Today a local news organization is reporting that most Island business organizations are not in support of the holiday as it is too costly to them. Their logic is:
"The average GDP for P.E.I. in a day is a little over $12 million. That's roughly what the productivity cost is." - Erin McGrath-Gaudet of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business
I really hope this is a misquote. If it isn't a misquote the CFIB should be embarrassed about their simplification of the economics. Almost 100% loss of GDP from a holiday?! You have got to be kidding me. As Premier Ghiz points out there will be some productivity gains. It is true that happy workers are productive workers.
The only way that a GDP loss would near the 100% mark is if ALL companies were widget companies producing at 100% capacity and could not make up that loss in time. It would also only happen if there was no return on productivity for holidays. That would only happen if PEI was already holiday saturated, which we aren't.
Wait a minute... did you say "The average GDP for P.E.I. in a day is a little over $12 million"... I'm guessing that on February 9 our agriculture, tourist, fishing based economy is not at its peak, or even at the average.
We here at silverorange oppose the holiday in name only. We will be taking it off, relaxing, and generally enjoying the fact that our province was smart enough to see the benefits of additional holidays. We'll continue to support this holiday and any more that are suggested.
Just to make sure I spread the shame around evenly, check out this quote from the article:
"Doug Coles, president of the Greater Charlottetown Area Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber supports the concept of an Islander Day, but not as a paid, mandatory holiday."
What does that even mean?
My advice to any island business owners reading this: This holiday wasn't meant to help you. It was meant to help your staff. It's a decision made by the public (the government) for the good of the people. We've deemed it healthy to have more time off, just like we deemed it a good idea to compost and recycle. It has to be legislated or greed would creep in and ruin it. Suck it up. Even with Islander Day we're at the bottom of the pile for statutory holidays in the country.
silverorange is not a member of either the Chamber of Commerce or the CFIB
Comments
Alan - February 5, 2009 5:28 pm
"What does that even mean?"
Goldness.
Robert Paterson - February 5, 2009 8:36 pm
I will be working off course - at a conference in Las Vegas - oh the life of the blogging self employed consultant!
Stephen Pate - February 5, 2009 9:22 pm
The Maritimes are part of the old family compact of low wages, low benefits. NL on gives 1, NS/NB 2. We're at 3. Most national companies give the average of 5 days for all employees, all provinces plus 5 Federal days. the CFIB is an apologist for small minded small business. You get more productivity out of people when you don't drive them like cattle. At Island Computer and Aquilium we gave 11 days including Federal, 3 weeks holidays and 4 weeks almost immediately. We had great times working with super people.
Jane Boyd - February 7, 2009 12:34 am
I am so glad that there are CEO's like you! Here are my thoughts on this...with a link back to your post.
Jane Boyd - February 7, 2009 12:36 am
Hi again...link didn't work for some reason...so am inserting here....
http://morethanafewthoughts.typepad.com/jane_boyds_weblog/2009/02/why-islander-day-really-is-good-for-business-and-families.html