I’m not impressed by 40,000 signatures on this petition any more than I’d be impressed by 40,000 signatures on a petition that demands the teaching of intelligent design in public schools. So long as it makes them feel good and entails no personal effort or sacrifice, people will sign almost anything, including some things that are nonsense.

Keith,

Where I worked (I’m now retired), my employer provided fairly generous sick leave benefits. Some of my co-workers would call in sick as soon they accumulated 8 hours of sick leave (it was jokingly called a “mental health day”). Of course, others never took sick leave while most used them as needed.

From what I understand, one local Krautlich company used to make attendance mandatory for the first six months of someone’s employment.

The scene during flu seasons were these poor wretches falling asleep at their desks, and no doubt spreading the malady throughout the office.

But of course the “up with people” crowd thinks everybody uses sick time to rip off their employers.

“Hey, I have a bad back! Now is the perfect time to move that refrigerator all by myself!”

This could, however, be great for the revitalization of North Ave. on the east side of ‘Tosa, so I say bring it on.

I don’t know how you can argue with a large number of concerned citizens organizing and making their voices heard…

Has anyone discussed the issue of mandated paid sick leave with small businessmen/women in Milwaukee? Has their input been sought? Have any economists (say from Marquette or UWM) ventured an opinion?

One of the perks of being a politcian is that you can force other people to pay for benefits you manddate.