I like to think that I
have thrown some incredible Christmas parties for my staff over the years. Like
many of you, I have thrown parties as a way to thank my staff. Over the years, I
have treated staff to limousine rides, fine dining, open bars, disc jockeys, plays
in Hollywood, private movie screenings, etc.
But now the party is
over. Believe me, I wish the party could go on forever. How does the Prince
song “1999” go? “But
life is just a party, and parties weren’t meant to last.”
The reality of owning a
small business is changing, and it is not for the better.
In California,
businesses of all types are now required to provide their employees with three sick
days per year. This sounds innocent enough,
until you have to write the check. Let’s say you have four part-time
hygienists; each one gets three days. That is 12 days of hygiene you pay for
without any additional production for your office. Add to that the part-time
assistants and front office staff, and now you are talking real money. You have
to recoup this money from somewhere.
Also, the state of California
suffered greatly during the Great Recession. So much so, in fact, that it had
to borrow money from Washington, D.C., in order to pay the unemployment
benefits for its residents. Now the bill is due, and California does not have
the money to pay it back. Where does the state get the money? You’ve guessed
it, from every single employer in the state.
So instead of thanking
my staff during this Christmas season with a great party, I’ll thank them by
helping California pay off its unemployment loan. I have no doubt that my staff
will enjoy that just as much. I truly wish it did not have to be this way. I
would rather patronize a restaurant and tip the staff. I am sure they could
both use the business. That will not happen this year. I would rather take a
nice ride in a limousine and tip the driver. That will not happen either.
Tell me, am I the only
one? Have dental office Christmas parties gone the way of the gold foil
restoration?
Andy Alas, DDS
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