AllIsOneIsNone
Banned
Yep. And it's sorta true. Dog eat dog world up in this bitch.
The American vs. Europe view on vacations and time off is flabbergasting
- Thread starter Trojita
- Start date
- Status
Yep. And it's sorta true. Dog eat dog world up in this bitch.
I get two weeks. Which is fine. Plus I take a handful of personal days to take some Fridays and Mondays off to make long weekends in which I take little mini holidays.
Honestly, with the way American workplaces are where everything is cut to the bone and everyone is doing more work and no one knows your job, coming back from a long vacation usually means even more work to do. Which makes me dread vacations sometimes..
Honestly, with the way American workplaces are where everything is cut to the bone and everyone is doing more work and no one knows your job, coming back from a long vacation usually means even more work to do. Which makes me dread vacations sometimes..
PJV3
Member
It's not as good as it was, job and finish is no more so the incentive to work fast has gone.
I'm in the US Military. Thus we get 2.5 days a month, 30 days a year of leave (vacation). As a male, if my wife were to have a baby, I would get 10 days off. Sick days don't really exist in the military.
If I'm sick I generally have to go the hospital for an hour (to four), get paperwork saying I'm sick and that will tell me and my supervision if I get any days off.
We can generally take those days off whenever we feel, as long as X number of factors are ok and they usually are.
There is actually a lot more to all of this but its not worth explaining. Overall, as far as leave/vacation time, US military members can't complain.
If I'm sick I generally have to go the hospital for an hour (to four), get paperwork saying I'm sick and that will tell me and my supervision if I get any days off.
We can generally take those days off whenever we feel, as long as X number of factors are ok and they usually are.
There is actually a lot more to all of this but its not worth explaining. Overall, as far as leave/vacation time, US military members can't complain.
Amen. Canada is almost as bad. I get 18 days a year. After 15 years at the company I'd top out at 28 days. That being said they don't care when i pull out of my 3 sick days a year our take unpaid vacation days. I usually take about 30 days off work a year.
Liberty4all
Banned
Canadian here as well, and my time off is similar. 15 days, plus 15 sick days, plus 3 personal days. We get an additional 5 days vacation after 4 years or so with the same company (total of 20 days) and that's also pretty standard.
thankfully I'm in government social services ... We are encouraged to call in sick
, no worries about using our sick days thankfully.
edit: oh and 9 statutory days off: Christmas, boxing day, Easter, thanksgiving, Victoria Day, Family Day, Canada Day, Labour Day, and a stat day in August.
Fudgepuppy
Banned
I get five weeks, but I only get paid for 75% of those hours because I'm not working at 100% capacity.
You got a source for this?
Kuro Madoushi
Unconfirmed Member
Didn't fucking benefit me.
The other members voted to take the Devil's Deal instead of fighting cause in previous years there was an idiot vice president who said fuck the unions and went apeshit with the axe.
He was warned this would cause massive problems cause we're a very niche industry and nobody outside our company has the training or software to do this job.
He didn't listen.
He was let go shortly after.
Fucker probably got a bonus on top of all this though.
Happy workers are more productive.
SomethingInTheSea
Member
The 28 days does include bank holidays though.
I only work because I need to support myself. Being self employed, I only work what's necessary. This means a 4 days work week, and around 6-8 weeks vacation.
Sure, I won't get filthy rich, but I'm really enjoying life to the fullest.
It must be afwul to be old, look back on your life, and realize you wasted most of it working.
Sure, I won't get filthy rich, but I'm really enjoying life to the fullest.
It must be afwul to be old, look back on your life, and realize you wasted most of it working.
More vacation does not necessairly equate to occupational happiness.
I'd like to still see evidence that proves Europeans are more productive workers. It's a pretty bold statement.
I'm in Canada.
15 paid vacation days starting out.
20 paid vacation days after 8 years.
25 paid vacation days after 18 years.
30 paid vacation days after 28 years.
15 sick days which roll over.
No short-term disability leave.
2 personal days.
5 days of family related leave.
1 week of one-time vacation leave (one time throughout career, generally used for honeymoon).
Up to 3 hours per medical/dental appointment, except cannot be used for followup appointments.
I get to work compressed, which is nice. An extra hour each day but I get every second Friday off.
15 paid vacation days starting out.
20 paid vacation days after 8 years.
25 paid vacation days after 18 years.
30 paid vacation days after 28 years.
15 sick days which roll over.
No short-term disability leave.
2 personal days.
5 days of family related leave.
1 week of one-time vacation leave (one time throughout career, generally used for honeymoon).
Up to 3 hours per medical/dental appointment, except cannot be used for followup appointments.
I get to work compressed, which is nice. An extra hour each day but I get every second Friday off.
TheOohChild
Member
I get four weeks of vacation. Last year I only used one week by the beginning of October. My direct manager found out about this and told some people in upper management about it. They strongly encouraged me to take three weeks off in November. They told me I was too good of an employee to not enjoy some time off. I am also American
This is one aspect of working where I wish Canada was closer to Europe than the US. I think 15 days per year is criminally low, if there ends up being a wedding in the family (or worse, your own wedding) you can kiss those days goodbye.
