GeorgeW

As an aside to an interesting thread, I would ask this: what is more important- people as cogs in an economic machine or an economy which acts as a provider to the individual and family? I am far from some sort of socialist or utopian but I wonder whether we all become guilty of not understanding what we are working for. It shouldn't be just to build a pile of money. Cary Grant asks that in the wonderful movie HOLIDAY way back in 1938 and it is still a vital question.

Bitter

Like some of you, if I'm not working I'm not earning. Vacation time is somewhat discretionary BUT we all like to get paid! Also, if I am absent too often or for too long it could be an indication to someone (my employer or my customers) that I'm dispensible.

alanRow

UK, 28 days plus 9 Statutory Holidays plus a 9 day fortnight - but I've only been their 3 months so I only get the basic

CheBird

American, corp. world, 5 weeks.

beachgirl86

I feel guilty (and thrilled!) for admitting this, but as a teacher, I get A LOT of vacation time. The whole summer, a week each in Dec., Feb., and April, plus lots of 3 day weekends.

twk

beachgirl: No reason to feel guilty. I don't know if vacation time was a motivating factor to enter the teaching profession, but it definitely impacts the salaries paid to teachers. For someone who puts a high priority on vacation time, it is a great career choice--the only problem being paying for a trip on a teacher's salary.

flygirl

wasn't it Rick Steves who said he used to travel on a piano teacher's salary... and boy was she mad!

AngelaS

"I would ask this: what is more important- people as cogs in an economic machine or an economy which acts as a provider to the individual and family?" Good point.

I don't think that the gov't should mandate vacation - I do however think it should be higher on everyone's priority. I honestly don't hear that many Americans complaining about their vacation time - they just take it as a given that they get almost nil.

I envy you teachers!! I have thought of pursuing this profession at the college level after I finish my masters - very nice lifestyle, nice pay, perhaps a few sabbatcials - doesn't sound so bad!

thit_cho

"I do however think it should be higher on everyone's priority."

If it was higher on your (or anyone's) priority list, you could look for a job with a lower salary but more vacation time. If you want four weeks, only accept a job that allows four weeks. I understand that the US abolished slavery in the mid-19th Century, so you are surely free to switch jobs if you are unhappy with your number of vacation days.

AngelaS

thit - lower salary & more vacation time does not necessarily equal more vacations (hence less $$$). I am in my current position to gain experience and further my career so I will be able to be more picky in the future - as a somewhat recent grad I am not able to afford this luxury at this point.

BabsB

In the good ole USA, I get 4 weeks of paid vacation (after 20 years of service) and 9 days of personal time to be used any way I want. I also get 2 additional floater days to be combined with a holiday to make a 4 day weekend but they actually let us use it anytime we want. So total is 31 days. We also get 8 holidays off. I can't complain.

willit

I used to work in industry (46 hours basic per week + whatever overtime that was expected by the company) with 12 days vacation that had to be taken when the company said (annual shutdown).

I now work for the government - 37 hour weeks and 30 days a year. I was certainly money richer in the former, but the quality of life is infinitly better in the latter. There is no point being relatively wealthy if you are working too hard to enjoy it.

Christina

I always work in the corporate world (which most people do in the US), and I don't get as much vacation as I think I should in comparison to peers in my industry for my tenure. I get 17 days. Of course, holidays are extra (about 10, I think), and sick leave is a different benefit unrelated to that. I think I get about 10-12 sick days a year, but I'm hardly ever sick so don't recall. They accumulate, as does my vacation.

Angela, I don't know what kind of corporation you work for, but I have worked for several in my life and have never heard of one with as cheap a vacation policy as you have. I have just never known anyone or worked for any place that gives a total of two weeks for both vacation and sick leave. For vacation for a new employee, that is pretty normal, but to include sick leave in that? This is just not the norm in the US, so I wonder what kind of company you work for, or if you aren't a regular employee or something like that.

AngelaS

Christina - I am a full time exempt employee (meaning I don't get paid for overtime). I get 5 "personal days" per year, and get 5 days of vacation on my 1 year anniversary (i've only been here 6 months..). I have even heard of several companies that will not give you any vacation or any sick time until you have been there for an entire year...

muskoka

As a Canadian, I get one month's paid vacation (tied to years of service), 8 public holidays + unpaid Easter Monday, 18 paid sick or personal days per annum. I am also free to take any sick time on an hourly basis. Sweet deal!

Amanda23

Wow, I can't believe some of you have to include sick days in your vacation time. I think that's appalling and demonstrates a clear lack of attention to the need for personal wellness and a work/life balance on the part of the employers. I live in Canada and work in government and I get 3 weeks (15 days) vacation per year, 10 sick days and a few other random days for things like moving, family illness etc. Medical appointments you just go, they are not taken off your sick days or anything else. When my husband was in a serious accident last year I was given 3 weeks paid leave. This kind of generosity (and apparently every five years you get another 5 vacation days added) does make me want to work harder because it tells me my employer does care about my wellness and understands that personal happiness and professional productivity are often linked. This is something that many other companies are slow to understand, I think.

edhodge

This thread made me think about how many paid days off I do get- surprised to find that it is a little over 35 days a year. I have worked for an American health insurance company for 10 years. We get 10 holidays (including Christmas Eve and the day after Thanksgiving), one discretionary day to use as we please and Personal Time Off for vacation and sick leave which is dependent upon length of service. Personally, I get 7.25 hours per payperiod (which they unexpectedly bumped from 6.5 for folks with my tenure). Nice, huh?

They also give us 3 days bereavement but my boss gave me a 1/2 day more 2 weeks ago when I lost my mom.

I have a new appreciation for my workplace now. Maybe I just had forgotten how good I had it.

GeorgeW

I don't want to be a spoilsport, but the concept of sick leave is foreign to me. I'm 46 and have never taken a sick day. When you're part of a small business, taking vacation can be difficult. That said, when my son recently had open-heart surgery I took off two days.

FainaAgain

I found my very first job in USA in 1990 in a small place with maybe 30 employees. The owner, and emigrant himself, gave only what's required by law. No benefits at all. NONE. 2 paid vacation days a year after one full year of work.

Think about all minimum-wage people and count your blessings, everybody who complains!

mikeycora

We receive 23 vacation days, 4 personal days, 12 sick days and 8 paid holidays. I can roll over the vacation up to 6 weeks, personal days up to 72 hours, and here is the big one sick days to 1296 hours. Upon retirement we are paid up to half of 800 hours. For many they walk with a few European vacations paid.