Read on Twitter
1) We have largely given up on rapid testing. If true that #COVID19 will be seasonal/recurrent for some time, we should revisit that de facto choice
2) EI & CRSB have gaps but in diff ways. EI gap = coverage & *EI week* CRSB = weekly & quickly exhausted.
1/n https://twitter.com/IrfanDhalla/status/1350611418480041987
2) EI & CRSB have gaps but in diff ways. EI gap = coverage & *EI week* CRSB = weekly & quickly exhausted.
1/n https://twitter.com/IrfanDhalla/status/1350611418480041987
3) Retroactive payment of benefits is not, IMHO, terrible in longrun so long as a) application is easy b) processing largely automated & fast
4) Co-pay in EI is longstanding & consistent w/ insurance bit of social insurance. BUT sensible only for benefit payments that are sev weeks, not just 1 or 2 like short-term isolation pay. We need 2 kinds of sick pay: short term that is ez to get & fast to pay;
and med-term that is not as fast or ez but comes with access to ancillary services that can ease transitions if/as work is possible
5) Employers should pay in. When they have skin in the game, odds are they do more to protect workers’ health, support returns, etc..
5) Employers should pay in. When they have skin in the game, odds are they do more to protect workers’ health, support returns, etc..
But, provincial codes requiring paid sick leave look like they have limited impact on distribution in LF of paid sick leave AFAICT and are always modest vs worker need (even outside pandemic).
Also, in a giant and global recession, adding new employer obligations without support may be a heavy lift right now. Yes, some employers are seeing excess profits, but not all and labour law doesn’t/can’t differentiate.
6) It’s more efficient to pay sick leave via a pool. Big employers can do this internally, but small ones and self-employed can’t.
Biggest pool possible is a public option (looking at you too US healthcare). We need a public option for paid *short term* sick pay, and...
Biggest pool possible is a public option (looking at you too US healthcare). We need a public option for paid *short term* sick pay, and...
mechanisms for employers & firms to pay in. The broader the contribution base, the lower the contribution rate needed for same level of benefit.
7) On top of wage replacement, employees need certainty that a few days off when ill /isolating can’t mean permanent layoff.
7) On top of wage replacement, employees need certainty that a few days off when ill /isolating can’t mean permanent layoff.
During pandemic, most P/Ts have made job protected but unpaid leave longer & more accessible. But are employers following the rules? Do workers know their rights? Rights on paper < rights in practice or capability to exercise rights.
Governments could do MUCH more to ensure awareness & adeherence re: job-protected leaves.
8) Willingness to test/isolate (and v soon vaccination) + $ for wage loss are corelated but instruments to deal w/ wage loss may not be same as $ incentive to test/isolate/vaccinate.
8) Willingness to test/isolate (and v soon vaccination) + $ for wage loss are corelated but instruments to deal w/ wage loss may not be same as $ incentive to test/isolate/vaccinate.
See my point above re: short vs medium-term benefits.
The goal should be benefit programs that can pay in days or portions of days (not just weeks) but we are starting with systems built for years, quarters or weeks, at best.
The goal should be benefit programs that can pay in days or portions of days (not just weeks) but we are starting with systems built for years, quarters or weeks, at best.
Maybe there’s room, in current environment and until/unless ez, short-term & flexible sick pay is online, to look at vouchers to offset out of pocket costs to get vaccinated.
9) I wonder how many employers know they could get $0.75 per $1 of sick pay via CEWS.
9) I wonder how many employers know they could get $0.75 per $1 of sick pay via CEWS.
Maybe they don’t know & gov’t can again do far more to advise. Or maybe employers do know and worry about longerterm labour costs if precedent set now. If so, see my point earlier on pooling.
End of rant. Back to TA’ing econ101 for eldest.
H/T @RonKneebone for a great textbook.
End of rant. Back to TA’ing econ101 for eldest.
H/T @RonKneebone for a great textbook.
