Time off to become a citizen...??!??!?

okay.. seriously.. if you are working for an employer that WONT give you PAID time off already... maybe its time to seek employment elsewhere?

http://news.gov.mb.ca/news/index.html?archive=&item=10266

Every place I have worked we have been more then happy, overjoyed in fact to allow our employees time off.

Is this legislation really needed or is it just a vote buying scheme?

there are many industries that won't allow "time off" for things...and many don't offer "sick days" either.

these are also professions which tend to attract immigrants because of the lower pay and longer hours, which many immigrants are willing to tolerate in order to "have a job" while processing.

odd.

say... no thought to having day and evening ceremonies on the same day?

Deank wrote:odd.

say... no thought to having day and evening ceremonies on the same day?

Hahaha, and have federal public servants working evening and weekends??? You funny.

I've you've worked for someone and haven't earned enough leeway to spend an afternoon celebrating your citizenship, maybe that says something about your work ethic.

wpg_idiot wrote:I've you've worked for someone and haven't earned enough leeway to spend an afternoon celebrating your citizenship, maybe that says something about your work ethic.

Do you know many immigrants? Many won't even consider asking their employer for the time off because they feel it may reflect negatively on their work ethic. I think having the time off legally mandated would make it easier for many of these folks to feel comfortable asking without any fear of a negative reaction from their boss. You need to realise that many immigrants don't come from cultures where any kind of leeway as you put it exists. The boss is the boss, and you can be fired at any time for any reason as far as the know. That's one of the reasons so many are taken advantage of by some of the more unscrupulous employers. It's not untill they learn their rights as Canadian's that they start to expect the same type of treatment most Canadian's take for granted.

I still remember as a child missing out on the citizenship ceremony because my parents wrongly believed that children would be unwelcome there. Based on their past experiences children were not to be brought to government functions. They regret not having known ahead of time and the fact that we missed one of the most important ceremonies for new Canadian's because of their misperception.

Try not to think about this issue as a 2nd or 3rd generation Canadian that understands their rights. Think of it from the prespective of a new comer with no family safety net to help if they do anything to jeapordize their job. Many just aren't willing to do anything they feel may put that job at risk. It's got nothing to do with not having enough work ethic to be entitled to the time off.

Yup, business just can't make decisions for themselves, government has to do it for them. So, instead of trying to make the system work and accomodate both employer and employee, the NDP just make more laws.

Anyone wonder where the anti-business feeling comes from?

Ugh, for once why don't you try and look at what I actually commented on rather than making it a case of "business can decide for themselves" and turning it into a left vs. right thing. I think there is a compelling argument for why legislation such as this is not such a bad idea for the reasons I mentioned above. It has nothing to do with being anti-business, and more to do with trying to ensure that all new Canadian's have a chance to experience what should be a defining moment in their lives without fear of negative retribution from their employer.

Stop sounding like a mouth piece from Fox news at every opportunity.

So why does the solution have to be found in employment legislation?

Do you have a better idea that would ensure that all new Canadians have a legal right to attend their citizenship ceremony? One that would ensure that no negative job action could be taken against them legally? Please share.

Why do they need a LEGAL right? Change the ceremony hours to suit the participants.

grumpyrom wrote:Ugh, for once why don't you try and look at what I actually commented on rather than making it a case of "business can decide for themselves" and turning it into a left vs. right thing. I think there is a compelling argument for why legislation such as this is not such a bad idea for the reasons I mentioned above. It has nothing to do with being anti-business, and more to do with trying to ensure that all new Canadian's have a chance to experience what should be a defining moment in their lives without fear of negative retribution from their employer.

Stop sounding like a mouth piece from Fox news at every opportunity.

You're serious aren't you? Look at your post. Reflect on the plethora of anti-business sentiment you wrote and then ask your question: "look at what I actually commented on rather than making it a case of "business can decide for themselves"".

We kid an awful lot about unions and socialist sentimentality. But wow man you bring this on yourself.

grumpyrom wrote:Do you have a better idea that would ensure that all new Canadians have a legal right to attend their citizenship ceremony? One that would ensure that no negative job action could be taken against them legally? Please share.

