Are Americans happy with having so little vacation?

[CyberDuck]

I just started to read this report about

No Vacation Nation

"The United States is the only advanced economy in the world that does not guarantee its workers paid vacation. European countries establish legal rights to at least 20 days of paid vacation per year, with legal requirement of 25 and even 30 or more days in some countries. Australia and New Zealand both require employers to grant at least 20 vacation days per year; Canada and Japan mandate at least 10 paid days off. The gap between paid time off in the United States and the rest of the world is even larger if we include legally mandated paid holidays, where the United States offers none, but most of the rest of the world's rich countries offer between five and 13 paid holidays per year.

In the absence of government standards, almost one in four Americans have no paid vacation and no paid holidays. According to government survey data, the average worker in the private sector in the United States receives only about nine days of paid vacation and about six paid holidays per year: less than the minimum legal standard set in the rest of world's rich economies excluding Japan (which guarantees only 10 paid vacation days and requires no paid holidays)."

My question is, how can you live with this? It seems like one more of those absurde things about the U.S. to me.

Regards

Jostein (In northern Europe)

 

[EagleKeeper]

I am suprised of that 1 in 4 statistic.

Most every employer that has over 5 or so emplyees seems to provide paid holiday time off for the major holidays.

A company that does not provide vacation time after 1 year is going to have a hard time keeping employees.

The small mom-pop & self employed companies are different and that may be skewing the results.

 

[imported_Shivetya]

Originally posted by: CyberDuck
I just started to read this report about
My question is, how can you live with this? It seems like one more of those absurde things about the U.S. to me.

Regards

Jostein (In northern Europe)

How can I live with this? Easy, we are a nation of doers. It does look like we are shifting away from this, like the shift away from personal responsibility. This goes hand in hand with expecting the government, let alone allowing it, to take more and more care of you.

I don't think employers should be required to offer PAID vacation. It should be a benefit they offer to get the best employees. Mandating paid vactation means that the government is deciding how employers spend their money and also deciding how employers reward their employees. Essentially the government is say, no preference is allowed for vacation - the newest hire is equal to the best employee or longest term.

Mandating time off is just the government's way of giving the lazy, who usually vote for MORE government control, gifts for voting the "Right" way.


I get 3 weeks off currently, with certain holidays, 3 personal days, and any sick time I need.

Hell, and Europeans wonder why their economies take so long to get revved up... sheesh

 

[ajf3]

Dunno... with every salaried job I've had since college - and even the hourly job I had in college I got vacation time off.

Currently, 8 holidays, 3 personal days, 7 sick days, and 20 vacation days... nearly 8 work-weeks of paid time off per year. Guess it took me awhile to build up to that and it may have been nice to have it from the start, but honestly I find it a little difficult to take that time & still stay on top of things.

I think here in the US, vacation time is viewed as more of a perk - it usually rises with salary.

 

[ayabe]

Yes and the fact that we work more hours per capita than most of Europe is also a contributer to our poor health and the huge percentage of adults who are addicted to anti anxiety medication and/or chronically depressed.

 

[LegendKiller]

I get 20 days vacation, 12 days sick, 4 personal days, and a lot of holidays since I get bank holidays. My vacation taps out after I have been here 5 years (25 days, one for each year). But that's what you get while working for a massive European bank.

 

[K1052]

I get 20 paid days off per year. I typically don't use much of it and it cashes out yearly.

I work in my family's business so it is a little different for me.



P.S.

We in the US think Europe does just as many absurd things. 😉

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: EagleKeeper
I am suprised of that 1 in 4 statistic.

Most every employer that has over 5 or so emplyees seems to provide paid holiday time off for the major holidays.

A company that does not provide vacation time after 1 year is going to have a hard time keeping employees.

The small mom-pop & self employed companies are different and that may be skewing the results.

Companies are using people, period.

No benefits, no paid Holiday time, nothing.

Why do people do it? Because we have limited or no choices anymore.

People on here that say we do have choices are deluded.

There is no worker rights.

Corporations have more rights than the individual in the U.S. and that needs to be stopped.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: LegendKiller
I get 20 days vacation, 12 days sick, 4 personal days, and a lot of holidays since I get bank holidays. My vacation taps out after I have been here 5 years (25 days, one for each year). But that's what you get while working for a massive European bank.

Originally posted by: Shivetya
I get 3 weeks off currently, with certain holidays, 3 personal days, and any sick time I need.

Well at least it is in the open and can see why so many on here are deluded.

Believe me if you guys weren't so lucky with those jobs you would be singing a different tune.

 

[jrenz]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: EagleKeeper
I am suprised of that 1 in 4 statistic.

Most every employer that has over 5 or so emplyees seems to provide paid holiday time off for the major holidays.

A company that does not provide vacation time after 1 year is going to have a hard time keeping employees.

The small mom-pop & self employed companies are different and that may be skewing the results.

Companies are using people, period.

No benefits, no paid Holiday time, nothing.

Why do people do it? Because we have limited or no choices anymore.

People on here that say we do have choices are deluded.

There is no worker rights.

