No, I don't own a business. However, I am fairly certain that if I did own a business, I wouldn't abandon my firmly entrenched belief that our society and culture would be lacking if we didn't set aside 'special' days for us to collectively celebrate 'special' cultural occasions. It's difficult to celebrate from a cubicle, behind a cash register or whilst cementing a footpath.
I agree - we have enough stupid excuses for a bludge as it is - most folk simply use it as a paid day off
I think if Victoria (I can't speak for the rest of the nation) were to add another public holiday, the Grand Final would be an appropriate occasion to celebrate considering it is a unique sport which WE founded. No, I'm not into sport, but nor am I religious and I'm not against public holidays for Christmas and Easter. However, I think it would be stupid to have a public holiday for the Grand Final as it's always on a Saturday,
The case rests, yer Honourso it would seem a rather superfluous public holiday because most people don't work on Saturdays and the Monday would simply become a 'day off work' rather than a day of celebration.
Oh; you think?
If public holidays are so awful, do you advocate we get rid of them all? Or only some? We're currently at 11? You say 12 would be too much, but is 11 too much? Is 8 too much?
Yes, no, yes, yes, yes
Apparently as a business owner, only YOU can answer this question
As someone who has done both own a business and been an employee, and is not of an employee mindset any longer.
Anyway, I went to the Royal Melbourne Show today for the first time since I was a kid. A FANTASTIC day. It is now my favourite annual event and I plan to go every year. A went on a ton of rides, petted cows and goats, watched a dog show, my husband won me a stuffed toy, etc.. To be honest, I'm a bit sad we got rid of the Show Day public holiday - it's a great event that's been running since 1848 and I think Melbourne should be proud of this cultural tradition, even if it isn't terribly unique. As a New World nation, we don't have many traditions and we should cherish those we have.
I agree. Just take the day to go....without pay....if you feel that strongly about it. Your boss can't afford it.
Bayview, you can't shout down other people's views because your business is floundering.
See response below in black.
You were blatantly dismissing my view because I'm not a business owner.
How did you guess?
You fail to realise that public holidays have existed for thousands of years throughout different cultures and they are far bigger than you or your small business.
See response below in black
Whether the Grand Final is worthy of joining this cultural tradition, well, who knows. But I know you're an atheist (as I am) and I haven't seen you complaining about Christmas and Easter public holidays.
While they have existed for a very long time, they also are from a past climate of business and economic activity before internet trade and technological advances.
The world has changed. We are competing for jobs with other countries who can do it cheaper. We never used to have to.
Hell, we even have a scenario here in Aus now, where it is cheaper to ship the components and materials O/S, get them made O/S, ship them back and sell them back to our own folk who sent the materials in the firsts place - cheaper than making it here.
You call that a good thing?
At least it keeps the third world folk in a job, I guess.
And now we are talking of adding another freebie day to the total and that's cool?
You may glibly say "so what?", and "I'm alright, Jack", and; "It's only one extra day, how can it hurt?", which is what I would expect a PAYE to say who has never been on the other side of the fence as a staff paying business owner.
Another paid public holiday may kill the opportunity for who knows how many extra jobs which may have been created.
As it is, the cost of an employee is really about half an employee more than just the wage each year. We are costing maybe 1 to 1.5 jobs in 3 people as we sit here today.
I don't really care - my job is safe; it's you PAYE guys who chuck the glib shoit around who should be worried. Three years ago, I had 3 full time staff and pulled 6 figures out of the business. Now, I have 2 part-timers and still pull a good wage out. Not as much as before admittedly, but the wages I've sacrificed are retained in the business, so it is still good. Who are the losers in this equation? The only difference is now I have to work a full week of work again which was not my plan, but that's my choice and opportunity to be able to do so.
We are already experiencing wholesale job losses on a National scale.
We are already seeing jobs exported overseas to cheaper labour countries and - worse for us - more productive per wage dollar countries than us.
We are seeing increases in the Super Guarantee
We have redundancy payouts
We have paid parental leave
We have holiday loading in many industries
And so on, and so on.
Every single one of these little wins, while being applauded by Unions and PAYE (which I have been on and off for 35 years) is quietly and surely eroding the three biggest employers of this country - retail, farming and manufacturing, and all their associated businesses which feed off them.
Meanwhile, we keep filling up the country with more folk, but the job pool won't keep up with it. Every one of those new folk getting that same extra freebie day...at what cost? It'd be mind boggling how much.
Workers who are PAYE never see the bigger picture of these costs to the Nation - we are starting to see it now with the advent of the global market, the internet store, and the steady add on of the freebie for the worker.
My business isn't floundering, it's not as profitable as it has been or what I would like, but it still provides me with a job for life, and an income for life....many cannot say the same given the climate we are in now. My job and destiny is in my own hands - not my boss's, who might say; "sheet; another farking freebie day! Time for a board meeting to cull a few staff to cut costs".
I haven't complained about those holidays (Xmas and googie egg week) because they haven't come up in recent conversation, but now you've mentioned it....I hate Easter; costs me a fortune. I couldn't give a sheet about the bloke upstairs, or wherever, and I can take time off whenever I like...I don't have to put in a request for leave with all the other staff and hope for the best.
Have the holiday - but with no pay...if you feel that strongly about having to celebrate some event on that exact day...
oh; wait - Anzac Day gets given even if it is a weekend; how silly of me to forget.
Or; stay at work at normal pay with the non-believers of religious days and events.
Same as all the pub hols - let those who want to partake, partake - but not subsidised by the boss....it's costing you PAYE types more jobs.
I'm surprised you lot haven't woken up to this....
Run a business and maybe you will.
