Tiff

Are we supposed to feel sorry because your a student? I've been working for 23 years to be able to afford the vacations we take. That's life! Most of us at one time was in your shoes. Put your time in and one day you'll be able to do the same as us "old folks".

Go easy there Karl. I don't think Tiff was asking for sympathy. I think she was saying, remember that even though lots of career people get only 10-15 days off, there are those who don't even get that. Just a perspective broadener.

Tiff & Freud

Didn't mean anything negative. Just pointing out to Tiff that she is just starting out. Besides, if I remember that far back, there was a lot of time off during school. Christmas break, spring break, time off between terms. In retrospect it doesn't seem all that bad. Just another perspective.

At the risk of being blasted, I must ask this question. Why does anyone think an employer should be required to give a certain number of days for vacation? There was no mention of offering extra work, just a quest for something free. My husband has his own business and can take as many days as he chooses. However, the days he is gone, there is no money coming in.

Vacations are a luxury we enjoy tremendously. My husband and I travel extensively, but haven't always had the good fortune to do so. We've worked hard, planned ahead, and are able to travel while we are still young enough to enjoy it.

I hope everyone has the good fortune to travel as much as they choose for as long as they choose. This just might be a worthy goal towards which to WORK.

Sorry about the soapbox...

We take one real vacation each year with the kids, a week somewhere like the beach. We do make 3-6 short weekend trips in a year tho up to VA, DC, or the mountains. We also make an annual trip to the midwest to visit family.

Hi All

I love to travel at least three times a year!!! I think we each make sacrifices and deserve a little break each time of the year whether having a family, School, or running your own business..It's up to the type of lifestyle you lead whether you'll be able to travel often or not.. We make the choices and have to live with them
whether we like them or not.. Everyone should be entitled to some type of vacation time each year... excluding holidays..
Olga

Olga, why do you think you are "entitled" to a vacation?

Dear Mr. Stalin (er, Me):
Everyone should be "entitled" to a vacation (that is, time off from work) because in the USA at least, the people rule their own destiny and there is no logical reason why humans in their right minds would mandate that workers should go at it 52 out of 52 weeks a year. Bad for worker morale. Bad for personal stress levels and productivity. Bad for family life. Need I go on?
Any student of social or psychological science will tell you that leisure is a NECESSITY for mental well being and productivity.

To Olga's pal. Stalin, me? Hardly. One is entitled to nothing. One gets what one earns. The key word both you and Olga left out is -- what have you earned? I'm really not trying to be argumentative, but I get so tired of people saying they are entitled to something when the reality is -- you are only entiltled to what you work for -- I mean really work... not just put in your time and think, "Gosh, I'm entitled to ----(fill in the blank)."

Me

I know what you are saying. My parents owned their own business for 30 years. They chose that lifestyle. No boss, terrible hours, no weekends off, hardly any vacations, but they loved it.

However, I chose the private sector. I have worked the last 23 years at a business that gives vacations. I am entitled to my four weeks a year because of seniority. Private sector understands that if you want good people and to retain those people, you have to give benifits. One of those benefits is vacation time. So while I understand your argument, I don't really agree with it.

I really wish that meagain was entitled to more vacation time so she would go away and give everyone a rest.Is it just me or is meagain everywhere annoying everyone?? Please give it a rest !!

The message was:
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Author: Tiredofme ([email protected])
Date: 8/09/2000, 8:42 am ET


Message: I really wish that meagain was entitled to more vacation time so she would go away and give everyone a rest.Is it just me or is meagain everywhere annoying everyone?? Please give it a rest !!

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Sorry, I really didn't mean to annoy you. It was my belief that this was an open forum which allowed different opinions to be posted, even if they differ.

So, you are saying, I shouldn't post?

Post away "Meagain"! Don't let the X*#&%^@)% get you down. ALL are welcome here!

Me Again:

I for one agree with you 100%. The problem is not you at all. Your opinion is just as valid as any other. There just happens to be some very immature people on this forum

Sorry "Tiredofme", despite the fact that some opinions here seem nutty or askew, evryone's opinion is welcome and makes for more interesting exchange of ideas. BTW "Me", I was being sarcastic with the Stalin reference. I know, Iknow, it's hard to recognize sarcasm (as opposed to downright nastiness) in a sterile medium like this, no facial expressions or vocal intonation. I just couldn't resist. No offense, of course.

Again, though, my point was that while individuals may choose to own their own business, work 365d a year without vacation, etc., it would be very inappropriate for employers to have the legal option of forcing workers to do the same. Laws should reflect the will of the people as a whole and serve the best interests of the majority. Vacations are a right, not a benefit, IMO. Happy, healthy workers increase productivity and make work more enjoyable for everyone involved.
And BTW, I run a company of 68, so I'm not speaking as a disgruntled employee. And morale here is great (paid vacations, tuition assistance, full med-dent, pension/prf sharing, bonuses, company paid travel to educational seminars, etc.)
So why am I here? Lunch hour. Planning a trip! Bosses need time off, too.

Olga's pal: Sure wish there were more employers like you. Many in America still go by the WWII era work ethic of
life is hard > work work work to get ahead. It is a right to have some time off to daydream. Most don't have much time for that in the new millenium. BUT it is also my antiquated opinion that about 50% of 30 and under Americans hardly "work at work" and still have an exaggerated opinion of extended "rights to off work" time. My youngest son thinks a four day work week is his
"norm." The life philosophy is changing again. Where I work coming to work on time seems like an impossiblity to the same people who want 4 or 5 weeks of vacation.

Time off is important. Don't get me wrong, I am all for vacations (we take around 8 weeks a year...). Those employers who want good employees take care of them and provide the benefits that make them happy campers including vacation time and personal time. But to mandate by law that an employer MUST give x number of days/weeks vacation a year is not where the government belongs... unless, of course, there are also laws to mandate employees must actually work, put in a required number of hours, and show up on time, etc. <said with a good deal of sarcasm and a smile>.

It stresses me that many people think they are entitled to a vacation but don't really understand the connection between EARNING a vacation. Not to pick on the younguns (was one myself once upon a time), but an earlier poster hit the nail on the head with a reference to the work attitude of many young adults.

I think we all agree that vacations are wonderful, everyone should have them...or why would be here on Fodor's in the first place? <smile>

Gotta love this site! Here we are, all bitching about working so hard and messing on the internet for most of the day! However, I digress... have worked hard for 20 years to buy the house, educate the kids, etc. but we downscaled the house, eat out less and go away on 4 day weekends 3 times a year and 10 day vacations twice a year (I take unpaid time off from work to do this). My husband is self employed and we schedule our vacations around his "least earning days". It's a question of priority.

You wrote:

Author: lin gitterman ([email protected])
Date: 8/09/2000, 3:15 pm ET

Message: Gotta love this site! Here we are, all bitching about working so hard and messing on the internet for most of the day!

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LOL. You put a smile on my face!

Jeanette,
I would say it is probably lower than 50%. I do not work less than 40 hrs and I don't expect to work less than 40 hrs. Most of my friends whether single or married also do not expect to work less than 40 hrs. We all work hard because our workload keeps us busy and doesn't give us time to surf the net or e-mail friends all day. I have worked at the same company for 9 yrs. and I feel I am "entitled" to my 18 days vacation a year.