Michael Phelps . . . Still in the News.

Michael Phelps loves Meatball Marinara Subs... but thats besides the point. Women love Michael Phelps. So much in fact that they're starting to run red lights and get into accidents with him. Last night, a women in Maryland ran a red light and collided with the gold-medal winners Black Escalade. (Who knew that swimming could be so lucrative??) Read more about the story here.

But thats not the real issue here. Yes, the woman was taken to the hospital but merely as a precaution. The real issue is Michael Phelps ability to stay in the news. Its unbelievable. Maybe its his new friendship with Jared from Subway, or its his "apparent" ability to grow a "mustache." 

First, it was the Gold Medals but that wasn't enough. He had to have more. 

Then it was the ol' mary jane. 

(Side Note: Michael was rumored to eat 10,000 calories a day during training . . . imagine what that man can eat when he's blazed. Now I know the reason Twinkies are still in business.)

Not only does the Cheech and Chong of the watery lanes get into an accident, the kid doesn't even have a valid drivers license... Does he know what good publicity is?? He should try just living in the Magic Kingdom or something. Lord only knows a more intriguing place to get stoned at.... I can't wait to see what's next for the swimmer who apparently subscribes to the weekly Murphy's Law Magazine. 

Paid Sick Days

Today started a new chapter in Ohio politics as the coalition Ohioans for Healthy Families now attempts to gather enough signatures to push paid sick days to the ballot in 2008. The group gathered over a quarter million signatures before January 1st which brought the initiative in front of the General Assembly. However, in the true Republican dominated ways of the Assembly no action was taken, allowing the coalition of over 200 members to gather another 3% of the gubernatorial vote to include it on the November ballot in '08.
The Act is attempting to provide working Ohioans access to seven paid sick days or a pro-rated amount for part time workers. As the campaign motto states "Everybody Gets Sick, but Not Everyone has time to get better. " Opposition, which included such organizations as the Chamber of Commerce and Manufacturers Association feel that this act is inflexible to employers and costly.
However, OHF has provided research from Progress Ohio and The Womens Policy Research Institute that paid sick days actually saves employers over a dollar a week per employer.
This act only makes complete sense to me. Everyday people get sick; its the facts of life. Especially young adults with small children who everyday go into the jungle that is elementary school and come out with a finger-painting, bruises, and wait for it... tons of germs. Not only do these kids get sick, but they pass it on to their parents, who then when they are forced to go into work get their co-workers sick. Its what some people would call a vicious circle of illness. Having the time and what the COC would call flexibility to take a personal day would not only motivate workers to come into work and succeed but also attract young workers.
Take a look at the most successful companies to work for in the United States. Wegmans, Inc. a grocery chain has been rated the number one company in America to work for on numerous occasions. Why? Because they treat their employees the way that they would want to be treated. If you treat your workers great, your workers will treat your customers great.
Google treats their employees like their high-rollers at a Casino in Vegas. Last time I checked their stock was what? A half a grand? Oh and Pixar? Its not like they have a personal chef that will cook you anything that you want.
Its the Golden Rule people.
Treat others as you wish to be treated.
Legislators have paid sick days, yet the people who elect them don't. Hmmm.... I wonder what will happen this November?