Corporations have more rights than the individual in the U.S. and that needs to be stopped.

They're coming to get you Dave!

 

[Mxylplyx]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: EagleKeeper
I am suprised of that 1 in 4 statistic.

Most every employer that has over 5 or so emplyees seems to provide paid holiday time off for the major holidays.

A company that does not provide vacation time after 1 year is going to have a hard time keeping employees.

The small mom-pop & self employed companies are different and that may be skewing the results.

Companies are using people, period.

No benefits, no paid Holiday time, nothing.

Why do people do it? Because we have limited or no choices anymore.

People on here that say we do have choices are deluded.

There is no worker rights.

Corporations have more rights than the individual in the U.S. and that needs to be stopped.

Not everyone sucks at life as much as you do Dave. I've never had a job, even in HS, that didnt pay holiday/sick/vacation time.

 

[Mardeth]

Originally posted by: Shivetya

Originally posted by: CyberDuck
I just started to read this report about
My question is, how can you live with this? It seems like one more of those absurde things about the U.S. to me.

Regards

Jostein (In northern Europe)

How can I live with this? Easy, we are a nation of have to doers.

Fixed.

 

[spittledip]

Originally posted by: Shivetya

How can I live with this? Easy, we are a nation of doers.

This is exactly the problem. We are a nation of Doers. We can't be about being- we are defined by doing. The euros have the right idea. Life is not about work. Life is about being.

It's not about being lazy, it's about being healthy and balanced. An unbalanced person is one who wants to work all the time. Apparently we Americans have much more money and material possessions than we used to (longer work periods= more money) but people diagnosed with clinical depression are up 3 to 10 times since the 50s and people report being no happier despite all the material things we earn with our money. There are other sacrifices as well.

here's an interesting listen: NPR

 

[GDaddy]

Every job i ever had from McD's at 15 on up has had vacation days, mostly the longer you work for the comany the more you get.

 

[ayabe]

All I know is that certain people want to rebuild 'the family' or place emphasis on family values, one of the biggest contributors to the erosion of the family unit in this country has been our addiction to money which can only be fed by having both parents working long hours.

This is the crux of the destabilization of the family, not TV, not video games, not the ACLU, not 'the homosexual agenda' this all smoke and mirrors.

You never hear politicians saying, hey work less hours, buy a Camry instead of a BMW, stay at home and take care of your kids.

 

[spittledip]

Originally posted by: ayabe
All I know is that certain people want to rebuild 'the family' or place emphasis on family values, one of the biggest contributors to the erosion of the family unit in this country has been our addiction to money which can only be fed by having both parents working long hours.

This is the crux of the destabilization of the family, not TV, not video games, not the ACLU, not 'the homosexual agenda' this all smoke and mirrors.

Most likely right

 

[homercles337]

Originally posted by: LegendKiller
I get 20 days vacation, 12 days sick, 4 personal days, and a lot of holidays since I get bank holidays. My vacation taps out after I have been here 5 years (25 days, one for each year). But that's what you get while working for a massive European bank.

Better than most it looks like. I get 9 weeks (45 days) of paid time off per year (that was from day #1 too). I barely use it. 🙁 Stupid protestant work ethic. :|

 

[ayabe]

Originally posted by: homercles337

Originally posted by: LegendKiller
I get 20 days vacation, 12 days sick, 4 personal days, and a lot of holidays since I get bank holidays. My vacation taps out after I have been here 5 years (25 days, one for each year). But that's what you get while working for a massive European bank.

Better than most it looks like. I get 9 weeks (45 days) of paid time off per year (that was from day #1 too). I barely use it. 🙁 Stupid protestant work ethic. :|

That's an important point, I read something on CNN money a couple months ago about how people get plenty of vacation time but don't use it. I myself am guilty of this and usually only take vacation when I can't accumulate additional hours or I will lose them.

They claimed that a lot of it stems from people being afraid to leave work because their bosses might realize that they aren't missed and therefore might be in the position to be laid off.

 

[K1052]

Originally posted by: jrenz

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: EagleKeeper
I am suprised of that 1 in 4 statistic.

Most every employer that has over 5 or so emplyees seems to provide paid holiday time off for the major holidays.

A company that does not provide vacation time after 1 year is going to have a hard time keeping employees.

The small mom-pop & self employed companies are different and that may be skewing the results.

Companies are using people, period.

No benefits, no paid Holiday time, nothing.

Why do people do it? Because we have limited or no choices anymore.

People on here that say we do have choices are deluded.

There is no worker rights.

Corporations have more rights than the individual in the U.S. and that needs to be stopped.

They're coming to get you Dave!

You're right, they are indeed.

By "they" I mean the nice men in white coats toting syringes of Haloperidol.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: homercles337

Originally posted by: LegendKiller
I get 20 days vacation, 12 days sick, 4 personal days, and a lot of holidays since I get bank holidays. My vacation taps out after I have been here 5 years (25 days, one for each year). But that's what you get while working for a massive European bank.

