[quantum_magpie]

Oh, so it's also your fault when you plan, and get approved a vacation, and then in the middle of it (lets's say on week 2 out of 4) you're notified that in two days you must be in the office, or, according to you, you should get canned?

[hunter-gatherer]

I don't know... I'm not European so I don't really care, but I feel like there are some jobs that have an existing overlap of _duty_. I was in the military, and PTO was viewed as a privilege, and sometimes leave was cancelled, but that makes sense because of the position. Other civilian jobs, like firefighters, police, maybe some medical practitioners, might have this same thing. Politicians I would say is definitely one of those positions, where you should actually be in "public service". Officials in a democracy are supposed to be elected not because we need people to fill vacant jobs, but because we need people to be on duty to make the hard decisions.

Basically, I don't think politicians should be held to the same standard as some SWE making note-taking apps.

[blackqueeriroh]

This is a deeply American (and Puritan) view of work, and I can say that as an American who works in public service.

PTO is not a “privilege.” In fact, it is a documented right as part of the employment agreement your company makes you, when you sign that document about the handbook. It should be a legal agreement, but somehow we’ve convinced people their purpose in life is to work for 50-60 years for 40+ hours a week and then have maybe 20 years to enjoy life before they die, happy to be of service to the people.

Public servants deserve MORE time off and MORE money because they literally are ON CALL most of the time. Taking a vacation should be MORE Normal and votes shouldn’t require people to be in person.

You build your government the way you build your country - you should show the utmost respect for those in public service by treating them right and respecting their time.

[hunter-gatherer]

I didn't say it was a privilege. I said it was viewed as such when I was in the military.

I wasn't talking about work agreements with civil companies. You brought that in. My comment was in regards to public service only.

I don't disagree about public servants having more time off or more money. But I believe they should be on call. If that means cancelling vacation to vote, so be it. You don't want to have that life style? Don't run for public office.

FWIW, I've had skin in that game. I was stop lossed when I had 4 months left on my enlistment for a 15 month combat deployment. That's public service. Elected officials should be present and ready to serve.

[stephen_g]

Strange response... Since when is the idea of ‘duty’ supposed to be ‘deeply American’?

I’m not American but happy to agree with the OP - being an elected MP is not just a job and if they want to take leave whenever they want to and miss critical votes then I’m sure they would have no trouble getting a normal job instead!

Surely the parliamentary sitting schedule gives them plenty of time off already where they would not miss votes (I know it does in my country)

[8note]

id take ON CALL to mean that when an emergency happens like an emergency vote, they drop everything including vacation to go attend.

this doesn't seem like oncall?