In response to John Buell’s column “Curing Maine’s sick business climate” (BDN, July 10): As the drumbeat continues about how cheap business is and how providing mandatory sick days is vital to both employee and employer I offer this compromise.

Eight-hour workdays are bumped to 81/2, the workweek from 40 hours to 42.5. This additional 21/2 hours a week is put into a “bank” or sick account for use by the employee when needed. When the employee reaches 500 hours in their “bank” they can either get paid for the added hours worked or continue to add for someone else or go back to 40 hours per week.

This solution puts the responsibility on both parties. The employees won’t see this as a benefit to be exploited for nonsick days and if they do, so what, they paid for them. And it allows businesses to be flexible without busting the bottom line.

Or you could just allow so many personal days for each year employed. Personal days have the added benefit of not having your employees lie to you when they need extra time off. But remember this, Maine was ranked 48th for favorable business climate this week, much more of this “Nanny State” and I’m sure we can get to 50th.

Sid Duncan

Presque Isle