HR professionals say that presidential candidate John McCain's policies would have a bigger positive effect on their organization than Barack Obama's policies, according to a recent poll conducted by HR.BLR.com and Compensation.BLR.com.
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Get Your Report Now!The poll found that 64 percent of respondents said McCain's policies would be better for their organization. Thirty percent of respondents gave the nod to Obama's policies. Six percent of respondents said they didn't know enough about either candidate's policies to vote one way or another in the poll. The survey had more than 800 respondents.
Unions
Obama supports the Employee Free Choice Act, proposed legislation that would make it easier for unions to organize by removing a requirement for union elections to be done by secret ballot. The legislation would require the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to certify a union if a majority of the relevant employees signs cards in support of the union. McCain opposes the legislation.
Family-Friendly Workplaces
McCain supports legislation that would allow private sector employers to offer compensatory time, which provides employees with take paid time off at 1.5 times the number of overtime hours worked instead of being paid the overtime premium. Under current rules, only public-sector employers can offer employees compensatory time.
Obama wants to expand the Family and Medical Leave Act to cover smaller employers. He would also encourage states to adopt paid leave laws.
Lower-Wage Workers
Barack Obama wants to raise the minimum wage and index it to inflation. Meanwhile, McCain wants to expand tax credits for low-income families.
Healthcare
McCain and Obama have different plans for healthcare as well. However, a previous HR.BLR.com and Compensation.BLR.com poll found that on this issue, HR professionals say that Obama has the better plan. McCain wants to change the tax code to end the tax break for employer-provided healthcare (it would be treated as income under McCain's plan). Instead of that tax benefit, his plan would give every family a refundable tax credit of $5,000 (individuals would receive $2,500).
Obama's healthcare plan would require employers to offer healthcare insurance to employees or pay a percentage of payroll to support a public healthcare plan. Small employers would be exempt.
You can find out more about Obama's plans at http://www.barackobama.com/index.php.
You can find out more about McCain's plans at: http://www.johnmccain.com/