An objectively good thing happened in big tech Thursday: Microsoft said it will require companies that supply it with subcontractors—think cafeteria and custodial staff—to give those workers 12 weeks of paid parental leave. In doing so, Microsoft is once again taking the lead in ensuring contractors get benefits that other big companies reserve for full-time employees.
Back in 2015, Microsoft began requiring its suppliers to give their employees 15 days of paid vacation and sick leave annually. That prompted other tech companies like Facebook to follow suit. Labor advocates hope Microsoft’s new parental leave policy inspires a similar trend.
Thursday’s announcement builds off that work. “This change applies to all parents employed by our suppliers who take time off for the birth or adoption of a child. The new policy applies to suppliers with more than 50 employees and covers supplier employees who perform substantial work for Microsoft,” wrote Microsoft VP and General Counsel Dev Stahlkopf in a blog post. It will not cover individuals who contract with Microsoft themselves...........To Read More....
My Take - This is "an objectively good thing"? I don't think it is. It takes a lot of nerve for one company to demand another company follow their social inclinations. What if large companies all of a sudden demand all contractors support abortions, and have health care plans that pay for it? What if large companies demand companies have classes to support homosexual causes, even if their religious views find this impermissible? What if large companies demand contractors become Democrats, or Republicans, or Libertarians, or Socialists, or Communists irrespective of their personal preferences? What if large companies demand contractors financially support candidates of their choice? What if large companies demand everyone become Christians, or Muslims, or Jews, or Wiccans, or even atheists?
No, this is not "an objectively good thing"! What this is, is a slippery slope called social engineering, and we really need to get that!
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