As said, offer the ceremonies at a variety of times, or heaven forbid, take a vacation day. How many more "legal rights" have to be imposed on small business?

grumpy old man wrote:

grumpyrom wrote:Ugh, for once why don't you try and look at what I actually commented on rather than making it a case of "business can decide for themselves" and turning it into a left vs. right thing. I think there is a compelling argument for why legislation such as this is not such a bad idea for the reasons I mentioned above. It has nothing to do with being anti-business, and more to do with trying to ensure that all new Canadian's have a chance to experience what should be a defining moment in their lives without fear of negative retribution from their employer.

Stop sounding like a mouth piece from Fox news at every opportunity.

You're serious aren't you? Look at your post. Reflect on the plethora of anti-business sentiment you wrote and then ask your question: "look at what I actually commented on rather than making it a case of "business can decide for themselves"".

We kid an awful lot about unions and socialist sentimentality. But wow man you bring this on yourself.

Anti-business sentiment where pray tell? Why because I choose to relate my experiences of what it's like for many immigrant families? Sorry to burst your bubble but it's not all rainbows and unicorns for many new comers. There's a lot of crap that goes on behind closed doors that does exist and many people do get taken advantage of. How is that anti-business by saying it like it is? Does it happen everywhere to everyone...no. I never claimed it did. Does it happen to many, yup. That's speaking from someone who still has many first generation immigrant roots and who has seen and heard it first hand. That's not anti-business.

Anti-business would be outing some of the employers that pepetuate this BS.

grumpyrom wrote:Do you have a better idea that would ensure that all new Canadians have a legal right to attend their citizenship ceremony? One that would ensure that no negative job action could be taken against them legally? Please share.

evening and weekend ceremonies would solve that pretty quick

We both know the chances of that happening are effectively zero.

I don't buy that. The bureaucracies are changing, slowly to be sure, to accommodate the actual users needs.

I remember the banks used to open between 10am and 3pm. Hardly customer friendly. I remember thinking these people will never change. Now look at their hours.

Hopefully more people will grow to expect that. One of my 2006 campaign platforms was flex hours at city hall. Had to explain the concept to more then 50% of the people who bothered to listen. But then cam 311.. and now flex hours are maybe not needed any more. BUT... in 2006 no one would have imagined they could actually call the city 24/7/365 and actually talk to someone.. so yeah... times change man,.

Freeman wrote:Yup, business just can't make decisions for themselves, government has to do it for them. So, instead of trying to make the system work and accomodate both employer and employee, the NDP just make more laws.

Anyone wonder where the anti-business feeling comes from?

WOW...an agreement with Freeman?

What's worse...is there are ALREADY laws in place to cover this...among other things.

IN fact, I was just in a discussion with a friend, who is a cook at an upper-class restaurant (he's not chef yet...but getting there).
His daughter's dance recital is coming up...and he's afraid he'll miss it because he's scheduled to work.
He's afraid to ask for the time off because the job is an in-demand type that many people would want...and he doesn't want his boss to think he doesn't want his job.
I suggested to "call in sick", and he says "they don't get sick days"...which is bull...cause manitoba labour code requires them....

and he's not even an immigrant!!!

Did your friend mean he did not get paid for sick days? Or does his employer forbid sick employees from taking time off when sick? That should concern most about that restaurant if they force sick people to work.

What this means to your amigo's employer is the second he earns his qualifications he'll likely leave. That is certainly unproductive. That employer is shooting off his nose to spite his face.

While legislation provides for sick leave, it is, of course, unpaid. Just to illustrate, here's the types of leaves that legislation provides:
What types of leave are available to employees?


There are seven unpaid leave options for employees

Maternity Leave	17 weeks	for an employee expecting to give birth to a child
Parental Leave	37 weeks	for parents to care for their new child
Family Leave	3 days	for an employee to deal with family responsibilities or personal illness
Compassionate Care Leave	8 weeks	for an employee to care for a very ill family member
Organ Donor Leave	13 weeks	for an employee to donate an organ or tissue
Bereavement Leave	3 days	for an employee to deal with the death of a family member
Reservist Leave	When needed for service	For an employee in the Canadian Forces Reserve who needs time to serve

Now, as a small business owner, you have to understand and administer all of this.