I deleted my comment because it was needlessly snarky and I regretted the behavior.
But I didn't agree with your opinion on how to handle long term absence.
The distinction of who pays a worker that is off for illness isn't my hang up. It's the idea that the protections people gave at work are "too much". I get 17 weeks sick leave because of my collective agreement. It's not all 100% and it needs medical certification, but it's a lot. When collective bargaining comes around you bet we get told that's "too much" and out of line with everyone else. Press releases get made about how we are greedy. I oppose the race to the bottom and pitting workers against each other rather than fighting to ensure those without protection are covered.