Thankfully, this is not a post about a railroad strike, which was narrowly averted. What pushed the railroad workers and their unions to the brink? Time. Specifically, time off from work and the ability to take sick days. According to the NY Times:
Unions complained that to manage a shortfall of employees, the carriers effectively forced their members to remain on call for days and sometimes weeks at a time, partly through the use of strict attendance policies that could lead to disciplinary action or even firing. They said the policies pushed workers to the limits of their physical and mental health.
As well as a near- constant on call schedule, the railroads employed a point system that punished workers for sick and personal time. Workers avoided medical appointments and family events to avoid punishment. In the end, the issue of sick and personal leave was the sticking point.
We all know that in the tight labor market and post-pandemic economy, work coverage is a challenge. Employing a draconian points policy and requiring constant on call scheduling is not the answer. At a minimum, employers must meet their state sick leave requirements. Eighteen states currently have mandated sick leave (paid and unpaid). Are you in compliance?
We can help. Offering sick leave and personal leave is an important issue for everyone. Ounce of prevention, pound of cure and all that. We can help you comply with your state mandates or provide a sick leave and personal leave policy as a valued benefit. Contact us.