The Popcorn Monster and Paid Sick Days

It was a rainy day. The popcorn monster was sitting at the kitchen table with a bag of cheddar cheese popcorn. She rubbed her tummy. She felt good.

The popcorn monster's cell phone beeped. She looked at her cell phone. It had the following text message:

Emergency: Popcorn workers are sick. They need your help at the store.

The popcorn monster jumped into her car and drove to the popcorn store. When the popcorn monster arrived, the store manager greeted her.

"You're a monster," said the manager. "We can't let you in here."

"Sir, I am one of your biggest customers," said the popcorn monster. "I eat your cheddar cheese popcorn every single hour of the week. I have thousands of bags at my house."

"I've never heard of a monster that eats popcorn," said the manager. "I thought you guys were into scaring people and doing bad things."

"That's just bad press that we've gotten over the centuries," said the popcorn monster. "In reality, we are very caring and gentle. We just hired a new PR firm. Next month, we'll be running ads to promote the virtues of monsters on the Internet, TV and radio."

"What's your campaign slogan?" asked the manager.

"Monsters are good for workers," replied the popcorn monster.

"Why are you here?" asked the manager.

"I received a message that the workers needed my help," replied the popcorn monster. "They apparently are sick."

"Susan must have sent you the message," said the manager. "She has been circulating a petition for paid sick days for the workers."

"What's wrong with that?" asked the popcorn monster.

"Ma'am, we can't afford it, " replied the manager.

"What happens when your workers get sick?" asked the popcorn monster.

"A lot of them come to work," said the manager. "I tell them not to sneeze in the popcorn but sometimes they do."

"That's just nasty," said the popcorn monster in a disgusted tone. "Do your customers complain?"

"Oh my goodness, we've gotten a lot of customer complaints," replied the manager. "Some of our best customers have stopped coming to the store."

"Hasn't that hurt your business?" asked the popcorn monster.

"Yeah, they now are patronizing a popcorn store in San Francisco that has paid sick days for its workers," replied the manager.

"So couldn't you win back some of your customers if you had paid sick days for workers?" asked the popcorn monster.

"Yes," said the manager.

"And with more customers, you would make more money, right?" asked the popcorn monster.

"Yes," replied the manager.

"So doesn't it make sense to provide paid sick days?" asked the popcorn monster.

"You're right," replied the manager. "If our workplace is healthy, customers will want to patronize our store. So it makes sense."

"Good," said the popcorn monster. "So what are you going to do?"

"I will send an e-mail to our workers along with our current customers and customers who've left us about our new policy on paid sick days," replied the manager.

"That's great," said the popcorn monster. "There's one more thing you can do."

"What's that?" asked the manager.

"Tell everyone you know to sign the petition for paid sick days for California workers," replied the popcorn manager.

"I will," said the manager.

Paid Sick Days Fairy Godmother

Once upon a time, there was a single mom, Cindi, who worked very hard. She worked during the week at a job that she liked a lot. Cindi had worked for the same company in San Jose for over three years and had nice co-workers.

Cindi wished her job paid more and had paid sick days. However, she was glad that it paid her rent, food and other bills.

Cindi was very proud of her nine-year-old daughter Briana, who loved to play soccer. It was always a joy to watch Briana play on the field.

One Sunday when Briana was playing soccer, she got hurt very badly. Cindi took Briana to the hospital. The doctor told Cindi that Briana would be fine but she would need to stay home from school for three days.

Cindi didn't have anyone to take care of Briana. Her parents lived very far away. Briana's father was away on a trip with his new wife. And all of Cindi's friends worked during the week.

Cindi looked at her bank account balance online. She had less than $100 in her account. The rent was due in a couple weeks. Cindi needed a full paycheck to cover the rent. If she took off three days, she would be short by a couple hundred dollars.

Cindi didn't know what to do. She didn't want to lose her apartment. She had lived in the apartment for a long-time. It had two-bedrooms and it was in a nice working class neighborhood.

She walked into her bedroom's closet. To her surprise, there was a pair of glass slippers. She tried them on. They fit perfectly.

She walked back into her bedroom and looked into the mirror. Instead of her reflection, she saw a woman with long white hair.