It's probably the reason why work conditions in North America are generally more stressful.
It's probably the reason why work conditions in North America are generally more stressful.
WeAreStarStuff
Member
I'm American and get 5 weeks vacation. 
This year I actually have 7 weeks.
This year I actually have 7 weeks.
My boss is being a whiny crybaby because I took 8 vacation days this year... 8, fucking 8... He is lucky I don't have any further vacation plans for the rest of the year (I'm saving money) or else I would just take a vacation and not show up for work.
LOL my wife's co-worker looks down on people who use up all their vacation time. That makes no sense to me.
LOL my wife's co-worker looks down on people who use up all their vacation time. That makes no sense to me.
Of course: http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/aug2009/gb20090818_398605.htm
Of course it's very hard to measure what the impact of the extra holidays is. And of course there are other benefits, for example internal tourism thanks to more holiday plays a big role in the European economy.
XiaNaphryz
LATIN, MATRIPEDICABUS, DO YOU SPEAK IT
Pretty sure this is standard in California. I took a month off paid for both my kids, my wife took a few months both times paid for at least half of her time (needed to use her sick time and vacation time for the rest). I believe family leave is up to 12 weeks, 6 of which are paid.
Marty Chinn
Member
People are wrong in this thread. Maternity and Paternity leave gets you 60% of your pay with the option of companies topping it off as well. Some do.
PJV3
Member
The Co-worker isn't called Ebenezer by any chance?
I hope everybody else laughs at him.
Maternity leave is fucked up in America but I feel like the main reason Americans get law vacation is of our own choosing. You will generally get less with more vacation and most Americans can't handle that decrease in income. I think euros are a little less materialistic than us which leads to more vacations and probably more happiness as well. But the trade off is they don't have 4 HDTVs in their house and 3 cars in their garage.
The stereotype that Americans are suckers or ignorant continues to hold true though. I can't even count the times a fucking idiot has whined to me about not having any time to spend with the family and when I eventually mention unions they talk to me like I'm some Soviet spy. Corporate propaganda has done a number on this country.
Thankfully I have family related leave for those. And the one time vacation people usually use for honeymoons. I work for the federal government though, so I probably have it better than most in Canada.
PJV3
Member
Unions= people just like them, I could never understand attitudes like that.
what? Are you talking about the US? I know two recent mothers, neither got paid for their leave and one works for the VA and she didnt get paid. My fiancés sister is pregnant and she elected to have the government(she's a judge in New York) withold like 35% of her paycheck for 6 months so she can get paid while she is on leave.
My fiancé will get no paid maternity leave either. What I have seen them all do however, is save up their vacation and use that first before their maternity leave kicks in.
Ive never heard of paternity leave for a new father at any of the companies ive worked at so far.
its not just evil corporations, its the laws. Plain and simple, when even the government doesnt give paid leave something is wrong.
I'm all for collective bargaining but some unions are pretty terrible.
Liberty4all
Banned
he's talking about Canada. We have legislated paid maternity and paternity leave, about one years worth that can be split between mother and father paid out through employment insurance at about 55 to 60 percent of whatever you make. I think though it gets capped at about 400 per week.
Honestly though, is there a reason why Americans don't really seem to protest? Between the crappy working conditions, high student loans, no universal health care, the NSA scandal, you'd think people would be rioting the streets. At least you have cheap electronics and food I guess.
We could start by electing more labor/union friendly politicians, for one. Sure, most Americans will whine and moan about lack of vacation time and other poor working conditions, but in the very next breath they'll shit on those commie socialist nazi unions and go vote Republican. I live in a solidly Red state, and I see that shit all the time. People bitch about getting fucked over in the workplace, and then vote to continue getting even more fucked over.
basically this.
Honestly, I just see it as people think since it's how it is, and we are America it has to be the best way and accept it (ala health care) it's really disheartening.
PJV3
Member
Nothing is perfect, unions can also save a company a lot of cash, sorting out office politics etc. They get unfairly judged on extreme cases which is often the result of bad or belligerent management and terrible industrial relations.
Holy shit, how are you supposed to have kids? I think it's 1/2 pay for about 9 months in the UK? Not had kids yet, so i'm not sure.
I get 33 days yearly including bank holidays. 2 weeks paternity leave if i have a kid.
Didn't George Bush have over 400 days holiday in one term? How does that work?
Because corporate propaganda over the past 40 years has worked hard to make Americans think that any laws that enhance the safety net or empower workers will only help those lazy undeserving "others" (read: minorities).
RustyNails
Member
And it will never happen, because the powers that be (read Republicans), will try to insulate young voters and minorities from political action. Their power lies in idiots who think gubmint takes too much money and yuropeens are lazy commies.
OfWhiteSkinOnRedLeather
Member
God damn. That's some serious envy. Your anger is misdirected too.
thats phenominal. i work for a giant company (fortune 70 at this point) and get nothing for paternity leave. anytime i want to be out of the office is vacation time.
- Status
Similar threads
- Locked