Canada Day 'Long' Weekend

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by KevanGuy

I appreciate everyone's advice. My personal views on stats aside, I am following the directions given to me by the government and I think that is fair. If any of my employees want the day off that is fine. I won't make them work but I won't pay them for it either.

That's fair.

[GreenTeaFrapp]

Originally Posted by KevanGuy

My personal views on stats aside, I am following the directions given to me by the government and I think that is fair.

So do you also pay them miniumum wage? After all the directions given to you by the government means you don't have to pay them anymore then that.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by KevanGuy

I appreciate everyone's advice. My personal views on stats aside, I am following the directions given to me by the government and I think that is fair. If any of my employees want the day off that is fine. I won't make them work but I won't pay them for it either.

Well, your the BOSS and you get to make those decisions. I dont know what kind of business you run but if I worked for you and I knew most other people were getting paid or another day off in leu of Sat I would be a little bitter. That one issue would most likely not make me seek other employment but if there were other issues aswell it might just be the deciding factor in my continued employment.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by GreenTeaFrapp

So do you also pay them miniumum wage? After all the directions given to you by the government means you don't have to pay them anymore then that.

Holy crow. How can people be so judgemental when none of you have any understanding of KG's specific business, his employees or his finances.

The government regulations are there to be used as a guideline. Its all well and fine that big oil and government can afford to give their employees so many days off...but the world of small business is a different beast and things have to be managed differently.

Moreover, there are other things apart from pay/days off that will dictate how much your staff turns over.

KG I think you should make them work a 10 hour day with no lunch breaks!

[MolsonInBothHands]

Aren't you in some kind of telemarketing business? Give them a month off for all I care Scrooge.

I can see your point from the small business side, but there must be enough challenges in retaining a work force as it is. What about a little less costly perk on the day that would have been in lieu? Perhaps bring in some beverages or pizza on the Friday, to show some appreciation, if you have any. I imagine that can go a long ways.

[jolinar of malkshor]

I would like to know, can you afford to pay them or would it be an undue hardship. IMO if you are just trying to save a few bucks to put in your own pocket, it would be very short sighted. A little appreciation goes a long way.

[Engine09]

The first day an employer tried to take a holiday away from me, I'd open the classifies and start lookign for a new job. Life is too short and work is not important enough to put up with that.

[KevanGuy]

I am a SMALL business. Not an Oil Company or the governmet or anything like that. Of course paying them for a stat is tough. Any money that I save from the stat goes into the business anyway, not my pocket.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Kryzsky

The first day an employer tried to take a holiday away from me, I'd open the classifies and start lookign for a new job. Life is too short and work is not important enough to put up with that.

Well that's my feeling, but I can understand it from a business owner's perspective. My dad owns a small business and it sucks for him to pay stat holidays. That being said, I haven't talked to him this week, soI don't know what he's doing about Canada Day.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by GreenTeaFrapp

So do you also pay them miniumum wage? After all the directions given to you by the government means you don't have to pay them anymore then that.

WOw. I don't know anything about his business - he may be the best boss in the world but stat holidays can create a hardship, and sometimes it is better to let the staff know where things stand.

I know specifically my company (not mine, the one I work for) needs a lot of seasonal staff in the spring, and I know the majority of them are hired so that the Good Friday Stat doesn't need to be paid. 100 seasonal employees getting a paid day off, plus no work for that day would be a huge pill to swallow.

Until you are the one paying the bills, don't be too quick to judge.

[Vansmack]

Originally Posted by KevanGuy

I am a SMALL buisness. Not an Oil Company or the governmet or anything like that. Of course paying them for a stat is tough. Any money that I save from the stat goes into the business anyway, not my pocket.

i agree with you kevan. The comment regarding minimum wage is also not really applicalbe. I am sure you have competetive wages as compared to others in the same industry. It sucks for the people who don't get the stat holiday this year, but as far as i am concerned 6/7 aint too bad.

[Log]

I think it comes down to the type of profit margin the business makes (not the only consideration but definately a big one).

I don't know the situation here, but lets say that the business has a net income (ignoring taxes) of $2k per month (after KG's salary or wage is paid). The $1600 example given above will virtually erase the net income for the month. If we are talking about a business that pulls in a profit margin of $50k per month, I don't think it would be a big deal.

That being said, if I was employed by KG and didn't get the day off (with pay) it would go straight to the labour board.... errrrrr, I mean, I would simply suck it up. Its one day people, deal with it!

