Which of the following common benefits is discretionary rather than mandatory?
A.
Family leave
B.
Paid vacations
C.
Medical leave
D.
Worker's compensation
A. Family leave
The common benefit that is discretionary rather than mandatory is B. Paid vacations.
To determine which of the listed common benefits is discretionary rather than mandatory, we can break down the meaning of these terms and explore the context in which they are typically used.
Discretionary benefits are those that an employer chooses to provide but is not legally required to offer under employment laws or regulations. On the other hand, mandatory benefits are those that employers are legally obliged to provide to their employees.
Now let's analyze each of the listed benefits in order to determine which one is discretionary:
A. Family leave: In many jurisdictions, employers are legally required to provide family leave, which allows employees to take time off from work to care for their family members in certain situations such as childbirth, adoption, or serious illnesses. Therefore, family leave is typically a mandatory benefit rather than discretionary.
B. Paid vacations: Unlike family leave, paid vacations are generally considered discretionary benefits. Employers have the discretion to decide whether or not they want to offer paid time off for employees to take vacations. While it is a common benefit in many workplaces, there is no legal requirement for employers to offer paid vacations.
C. Medical leave: Similar to family leave, medical leave is often mandated by employment laws in many jurisdictions. This benefit allows employees to take time off work for their medical needs or to care for their own serious health condition or that of a family member. Therefore, medical leave is typically a mandatory benefit.
D. Worker's compensation: Worker's compensation refers to the insurance coverage that employers are obligated to provide to employees who sustain work-related injuries or illnesses. It is a mandated benefit to ensure that employees receive medical treatment and wage replacement if they are injured on the job. Hence, worker's compensation is a mandatory benefit.
By this analysis, it can be concluded that the discretionary benefit among the options provided is B. Paid vacations.