Jesus Christ said in Matthew 5:17-18 English Standard Version Bible, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven."
America is a country filled with Jews and Christians, yet we have unpaid leave. Some countries in Europe and in Asia have one-year and even longer times of paid leave available. In the Old Testament God implemented many feasts and Sabbaths. Some of these holidays lasted for more than one day. God is for both work and rest both with generous, abundant economic provision. Read my article "Paid Leave Please."
It is critical that sick leave and other types of leave from work be paid leave, so that both men and women can meet the spiritual, relational and economic needs of their families.
Short-term and long-term paid leave should not be exclusively connected to sickness or disability; these types of paid leave should also be connected to improving relationships and self. Deuteronomy 24:5 Amplified Bible says, "When a man is newly married, he shall not go out with the army or be charged with any business; he shall be free at home one year and shall cheer his wife whom he has taken."
America has a nearly 50 percent divorce rate. Perhaps time off to work on self and relationships could improve marriages, families and people and also employment productivity. Troubled relationships take a toll on employment productivity.
Making leave benefits available to one group of people and unavailable to another group of people can arouse jealousy. Jealousy can destroy team work. Proverbs 27:4 Complete Jewish Bible says, "Fury is cruel and anger overwhelming, but who can stand up to jealousy?" Proverbios 27:4 Dios Habla Hoy dice, "La ira es cruel, y el enojo destructivo, pero los celos son incontrolables."
Singles and married people should have access to short-term and long-term paid leave of one year or more not only connected to illness, pregnancy or disability, but also for no reason necessary to reveal. Not only where newly weds taking off from employment, so were others in Old Testament times. Deuteronomy 20:5-8 New Living Translation Bible says, "“Then the officers of the army must address the troops and say, ‘Has anyone here just built a new house but not yet dedicated it? If so, you may go home! You might be killed in the battle, and someone else would dedicate your house. Has anyone here just planted a vineyard but not yet eaten any of its fruit? If so, you may go home! You might die in battle, and someone else would eat the first fruit. Has anyone here just become engaged to a woman but not yet married her? Well, you may go home and get married! You might die in the battle, and someone else would marry her.’“Then the officers will also say, ‘Is anyone here afraid or worried? If you are, you may go home before you frighten anyone else.’"
Let's talk about paid leave. A Chinese proverb says, "Clapping with one hand produces no sound;" it means, "It takes two people to enter a dialogue."
What are your employment paid-leave policies?
A Maasai of East Africa riddle asks, "Who has more courage than a Maasai warrior?"
Answer: "Two Maasai warriors."
Es posible to change paid-leave policies in America with enough support to do so. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 Amplified Bible says, "Two are better than one, because they have a good [more satisfying] reward for their labor; For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie down together, then they have warmth; but how can one be warm alone? And though a man might prevail against him who is alone, two will withstand him. A threefold cord is not quickly broken."
What are some novel ways to increase paid leave?
Does anyone have an employer who allows employees to choose more leave instead of more income as the reward for a positive annual employment review?
Does anyone have an employer who allows them to chose among benefits and customize their benefit package?
God is for both work and rest both with generous, abundant economic provision.
Four-term former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who contracted polio, became paralyzed in his legs and learned to use his hands to drive, said, "We have always known that heedless self-interest was bad morals; we know now that is bad economics."
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