No Vacation Nation

Many people here in the USA don't realize just how little time off we have as a Nation.


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"Nearly all other countries in the world have something we don’t: a national law mandating that workers receive some amount of paid vacation each year. Only the Guyanas, Nepal, and that paragon of human rights, Myanmar (Burma) join the US in having no vacation law.

What’s with the difference? And does it really matter if people have vacation time or not? Some 50 experts from the fields of medicine, psychology, business, labor, recreation, environmental sciences, and family studies joined a group of activists at Seattle University to try to answer those questions.

Their answers were resoundingly clear: vacations are not an idle luxury. They’re a crucial ingredient in creating a healthy, civically engaged, and environmentally responsible society."

http://www.yesmagazine.org/living/no-vacation-nation/


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Would be nice to see something like that here.

:crazy:
:sarcasm:

With all the layoffs, someone choosing to take a vacation may just get a longer one than they anticipated. You know what, I work for one of the kindest hearted people you can imagine. He's the kind of small business owner everyone dreams of working for. And he recently told the whole staff he doesn't care if you are barfing every 5 minutes, you are expected at work. Bring a bucket. And if the kid is sick, bring them to work with you. - and no ski trips on the weekend - we can't afford to have you not be able to do your job because you broke something.

He was serious. It's not that he doesn't care about us - it's because his business is fighting for survival and he needs us all there and on top of our game. He was begging for our help, not threatening us.

There have been times when I've had to force people I was supervising to take breaks but like I told them a little bit of rest, occasionally going home early, taking a day off, etc will keep them at the top of their game and make them as better employees.

but there was a seriousness and desperation in the words we all understood.

And infected others. This tells me they were uncaring assholes who didn't care about not making other people sick. They only cared about the money.

And rewarding "perfect attendance".

so I doubt the survival of his company is as much on the line as he says it is.

That kind hearted guy thinks fear is going to motivate you to work harder.

The family that owns the business has not taken a salary in about a year and has let about half the staff go. More cuts are probably coming. I have worked for this family for over 15 years and I can tell you every single time he's had to let someone go it's like a knife in his heart. The Misses, who actually owns the business CAN'T make herself do the dirty work and choose "which one to throw off the island".

Yes, we still have customers. But every week our sales plummet and the aging on the AR gets older. These are smart people and they will survive. The only question is will they survive still employing people they genuinely care about. He's had enough of having to let people go because the level of business we have won't support everyone.

A family that chooses to live off the savings from the fat years so they can keep more of their crew (and I'm the only one who knows because I keep the books) is not into using fear as a motivator.

Forcing people to work when they're sick is not going to help his business in the long run.

I have always maintained that the right has a simple philosophy.
If you didn't earn it, you don't get it.

Free health-care? OH HELL NO.
Paid days off? OH HELL NO.
Free schooling? OH HELL NO.
Unemployment Insurance? OH HELL NO.
Welfare? OH HELL NO.

The left believes in helping everyone, even if you can't help yourself.
The right believes if you need help, there must be something wrong with you.
It's YOUR fault you lost your job or you got cancer.

"earning it." When it's to their benefit, they "deserve" it.

some companies are now requiring mandatory days that vacation must be used,,,, The company my Husband works for has mandated 10 different days that are coupled with other holidays that employees MUST take as vacation days,,,, for the newer employees it eats up all their time,,,,

productivity is up, wages are stagnant, people are afraid to call in sick, and we are supposedly the best country in the world. I guess that only applies to the overlords.

Has anyone read any of the help wanted adds lately on craigslist? Jeez, at times a person would think this is 1908 instead of 2009.

In his work, he travels all over the world. He lives part-time in the Netherlands but travels to the Middle East and Africa as well as most of the countries in Europe.

He said in America, when we meet someone, we always ask, "What do you do?" Their work defines who they are. And that it is much different in most of Europe. They don't have to have the big houses or the big cars to define who they are. They take pride in what they do, even if they are only a street sweeper.

And they enjoy life more. They enjoy sitting down to dinner with family and friends. Their life away from work defines their lives more than their time at work. Interesting dichotomy of cultures.

No time for sleep either.

You know what people in Europe spend all their money on? Travel.

so no thanks - someone get me a HD plasma screen stat!

I'm heading out of town on Thursday though, so I always have that! :woohoo:

On the back was a quote, "A work based culture is doomed to fail."

(I googled the title and a whole lot of authors come up, yet Josef Pieper's excerpts seem to fit. It was written early 1900's.)

This quote has always stuck in my mind, especially when I watch as other cultures, "take a month off", have festivals one after the other, and do not rush around like we do in this country. When I went to Iran, in every town were parks full of young and old people, drinking tea and reading poetry to each other, in the most contemplative and peaceful state-I will never forget the beauty of it.

Time to reflect and contemplate life is what people hunger for, strengthened relationships, less stress--it is what we are working for.

American culture lives to work, and does not work to live.

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