4 ms·

Fine if the government pays for it.

ceejayoz 6y ago
We all pay for it, one way or another. The article argues that paying for it on a systemic level has what would probably amount to significant cost savings. There's precedent with unemployment for having employers pay an insurance premium to the state. That model seems like it might work here.
- baggy_trough 6y ago
  Why would that be more equitable/efficient than paying for it from general tax funds? It would have to be so to make up for the employment disincentive and business overhead.
  - jeromegv 6y ago
    It's an insurance model in Quebec, similar to employment insurance, where both employer and employee contribute. In theory that means that everything that is contributed by employers/employee gets into that pool and only get spent back on those programs. And if you contribute to it that means you can have access to it, just like insurance. Most tax payers are also workers so this is pretty much the same anyway.
- headcanon 6y ago
  Unemployment insurance only applies for full-time hires though doesn't it? Lots of companies will try to keep part-time employees from becoming full-time so that they don't have to pay for benefits like these. Same with gig-economy and contract-based workers.
  - lukifer 6y ago
    Im 1000% in favor of mandatory parental leave, but that's the risk: it incentivizes companies to try shift their labor force into gigs and contract roles as much as they can get away with. In 2012, I was canvassed by a McCain supporter who voted for Obama in 2008, but was disillusioned after his employer reduced his hours just below the threshold of the ACA requirement; he was forced to work two part-time jobs to make ends meet, neither of which provided healthcare. I suspect a non-trivial portion of the Tea Party / Trump backlash was in reaction to this sort of collateral damage: ACA helped many, but also left some worse off, even if employers and/or insurance companies should bear the primary blame.
ta1234567890 6y ago
There are some countries where mothers get their paycheck from their health insurance company while they are on maternity leave. It's heavily regulated and if they don't have private insurance, they can always opt for the state-run one.
- kgwgk 6y ago
  I'm curious, what countries are you referring to?

We all pay for it, one way or another. The article argues that paying for it on a systemic level has what would probably amount to significant cost savings. There's precedent with unemployment for having employers pay an insurance premium to the state. That model seems like it might work here.

baggy_trough 6y ago
Why would that be more equitable/efficient than paying for it from general tax funds? It would have to be so to make up for the employment disincentive and business overhead.
- jeromegv 6y ago
  It's an insurance model in Quebec, similar to employment insurance, where both employer and employee contribute. In theory that means that everything that is contributed by employers/employee gets into that pool and only get spent back on those programs. And if you contribute to it that means you can have access to it, just like insurance. Most tax payers are also workers so this is pretty much the same anyway.
headcanon 6y ago
Unemployment insurance only applies for full-time hires though doesn't it? Lots of companies will try to keep part-time employees from becoming full-time so that they don't have to pay for benefits like these. Same with gig-economy and contract-based workers.
- lukifer 6y ago
  Im 1000% in favor of mandatory parental leave, but that's the risk: it incentivizes companies to try shift their labor force into gigs and contract roles as much as they can get away with. In 2012, I was canvassed by a McCain supporter who voted for Obama in 2008, but was disillusioned after his employer reduced his hours just below the threshold of the ACA requirement; he was forced to work two part-time jobs to make ends meet, neither of which provided healthcare. I suspect a non-trivial portion of the Tea Party / Trump backlash was in reaction to this sort of collateral damage: ACA helped many, but also left some worse off, even if employers and/or insurance companies should bear the primary blame.

ta1234567890 6y ago

There are some countries where mothers get their paycheck from their health insurance company while they are on maternity leave. It's heavily regulated and if they don't have private insurance, they can always opt for the state-run one.

kgwgk 6y ago
I'm curious, what countries are you referring to?