Star Wars Fans Set To Call In Sick
The New York Post has an article about the “cost” of Star Wars fans taking a day off work to see Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith on May 19th. They claim a loss of some $627 million to businesses from the first two days of the picture.
The findings are apparently based on estimated attendance matching Episode II- Attack of the Clones. Actually given the hype for this one and the fact that it is the “final” Star Wars, I think that’s probably underestimating the real figures. But we’ll find out soon enough.
That’s not why I posted about this though. I posted to call BS on the whole calculation. It’s based on the stunningly stupid premise that if it wasn’t for Star Wars, these people would not only work on Thursday, but they’d never take that sick day at all. Yeah right.
The reality is that most people find ways to use up almost all of their sick days because they don’t want to lose them. Employers know this and it’s part of the calculation they make when they hire people in the first place. It’s the very reason that my employer (amongst many others) gives me PTO rather than even splitting stuff up between sick days and vacation any more.
Every time there’s any big event, some company throws numbers together and claims a huge loss to business. And yet somehow, business invariable comes out of all these situations with profit intact.
Come to think of it, the story itself IS science fiction.
Source: New York Post
Eoghann Irving is amongst other things the creator and Editor of Solar Flare. He has a life long interest in all forms of science fiction and fantasy and a pressing need to share this interest with anyone who will listen. Find out more at his personal website eoghann.com..
No Comments, Comment or Ping
Reply to “Star Wars Fans Set To Call In Sick”