KG - Do you give your employees paid sick days? If so, I wouldn't be surprised to hear of a couple calling in sick!

[Mr.Coffee]

lol at socialist sally. That's awesome.

Anyways. I agree with what Jiri said. The small business world is a tough world. Employees are getting quite used to thumping their chests lately because of the job market and the problem is that business managers can't do anything to stop it.

Without knowing the type of business you run... I guess I'll try an uneducated guess here. Personally I would address the situation like this. I'd call a real quick meeting, explain to the employees your problem (helps with understanding), tell them they're working on Monday. I'd tell them they're working time and a half, and then, I'd let them know how appreciative I am by, like others have said, buying them a pizza or what not.

And I'd make sure to tell them my thanks. That usually helps too.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by fotze

KG sells dildoes (or is it dildos) over the phone. Just kidding

Who would have thought mr right wing jolinar would be mr. socialist sally on this issue.

Come now, don't go soiling my right wing name here. Haha I am all for small business, they usually give us the best service and I don't enjoy government control. Having said that, I am simply saying that with the tight labour market we have I would not accept an employer taking advantage of this situation simply because the holiday lands on a Sat.

I have a well paying full time job but I have also had many part time jobs in the last few years just to earn some extra bucks. I have quit a few of them because the employer did not appreciate or recogonize the work that was being done, both financially and just verbally saying so.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

lol at socialist sally. That's awesome.

Anyways. I agree with what Jiri said. The small business world is a tough world. Employees are getting quite used to thumping their chests lately because of the job market and the problem is that business managers can't do anything to stop it.

Without knowing the type of business you run... I guess I'll try an uneducated guess here. Personally I would address the situation like this. I'd call a real quick meeting, explain to the employees your problem (helps with understanding), tell them they're working on Monday. I'd tell them they're working time and a half, and then, I'd let them know how appreciative I am by, like others have said, buying them a pizza or what not.

And I'd make sure to tell them my thanks. That usually helps too.

I agree, as long as he does something to recognize the fact that his employees are not getting a holiday when most people do and that he is greatful that they are coming in to work for him.

[Buff]

I asked my bosses "Since Canada Day is on Saturday, what is happening this year?" (note how I didn't specifically ask which day we get off, or if we even get a day off). So we held an impromptu staff meeting and we get Friday off. However, and I forgot about this fact, I'm the last employee my company will ever have (some schmuck screwed over my bosses and created headaches, so they're only hiring people as contract workers now). So to only have to pay one guy for the day off is no big deal for my bosses.

[jolinar of malkshor]

There has been recent stories and studies about how deprived North Americans are of Vacation days and the negative effects it has on production.

This is a quote out of a article from CBC

Holidays may help improve productivity
If people don't take holidays, the stress weakens their immune system, strains their personal relationships, and inevitably worsens their work performance, said Beuermann-King. Vacation was seen as an inconvenience in the past, but companies are now encouraging their employees to take their time off, she said.

http://www.cbc.ca/story/news/nationa...tion-days.html

I have read other articles showing that North Americans are getting worn out by not taking holidays.

Again, short term gain for long term pain/reduction in productivity.

[Mr.Coffee]

I've heard LOTS about how North Americans work too hard as well, and as a result are actually less productive then Europeans. No quotes or anything- so take it with a grain of salt. Just rumors from lectures in school and whatnot.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

There has been recent stories and studies about how deprived North Americans are of Vacation days and the negative effects it has on production.

This is a quote out of a article from CBC

Holidays may help improve productivity
If people don't take holidays, the stress weakens their immune system, strains their personal relationships, and inevitably worsens their work performance, said Beuermann-King. Vacation was seen as an inconvenience in the past, but companies are now encouraging their employees to take their time off, she said.

http://www.cbc.ca/story/news/nationa...tion-days.html

I have read other articles showing that North Americans are getting worn out by not taking holidays.

Again, short term gain for long term pain/reduction in productivity.

Be carefull KG, your employees are going to sue you for making them sick if you don't give them a day off for Canada Day! lol

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by edn88

Attraction and retention man... I presume your workers might be in demand in other sectors of the Calgary economy, so if you don't give them the day off and they are at all dissatisfied, they will find someone that does.

Exactly, completely short-sighted to not give a day off in this city right now in my opinion. EnCana is giving the first and third Fridays of every week off now in order to try attract and retain employees.

KG, it costs a lot more to recruit and train new people than it does to give one day off.