Cue debate about who pays for the social security system in European countries....

Plenty of social security debate here.

If the doctor says that you are ill and fills in the appropriate form, you get that time off work, paid, period.

If it's something that doesn't get you to a doctor, do you take a vacation day?

Fiona! I was just thinking of you. How's Benno?

I can't remember how much sick leave I had the last time I had sick leave. Not much--less than a work week's worth, I know.

One of the worst things about contracting/temping is the lack of paid leave in the event of illness or family emergency. We had to schedule my Gram's wake around my working, because I couldn't afford the time off.

If it's something that doesn't get you to a doctor, do you take a vacation day?

If you're missing for fewer than two consecutive days, including weekends, you don't need a doctor's note. So if you're off on Wednesday with, say, menstrual issues, you can just stay home and still get paid, but if you're off Friday or Monday you do need a note. If you can't get to the doctor for longer illnesses, yes, you'll be docked vacation. Everybody goes to the doctor.

I x-posted.

Fiona! I was just thinking of you. How's Benno?

Hi, Plei! He's great, thanks for asking, though we're both just getting over a bit of a bug. Would you believe it's his third birthday next weekend? He's such a big guy (currently watching Wallce & Gromit next door and peppering me with questions; we're in a big "why?" phase).

How are you doing? Forgive the stupid question but - when's the big day-ish?

If you can't get to the doctor for longer illnesses, yes, you'll be docked vacation. Everybody goes to the doctor.

Even for a migraine, or a bad cold? I mean, it's the habit to go for a diagnosis even if you already know what it is, and it's nothing they can help with?

I like the premise, but if I get one of those vertigo attacks -- I can't go to the doctor anyway, and he can't do anything for me.

But, hey, with 30 days of vacation, I could make do.

How are you doing? Forgive the stupid question but - when's the big day-ish?

I'm doing well. Tired, but well. The EDD is the 24th of April. (I'll be 30 weeks on Sunday--I'm not sure where the time went!)

I can't believe Benno's almost three already! Seems like just yesterday he was being born.

I mean, it's the habit to go for a diagnosis even if you already know what it is, and it's nothing they can help with?

Yeah, a paid day off work is a big incentive. Last time I sat in the waiting room for an hour for a five-minute consultation: "Yes, I have a bad cold, no I can't take anything right now, please write me off work for the rest of the week". And that was that.

I can't believe Benno's almost three already! Seems like just yesterday he was being born.

Gosh, tell me about it.... What did I hear recently? The days are long but the years are short. I find that very true so far.

Got to go - dinnertime - I'll try and check in again later.

I just imagine getting a factory job plus a short-order cook job plus a maid job to be like winning the lottery three times instead of pretty easy like it is here.

What if your husband disappeared, cleaning out the checking account and leaving you $150K in debt, your kid needs braces and you have no dental insurance, one of your jobs is solely to pay for the daycare you need to pay for so you can work the other two, and so, you barely see your own children? What if the other two jobs will only put you in at 32 hours a week so they don't have to give you any benefits?

Not so much lottery at that point, as it is soul crushing pain, exhaustion, and terror that if anything should happen, should you get sick or hurt, that you'll be homeless.