Sick Leave making you sick

Since my family is German-American I every now and then get to talk to an aunt.
The other day she told me she couldn't take days off since she had to use vacation-days for her sick leave. As German and especially as worker in Germany I wasn't much surprised about how the labor market in the US is handling such subject. However, I have to admit I was kind of disappointed that nothing has changed much.
In Germany, by law you will get paid the first 42 days sick by your employer. After that ones Medical Insurance is paying a certain percentage of the workers gros.

See the U.S. Department of Labour stated on its website:

"Sick Leave
Currently, there are no federal legal requirements for paid sick leave. For companies subject to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Act does require unpaid sick leave. FMLA provides for up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for certain medical situations for either the employee or a member of the employee's immediate family. In many instances paid leave may be substituted for unpaid FMLA leave.Employees are eligible to take FMLA leave if they have worked for their employer for at least 12 months, and have worked for at least 1,250 hours over the previous 12 months, and work at a location where at least 50 employees are employed by the employer within 75 miles."

It couldn't be more complicated and actually more unfair for workers from smaller companies. And it could not be easier for employers to avoid having to pay for sick leave all along...

Vacation days should not be wasted for sick leave...vacation is vacation and not sickation. Certainly, a sick leave can make you even more sick (of it) in this case.. 

 

aloha