Better than most it looks like. I get 9 weeks (45 days) of paid time off per year (that was from day #1 too). I barely use it. 🙁 Stupid protestant work ethic. :|

Glad it's not just me - I actually get essentially unlimited vacation, but have a target number of billable hours per year. I have taken a total of about 2 weeks of vacation in the last two years, and that includes a family funeral.

 

[homercles337]

Originally posted by: ayabe

Originally posted by: homercles337

Originally posted by: LegendKiller
I get 20 days vacation, 12 days sick, 4 personal days, and a lot of holidays since I get bank holidays. My vacation taps out after I have been here 5 years (25 days, one for each year). But that's what you get while working for a massive European bank.

Better than most it looks like. I get 9 weeks (45 days) of paid time off per year (that was from day #1 too). I barely use it. 🙁 Stupid protestant work ethic. :|

That's an important point, I read something on CNN money a couple months ago about how people get plenty of vacation time but don't use it. I myself am guilty of this and usually only take vacation when I can't accumulate additional hours or I will lose them.

They claimed that a lot of it stems from people being afraid to leave work because their bosses might realize that they aren't missed and therefore might be in the position to be laid off.

I dont know if that is why i dont use my vacation time, but i think part of it is related to that. Another part is that im a scientist and thoroughly enjoy my work. The remaining part has to do with lack of money (student loans, debt, grossly underpaid, etc) to travel.

 

[DealMonkey]

Originally posted by: spittledip

Originally posted by: Shivetya

How can I live with this? Easy, we are a nation of doers.

This is exactly the problem. We are a nation of Doers. We can't be about being- we are defined by doing. The euros have the right idea. Life is not about work. Life is about being.

It's not about being lazy, it's about being healthy and balanced. An unbalanced person is one who wants to work all the time. Apparently we Americans have much more money and material possessions than we used to (longer work periods= more money) but people diagnosed with clinical depression are up 3 to 10 times since the 50s and people report being no happier despite all the material things we earn with our money. There are other sacrifices as well.

here's an interesting listen: NPR

Thank you for being the voice of reason. Vacation is not about being lazy, it's about enjoying life. Americans are a nation of slave-drivers on one hand and work-a-holics on the other hand. We should mandate 6 weeks vacation.

 

[BoomerD]

Working construction most of my life, paid vacations were unheard of...I did get "vacation pay", which worked out to about an extra 5 weeks of pay every year, and you could use it however you chose, but in construction, if you don't work, you don't get paid. No paid vacation, no paid sick leave, no paid holidays.
I HAVE had a couple of jobs where you got all those things, and it was pretty nice, but IMO, it didn't make up for the cut in pay I took to take those jobs. (union business agent, crane operator for a local public utility) good stable jobs, worked every day with nice benefits, but the pay just didn't match what my annual pay was when I "worked for a living"...

 

[sumguy1]

No, I am not happy with so little vacation. Although on the surface, I have 3 weeks paid vacation, the company has us on this stupid "utilization target" business model where only billable hours charged count toward your utilization. Of course the target is always so high that you cannot reasonably take all your allowed vacation and still reach your target without having to work overtime to make up for it. I'm basing this on a standard 40 hour work week. So the line of crap that the HR department gives employees and potential new hires is that you get 3 weeks vacation and like 4 or 5 company official holidays per year. But when utilization is calculated, these 4 or 5 official company holidays are NOT taken into account! That's right! We are expected to work extra to make up for the days the company is officially CLOSED! After you do the math all out and everything, the actual number of paid vacation days off you get is more like 4.5.

Of course, there's always the option of just taking all your vacation, working a standard 40 hours every week, and just simply saying "screw it" and missing your utilization target number. Which then of course negatively affects your performance reviews and chances of getting a raise. Big crock of bull-poopy if you ask me. There has got to be something illegal/unethical about this practice.

 

[sumguy1]

Originally posted by: spittledip

Originally posted by: Shivetya

How can I live with this? Easy, we are a nation of doers.

This is exactly the problem. We are a nation of Doers. We can't be about being- we are defined by doing. The euros have the right idea. Life is not about work. Life is about being.

It's not about being lazy, it's about being healthy and balanced. An unbalanced person is one who wants to work all the time. Apparently we Americans have much more money and material possessions than we used to (longer work periods= more money) but people diagnosed with clinical depression are up 3 to 10 times since the 50s and people report being no happier despite all the material things we earn with our money. There are other sacrifices as well.

here's an interesting listen: NPR

Well said. In America we are so obsessed with having the biggest and best of stuff. . .always competing with the Jones' next door. Have to have the biggest house, the best yard, the prettiest garden. . .But what good is all that crap if you have to work so hard to afford and maintain it that you are never around home to enjoy it all? All you are doing is working working working to make the rich richer and support your posessions. We don't own stuff in America. Our stuff owns us. Gotta pay the mortgage, the car payments, the home insurance, the car insurance, the medical insurance, the utility bills, the maid, the nanny, the cell phone bill, the list goes on and on. . .The more crap we have, the more crap we have to clean. That is the price of being consumers in a nation of commercial capitalism. You work. And when you're done working you work some more.