787505312009-02-16T22:27:00.000-05:002009-02-16T22:27:00.000-05:00Although teachers get the day off, the school year...Although teachers get the day off, the school year has been extended by one day (legally, the number of school days is mandated by the Education Act). So parents get their childcare money back at the end of June when it's 25C and sunny, while teachers have another day of school to make up for Feb. 16th.<BR/><BR/>I just came back from snowboarding this afternoon, and the slopes were packed (and I mean PACKED) with entire families out enjoying the day off. <BR/><BR/>Check out businesses around town on Family Day. Most are closed. Since its a stat holiday, many of those people who still have to go to work today are being paid extra. <BR/><BR/>Whatever else you might say, in the last election McGuinty ran on the promise of creating a new stat holiday in February, and in response voters put him in office.<BR/><BR/>Sorry old man, I think you dropped the ball on this one.Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11715027640936904449noreply@blogger.com