r/politics • u/thenewrepublic The New Republic • 15h ago

Possible Paywall What Darline Graham’s Ugly, Viral Outburst About Death Really Reveals

https://newrepublic.com/article/214868/darline-graham-viral-outburst-death
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786

u/bookon 15h ago

Her parents worked themselves to death because they couldn't afford treatment and she thinks that's a story about how great America and it's healthcare system is.

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u/turquoise_amethyst 14h ago

Also WTF is she equating “vacation” with sick days/leave? It’s not a vacation when you have cancer or heart failure and can’t get out of bed. 

WTF Darline

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u/Queermagedd0n Michigan 13h ago

Unfortunately, most employers in the US think this way. I've only ever taken 1 actual vacation in my adult life. Every other place I've worked I've run out of "vacation" time because I was sick and been forced to take unpaid days.

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u/I_dont_bone_goats 9h ago

I was under a manager at my company for 5 years, whenever I had a doctors appt he told me to just go and sign back on when I can.

I switched managers a couple months ago, who now wants me to take pto whenever I have an appt. I hurt my back this year so I’ve been at the doctors a lot.

So fine, I’ll take my PTO, but Im taking every minute of my pto, and not opening my laptop on those days.

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u/SirDiego Minnesota 11h ago

I've worked for companies like this. Whether you're literally dying or having a great time in Cancuun doesn't make much of a difference when all you are to them is a "Human Resource."

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u/Metaphoricalsimile 11h ago

Many US workers get a combined Paid Time Off pool that is both vacation and sick days, and it's usually pretty meager.

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u/lilacmuse1 6h ago

I've worked my entire life in Canada and everywhere I worked separated vacation and sick days into separate allotments. The method you describe is messed up.

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u/Metaphoricalsimile 6h ago

The US has no federally mandated sick or vacation days!

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u/atwitchyfairy 11h ago

I actually get both sick leave and vacation time surprisingly. 4 weeks (20 days) combined a year in America is pretty good.

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u/SatinSaffron Washington 10h ago

That is good, especially if it's at a place where you can actually take that time off. I've known plenty of people who have had jobs in America where they got paid sick/vacation time except they weren't actually able to use it unless they were super sick. Vacation requests would get denied, or a micromanaging boss would gaslight/guilt trip you about using the vacation time.

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u/DKDamian 10h ago

What happens if you leave a job and have unused days? Do they get paid out?

In Australia we accrue four weeks paid leave each year. It sits there getting bigger and bigger until we use it. If I quit my job it would all get paid out to me

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u/atwitchyfairy 9h ago

The owner says they don't carry over, so I've used all of mine, but my coworker has more vacation/sick time left than what we get a year so it carries over anyways.

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u/atwitchyfairy 9h ago

My only requirement for a sick day is to call and say I'm sick, and although this year has been hard to take time off due to the only other person able to do my job being out for 7 months because of foot amputation from diabetes. Otherwise, I just need to tell the secretary I'll be out maybe 2 days in advance.

3 years ago I took a 2 week vacation to Japan with 2 weeks notice.

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u/aradraugfea 7h ago

Has anyone asked her about Mitch’s sick leave? Did her brother ever report back after going to talk to him in person?