The woman spoke, "I am your fairy godmother."

Cindi responded, "I don't have a fairy godmother."

"When you put on the glass slippers, I became your fairy godmother," the woman replied.

"Okay," Cindi said.

"I have the power to grant you one wish," the fairy godmother said.

"I'd like a million dollars," Cindi said.

"I'm sorry but I can't grant that wish," the fairy godmother said. "We're in a recession and our funds are limited."

"What kind of things can I wish for?" Cindi asked.

"Something simple that will help others," the fairy godmother responded.

"I wish my employer had paid sick days for all workers," Cindi said.

"Say I want paid sick days three times and your wish will be granted," the fairy godmother said.

"I want paid sick days. I want paid sick days. I want paid sick days," Cindi said excitedly.

"It's been granted," the fairy godmother said.

"Really?" Cindi asked.

"Yes, just check your e-mail," the fairy godmother responded.

Cindi went online and checked her e-mail. Her boss Ms. Charming had sent her an e-mail.

Because we will be adding an office in San Francisco, we went to a training about San Francisco's Paid Sick Days ordinance. We were very impressed by how both businesses and workers like paid sick days.

As a result, we have decided to provide paid sick days to our workers. Effective tomorrow, all fulltime workers shall have 12 paid sick days per year. Sick days will be prorated for part-time workers. Sick days may be used to take care of yourself or a family member.

Cindi smiled. She now would be able to pay her rent and take care of Briana. When Cindi walked back to the mirror to see her fairy godmother, she saw a note on her bed.

Cindi,

I had to leave to help another worker whose name is Cinder Ella.

To help the six million California workers who don't have paid sick days, please sign the petition for paid sick days.

In Community Spirit,

Paid Sick Days Fairy Godmother

Santa's Elves and Paid Sick Days

It was the week before Christmas in the North Pole. There were toys everywhere in Santa's factory. Dozens of elves dressed in red costumes and bright green tights smiled while they wrapped the toys.

Mrs. Claus entered the room. She clapped her hands twice and said, "Elves, I have an announcement."

The elves looked up and stopped wrapping the toys.

"I just got off the phone with the head elf in the San Francisco factory. It has too many orders for food baskets. There's no way they'll finish in time before Christmas. So we'll be doing some of the baskets here."

The elves were silent for a few seconds. Sandra who was the leader of the elves said, "We have never done food baskets before. Why are we doing them now?"

"Sandra, we're in a recession. Instead of toys, a lot of kids in California are asking for food baskets for their families," Mrs. Claus answered.

"When did we open a factory in San Francisco?" Sandra the elf asked.

"A few months ago, Santa and I decided that we needed to expand our operation because lots of families would need our help. As you know, Santa and I always have believed in workers' rights. We chose San Francisco because it has paid sick days for workers," Mrs. Claus answered.

"I thought everyone had paid sick days," Sandra the elf said. "We've had paid sick days in the North Pole forever."

"San Francisco is the only city in California that has a paid sick days' ordinance. In California, there are six million workers who don't have paid sick days. It's not fair that workers have to choose between losing pay and their health or their children's health," Mrs. Claus answered.

Are there people who go to work sick and handle food?" Sandra the elf asked.

"Yes, that happens a lot," Mrs. Claus answered.

"That's gross," someone shouted.

"Yuck," another elf said. "Could imagine the number of complaints we would get if sick elves made food baskets?"

"We'd get a lot," Mrs. Claus responded. "We're in the business to make people happy on Christmas day. We definitely don't want to get kids and their families sick."

Mrs. Claus continued, "I know you all know about our policy on paid sick days but I want it clear. If you get sick or one of your family members get sick, please stay home. We want to make sure that you take care of yourself and your family members. We don't want you coming to work and infecting the other elves or anyone else."

The elves nodded their heads.

"Does anyone have any other questions?" Mrs. Claus asked.

"No, I'm just glad that we have paid sick days," Sandra the elf said. "It protects us and our families. And it protects the public as well."

"Great," Mrs. Claus said. "Well, let's all get back to work and start working on the food baskets. I'm making homemade chocolate for dessert."

"Yum-yum," the elves said in unison.

For more information about paid sick days, visit 9to5 California's Web site.