Just to shake things up this week, I figured I'd take a poll before beginning my column. As you know, Monday is a holiday. But alas, it is a civic holiday, not a statutory one. That means your employer doesn't have to pay you for the day off. It's up to them whether they do so or not.
Which leads right into the first question of the aforementioned poll.
How many of you who are off Monday are going to be getting holiday pay? Could I get a quick show of hands, please?
I see. Let me pose the question a different way. Perhaps I put too much pressure on you by emphasizing the speed aspect. Could I get a slow show of hands? Take all the time you need. I'm not going anywhere.
Hmmm, again nada. That's not too promising.
Hang on. I may have jumped the gun. I just saw a foot go up. Uh, sir, can I take your foot as a yes?
Oh, you weren't registering a vote. You lost a subway token and you think it might have fallen down your pant leg and you wanted to see if by being inverted you could shake it back down through the hole in your pocket? Very ingenious. And excellent form, by the way.
Moving right along to question two. Since it is a civic holiday and not a statutory one, that means if you go to work your employer can choose to add on or not add on holiday pay to your regular wages. Again, it's up to them.
So, how many of you who will be working Monday will also bet you are getting holiday pay as well? Could I get a quick show of hands, please?
Uh, huh. And just to cover all bases, how about a slow show of hands?
Just as I thought. Nobody.
Hang on. I just saw a different foot go up. Same guy, mind you. Can I take that foot as a yes, sir?
Nope. Still looking for that token, eh? May I say I admire your perseverance, not to mention your agility. But I digress, time to wrap up the poll.
When the provincial government officially enacted the HST on July 1, Premier McGuinty admitted that in the beginning the burden of taxation was shifting to the individual taxpayer. But he insisted that in due time the enormous savings businesses would be reaping through the reduction in corporate taxation would see those savings passed on to consumers.
What a wonderful gesture it would be if those businesses, said savings in tow, decided beginning next year to treat the civic holiday as a statutory holiday forever after and in so doing provide holiday pay to all of their employees.
Which leads to the final question of the poll. How many of you think your employer will, in fact, decide to do that?
May I please see a quick show of hands?
Zippo. I had a feeling.
And a slow show of hands? Zero again. Go figure.
Well, that leaves only the foot guy. So, what will it be, sir?
I see you didn't raise either one this time. So you found the token, I take it?
Nope? Your legs are tired? Not that, either? So what, then?
Oh, you didn't want to take any chances. You wanted to make absolutely sure I understood it was unanimous all around.
Noted.
Email jamie.wayne@sympatico.ca