I don't have a problem with sick leave at all, but I have a problem with a government adding unneeded regulations to my business. If you run a bad business and the employees do not feel like they are treated fairly your talent will leave and your business will fail.

Why does the government always feel the need to pander to the least common denominator? Who does this policy help out, really?

We (my little company) sets our leave policy to meet the industry standards, and to attract the type of employees we desire. We don't have "sick leave" per say just paid leave, for whatever you want it to be. We give an extra 5 days of paid leave on top of the industry standards to make up for the sick leave we don't show as sick leave. We also have a no-argument policy on being sick. If someone comes in and is sniffling or coughing, we send them home. They can choose to be paid or not. I have even forced the senior partner here to go home. No one abuses the policy because we are in a production-oriented business. No product, no job.

I worked for the gov't for a while and I always thought it was so dumb to have to call in sick to fish. Now I can call in "Rivers in shape" to fish and it makes much more sense. Of course with smart phones and remote work stations, I can get work done from the river and life is even easier.