Bereavement leave

"New York lawmakers have approved a bill that would give employees in the Empire State three months paid bereavement leave to mourn the loss of a loved one – in turn, spurring concerns among business owners that the policy would create a staffing crisis.

The expansive bill would cover the death of a spouse, domestic partner, child, parent, in-law, grandparent or grandchild. It was passed by the state Senate and Assembly at the end of the legislative session in June and now awaits the signature of Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo."

This is wrong on so many levels:

1. Probably one of the best things one can do to move on with their lives following the loss of a loved one is get back to work. Take some time off but 3 months?

2. What is your employer suppose to do for the 3 months you are at home getting paid? Three months is not long enough time to train a temp worker....if you can even find a qualified working willing to take a 3 month gig.

3. When did it become the gubment's job to decide what benefits a company most offer?

4. Take 3 months off when your mother in-law dies? Seriously?! How about when you 98 yo grandfather dies after fighting cancer for 2 years? You need 3 months of paid time off to cope with that even though you've not seen him in 20 years?

5. Who gets to decide if "In-law" includes your brother in law by marriage? The state or the employer?

6. Who get's to decide how long you get to take off work and be paid?

7. Does your accrued vacation and sick leave hours get saved?

8. Includes in-laws but not siblings? WTF?

9. What is this applicable to? Small businesses cannot afford this. If you worked at McDonalds flipping burgers would you get this benefit?


Suppose your are married and your spouse. Number of times you get 3 months off:

4 grandparent @ 3 months = 1 year of paid time off
2 parents @ 3 months = 0.5 years of paid time off
2 in-laws @ 3 months = 0.5 years of paid time off

So then, 2 full year of paid time off that the gubment forces enforces employers to pay!

I have not read the legislation so most of this is hyperbole for affect.....or should that be effect?

Suppose you hate your MIL and really need a vacation....would this not incentivize your to off your MIL? j/k