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Post by Carolyn on Mar 15, 2015 14:45:52 GMT -5
Wait, wait. It's a 2 month unpaid leave? I thought it was considered a temporary disability? D:
If it's unpaid then the US really needs to change their policies. :x
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Post by Herdy on Mar 15, 2015 15:17:41 GMT -5
Yeah, the US is really sucky about it compared to elsewhere XD
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Post by Komori on Mar 15, 2015 15:37:07 GMT -5
Wait, wait. It's a 2 month unpaid leave? I thought it was considered a temporary disability? D: If it's unpaid then the US really needs to change their policies. :x Well, 12 weeks is 3 months, but yeah, that's about it on a federal level. If states want to add to that, it's up to them, as well as on a company to company basis. |
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Post by Carolyn on Mar 15, 2015 16:33:45 GMT -5
Yeah, the US is really sucky about it compared to elsewhere XD Seriously. All in favor of moving out of the States, say "I!" |
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Post by Allison on Mar 15, 2015 18:23:58 GMT -5
There is no official maternity leave in the US, believe it or not. The best we have it what is called "Family Medical Leave Act" (FMLA) which provides 12 weeks unpaid leave with job protection. Which this SOUNDS good, there are a couple caveats to it. You have to use any acquired sick or vacation leave first, and this counts for the 12 weeks of leave. So even if you've saved up over 12 weeks in leave, you don't get any additional leave after that.
If California is an "at will" state, like my state is, then a company can let you go for nearly any reason. They just can't give the reason as, "We let you go because of your disability," or, "We let you go because of your pregnancy." So what this means is if Droplet was going to be laid off anyway, then her maternity leave doesn't protect her, since that is not the reason she was let go. Crazy, I know.
The US is the only industrialized country that has NO official maternity leave. Actually, the US has almost no laws regarding leave whatsoever. Companies don't have to offer ANY leave, other than that 12 weeks of FMLA. Leave of any type is considered a "benefit" or an extra. Crazy, I know.
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Post by Carolyn on Mar 15, 2015 19:59:42 GMT -5
Allison- That's... wow. I'm speechless.  Thank you for the explanation, though...
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Post by Allison on Mar 15, 2015 20:57:25 GMT -5
Hopefully they all got a severance package, which could end up being better than the 12 weeks leave, for Droplet specifically. And most companies in the US do offer leave of some sort, because they know they really can't compete in the job market without it. But... yeah. As far as actual laws regarding leave, the US is pretty sad.
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Post by Komori on Mar 15, 2015 21:34:47 GMT -5
And most companies in the US do offer leave of some sort, because they know they really can't compete in the job market without it. Well, not if you're in an industry like games, tv, movies, vfx. Those companies know that there will always be people lining up to work in those fields, so they can really brutalize their staff without worrying about finding replacements. (Seriously, the VFX industry is -insane-) Not sure if Neopets is under that blanket, but considering Viacom had that folded into their whole Nickelodeon brand, and that name carries some prestige, I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't have much leave OR severance. *facepalms* Big business ALWAYS becomes corrupt, doesn't it? I wouldn't call it corrupt, since no one's doing anything illegal. More like, business doing exactly what's good for its bottom line. |
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Post by doctortomoe on Mar 15, 2015 23:16:56 GMT -5
It just so happens that people are always getting the shaft when it comes to these things. Simply put, workers are not valued. You can be used up, tossed aside, and replaced easily. In fact, here in the south, there are zero worker protections.
Seriously, at my last three jobs, I wasn't even put on payroll. My position in one was hidden in office supplies so they wouldn't have to pay payroll taxes on me. I was considered carbon paper, and my pay came out of the supply budget.
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Post by Komori on Mar 15, 2015 23:45:41 GMT -5
My position in one was hidden in office supplies so they wouldn't have to pay payroll taxes on me. I was considered carbon paper, and my pay came out of the supply budget. I'm... reasonably sure that's illegal. o___o |
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Post by M is for Morphine on Mar 16, 2015 12:31:29 GMT -5
I'm guessing they pulled the "Jumpstaff" pet, in case people thought it was actually staff from Jumpstart. But then that makes me question why the "Jumpstart" pet is allowed to stay. Curious. Going to guess that Jumpstart is grandfathered because the pet is like 3,000 days old. Jumpstaff looks like you're claiming to be, well, staff, and that's never been ok. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2015 12:48:25 GMT -5
I'm guessing they pulled the "Jumpstaff" pet, in case people thought it was actually staff from Jumpstart. But then that makes me question why the "Jumpstart" pet is allowed to stay. Curious. Going to guess that Jumpstart is grandfathered because the pet is like 3,000 days old. Jumpstaff looks like you're claiming to be, well, staff, and that's never been ok. Pretty much this. Hmm... I wonder if it'd be okay to name your pet after the old TNT members Jumpstart fired. I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be okay, but it'd be a nice little tribute. |
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Post by doctortomoe on Mar 16, 2015 17:37:17 GMT -5
My position in one was hidden in office supplies so they wouldn't have to pay payroll taxes on me. I was considered carbon paper, and my pay came out of the supply budget. I'm... reasonably sure that's illegal. o___o It's not. At least not in Mississippi. Either way, the point is moot, the owner sold the company a few years ago. |
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Post by doctortomoe on Mar 16, 2015 18:29:49 GMT -5
Well, the new news person is getting a bit better at getting the style of the news down.
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Post by Patjade on Mar 16, 2015 18:39:09 GMT -5
Well, the new news person is getting a bit better at getting the style of the news down. Beat me to it. I was about to say the same thing. They also have the links going to the actual shops, and if those are new items, the artwork is improving. That Meepit Slap Bracelet was... erm. |
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Thank you for the explanation, though...
