Ice Hockey Players
24-03-2006, 04:01
After a prime-time report on the TV news series "The Bottom Line" that stated that the average worker in @@NAME@@ takes only four days of vacation a year, labor unions are petitioning the government for mandatory, lengthy paid vacations. The vast majority of workers, even in white-collar business jobs where vacation is at a premium, stand to benefit from this.
The Debate
1. "We need some time off already!" chant a group of blue-collar steel workers carrying lunch pails. The union leader walks up to you and states, "All we want is four weeks of paid vacation a year. Surely that's not too much to ask. A week off every three months to recover and maybe travel a bit. I've always wanted to visit the @@RANDOMNAME@@ Monument in the capital city's historical district myself."
[effect]many workers aren't sure what they want to do with their newly-granted paid vacations
2. "Just giving the vacation out isn't enough!" demands @@RANDOMNAME@@, your Minister of Tourism. "This year alone, four resorts and two travel agencies have gone under, and most airplanes are about a tenth full with just business travelers. What's my point here? If employers are required to give out vacations, they can still discourage people from using it. We need to make vacation mandatory and give more funding to tourism hot spots. We might even attract people from some neighboring countries too!"
[effect]tourist havens are revitalized while other businesses suffer during government-mandated vacations
3. "This is the worst idea I've ever heard!" clamors @@RANDOMNAME@@, a prominent factory owner. "Mandatory vacations? Making us pay people NOT to work? I haven't given out a vacation day in twenty years and I sure as hell won't start today! I can't stay competitive by giving out paid days off, and we can't stay competitive with our neighbors who pay pennies on the dollar with no benefits! Not only should I not be required to pay for vacations, but I shouldn't have to pay for sick days or personal days either! If people want to be hypochondriacs, they can do it in the unemployment line!"
[effect]people skip funerals and hospital stays to keep from losing their jobs
4. "Now let's be reasonable here," says @@RANDOMNAME@@ while dashing into your office out of breath. "I am a very busy person. I don't have time for vacations, and with the job I do, I don't have a way to have time for them. But a nice check at the end of the year for my trouble would be nice. After all, if I work every week of the year for my employer and don't take any time off, I ought to get a bonus, and so should all those other harried souls who sacrifice time off for their jobs."
[effect]overworked professionals look forward to a massive bonus check every year for skipping vacations
Stats go up when I get some ideas.
The Debate
1. "We need some time off already!" chant a group of blue-collar steel workers carrying lunch pails. The union leader walks up to you and states, "All we want is four weeks of paid vacation a year. Surely that's not too much to ask. A week off every three months to recover and maybe travel a bit. I've always wanted to visit the @@RANDOMNAME@@ Monument in the capital city's historical district myself."
[effect]many workers aren't sure what they want to do with their newly-granted paid vacations
2. "Just giving the vacation out isn't enough!" demands @@RANDOMNAME@@, your Minister of Tourism. "This year alone, four resorts and two travel agencies have gone under, and most airplanes are about a tenth full with just business travelers. What's my point here? If employers are required to give out vacations, they can still discourage people from using it. We need to make vacation mandatory and give more funding to tourism hot spots. We might even attract people from some neighboring countries too!"
[effect]tourist havens are revitalized while other businesses suffer during government-mandated vacations
3. "This is the worst idea I've ever heard!" clamors @@RANDOMNAME@@, a prominent factory owner. "Mandatory vacations? Making us pay people NOT to work? I haven't given out a vacation day in twenty years and I sure as hell won't start today! I can't stay competitive by giving out paid days off, and we can't stay competitive with our neighbors who pay pennies on the dollar with no benefits! Not only should I not be required to pay for vacations, but I shouldn't have to pay for sick days or personal days either! If people want to be hypochondriacs, they can do it in the unemployment line!"
[effect]people skip funerals and hospital stays to keep from losing their jobs
4. "Now let's be reasonable here," says @@RANDOMNAME@@ while dashing into your office out of breath. "I am a very busy person. I don't have time for vacations, and with the job I do, I don't have a way to have time for them. But a nice check at the end of the year for my trouble would be nice. After all, if I work every week of the year for my employer and don't take any time off, I ought to get a bonus, and so should all those other harried souls who sacrifice time off for their jobs."
[effect]overworked professionals look forward to a massive bonus check every year for skipping vacations
Stats go up when I get some ideas.