Save up so you can be sick

[Quartz]

http://www.theguardian.com/politics...n-open-to-workers-saving-up-fund-own-sick-pay

David Cameron is prepared to look at making workers pay into flexible saving accounts to fund their own sick pay or unemployment benefits, Downing Street has confirmed.

I thought that was supposed to be covered already by National Insurance?

No wonder they want to raise the minimum wage: employers will no longer have to pay NI, and workers will have to fund their own 'benefits'. Of course, those on minimum wage have enough difficulty already and little or no ability to save.

Must Not Think Stabby Thoughts.

 

[Pickman's model]

"this isn't govt policy, it's an idea that's out there". it certainly is.

 

[Steel Icarus]

another attempted way to "legally" thieve off us to line their pockets. It's not surprising, though of course it is fucking disgusting.

 

[Quartz]

"this isn't govt policy"

Yet.

Must Not Think Stabby Thoughts.

 

[Sea Star]

Looking forward to turning up to work on a bad Aspie day when I can't function and work not being able to tell me to go home. Wonder how long me sitting at my desk banging my head against my hands they'll be able to put up with.

Also when I have an upset stomach I'll need a bucket under my desk!!

 

[SpookyFrank]

If we're going to have to save up for our own benefits and sick pay, presumably they'll repay us all our national insurance contributions?

 

[Pickman's model]

Yet.

Must Not Think Stabby Thoughts.

i think you'd find, if put into practice, stabbing would be inefficient. perhaps assaulty rifly thoughts or 1991 mortary thoughts should be particularly avoided.

 

[SpookyFrank]

My thoughts are taking on a depleted-uranium hue at present.

 

[Steel Icarus]

If we're going to have to save up for our own benefits and sick pay, presumably they'll repay us all our national insurance contributions?

sure they will. just like council tax went down for me when I paid £30 to get my garden waste took away

 

[DotCommunist]

If we're going to have to save up for our own benefits and sick pay, presumably they'll repay us all our national insurance contributions?

it'd be a way to undermine collective provision we get through NI.

 

[SpookyFrank]

it'd be a way to undermine collective provision we get through NI.

Well yes, but we've already paid for that provision in good faith. If it's to be taken away, I want a fucking refund

 

[SpookyFrank]

Depleted uranium ain't cheap after all.

 

[cesare]

"this isn't govt policy, it's an idea that's out there". it certainly is.

Phase 2 to "ideas that are out there" is usually paying some captain of wonga-related industry to write a paper on how to do it (in crayon) and when everyone reacts even more badly, to present what they always had intended all along. Something not quite as bad but still on that slippery slope of erosion of employment rights. Hey presto, something not quite as bad but something they couldn't have introduced without floating something even worse first.

 

[pogofish]

Coherent words are somewhat difficult to form!

 

[Mr.Bishie]

Could be the spark that lights the touch paper. Fucking long over due!

 

[ViolentPanda]

Soon there'll be no social contract left.
Once there isn't, why would people continue to submit to governance?

 

[bi0boy]

The well-paid will then be able to afford to go sick and unemployed, whereas the low paid will still have to rely on benefits because they couldn't save enough.

Obviously this will help the notion that benefits are for those who don't work hard enough. Everyone in a part-time minimum wage job just needs to work harder and put a bit of effort in. It's simple really.

 

[ViolentPanda]

If we're going to have to save up for our own benefits and sick pay, presumably they'll repay us all our national insurance contributions?

Nope. As with other elements of the social contract that they've abrogated, they'll expect us to continue to contribute to their neoliberal schemings.

 

[ViolentPanda]

Could be the spark that lights the touch paper. Fucking long over due!

Yup.
(starts practicing with slingshot,orders 5000 10mm ball-bearings off ebay)

 

[DotCommunist]

Phase 2 to "ideas that are out there" is usually paying some captain of wonga-related industry to write a paper on how to do it (in crayon) and when everyone reacts even more badly, to present what they always had intended all along. Something not quite as bad but still on that slippery slope of erosion of employment rights. Hey presto, something not quite as bad but something they couldn't have introduced without floating something even worse first.

I think thats called 'expectation management' or something equally pithy.

you'd end up with some tiered system like in US healthcare- benefit for the very poor and bills for everyone else. So in a similar way that some lower middle class (by merican class definitions) bod has two debilitating illnesses in his family, thats the holiday gone and half of little janes college fund. Thus would prolonged unemployment mean a low earner but not in-poverty won't have enough in the savings pot to cover but enough in private savings to ensure he doesn't qualify for state assistance. Fiendish. Kite flying though as you say.

 

[Zabo]

What we are seeing is the destruction of The Welfare State but we have known that all along have we not? That is the issue that needs to be addressed.

 

[treelover]

Dave is quoted as saying he "wanted to defund the welfare state"

All options are on the table, UNUM have been advising all govts on this for many years, they are envisioning a private insurance based welfare system, andd with TIPP, etc, will hope to increase their market share, etc.

 

[treelover]

"this isn't govt policy, it's an idea that's out there". it certainly is.

With neo-liberals, "not govt policy" rapidly becomes so, they were kite flying the idea of reducing WRAG ESA to JSA elections only a couple of months ago, now its policy.

btw, its had nearly 3000 comments on CIF

 

[zxspectrum]

All this just on time for tea... tip?

 

[YouSir]

How long until someone from Labour comes out, shrugs their shoulders and mumbles 'fair enough'?

 

[treelover]

Should any political party attempt to abolish social security unemployment insurance and eliminate labor laws and farm programs you would not hear of that party again in our political history. There is a tiny splinter group of course that believes you can do these things. Among them are a few other Texas oil millionaires and an occasional politician or business man from other areas. Their number is negligible and they are stupid.”

- Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1954.

Seems an eon ago.

 

[likesfish]

i haz a tactical pen its not a terribly efficent weapon but could inflict a slow lingering death

 

[existentialist]

Of course, this is the scary end of the stick. Shiny Dave will be along in just a moment to explain how, for a very reasonable monthly payment, you, too, can protect your income by making a monthly direct debit to Unum, Inc, or another one of his many friends.

 

[ViolentPanda]

i haz a tactical pen its not a terribly efficent weapon but could inflict a slow lingering death

I have half a dozen kubatons "just in case".

 

[teqniq]

Iain Duncan Smith can just fuck off and die.

This is also from the man who recently had his HOC credit card suspended because he was taking the piss with it.