Three years ago, our company, a major utility in the northeast decided that ‘in the best interest of all employees, we will no longer celebrate Veteran’s Day. Those who wish to continue to celebrate this holiday, may use a personal day to do so.’
A National Guard General, who is an employee here, took his case to the president, and was basically told, ‘go away, the decision has been made’.
Today, we get an email, announcing, you got it, re-instituting Veteran’s Day as a company holiday, why:
“Our veterans have sacrificed a lot for our country. We owe them a great deal for their service. As one of the stewards of the communities in the US northeast, we’ll recognize their contribution by observing Veterans Day and by working closely with veterans associations to provide employment opportunities for vets interested in working for our company.”
I pit these small-minded, short-sighted, brainless, hypocritical assholes for shitting on the current veterans/employees who sacrificed for their country before, but suddenly, when they need new employees in specific fields, put on a ‘good’ face in hopes of hiring the new veterans just ending their tours in the Middle East.
Yea, yea, companies are run for their own best interest, but seriously…really?
I wonder how long they’ll keep Veteran’s Day this time??
It’s probably even more self-serving than you portray. There was a bill recently passed that gives companies some nice tax breaks (or some other incentives?) for hiring veterans.
Well, if there’s a sunset provision to that bill that was passed, I would guess it would be right around then. :rolleyes:
I missed the hypocrisy. A company made a decision, changed their mind three years latter. Were there any major changes at the board of directors levels?
If they required employees to work on a national holiday, didn’t they have to pay double time (yes, I’m aware that’s a pun, given the subject holiday’s purpose)? That doesn’t strike me as fiscally responsible if they’re requiring everyone in the company to work that day.
New Years, President’s Day, Memorial day, July 4th, VJ Day (Rhode Island only state left), Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day, plus a birthday floater and a personal day.
I got all the way through the OP before I realized I was mis-reading Veteran’s Day as Valentine’s Day and couldn’t grok why the National Guard would give a shit.
I … probably shouldn’t admit to it. Oh, well. Anyway: money talks. You know that.
I’m not saying your Board isn’t a bunch of schmucks, but I don’t believe an unemployed veteran is going to turn his nose up at a job because he wouldn’t get Veteran’s day off.
Humans…by nature complain. I have never had that many holidays. I get the big 4, that’s it. New Years, 4th of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas. That’s it. No floaters, no personal days, hell I don’t even get sick days.
Come to think of it, my boss is a stingy asshole. And he believes himself to be the most generous guy you’d ever meet.
ETA: I think we may get Memorial day…not sure though…never noticed what with the 12 hour days worked before and after oftentimes.
Is Veterans Day as a paid holiday a requirement for the tax break? I’m skeptical that the break for hiring a veteran would offset the cost of the holiday for a large company. It only gives a one time credit of up to $12k (disabled vet out of work for than six months).
I once interviewed at a company that offered no paid leave or holidays. My current company is a major defense contractor and we don’t get all Federal holidays off. Veteran’s Day is one where we work along with President’s Day and Columbus Day. No legal requirement to pay any holidays in my experience although employee retention might require it.
Still don’t see hypocrisy but who cares. It is the pit.