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Americans Work 25% More Than Europeans, Study Finds

bloomberg.com

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Re: Americans Work 25% More Than Europeans, Study Finds

#11

Post by AlexeyBrin »

webaholic wrote: post #3

How happy are they working that extra 25%? They are richer, sure. But I don't think being rich is an indicator of your overall state. Looking at [1], you can see that people in european countries come out on top of the happiness index. One could argue that working less is actually better for productivity and overall happiness. [1] http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-04-23/these-are-...

In most cases is not like they (the Americans) have a choice to work less hours. Vacation time in North America is significantly under the European norm.

Re: Americans Work 25% More Than Europeans, Study Finds

#12

Post by akhatri_aus »

cletus wrote: post #2

Thing is, in the software world at least, you earn >25% more than Europeans in the US. Just look at salaries in London. Given the extraordinary cost of living, salaries are pitiful. Why is that?

You wont have healthcare cost problems in London though.. for starters.

Re: Americans Work 25% More Than Europeans, Study Finds

#13

Post by johndevor »

mbillie1 wrote: post #4
webaholic wrote: post #3

How happy are they working that extra 25%? They are richer, sure. But I don't think being rich is an indicator of your overall state. Looking at [1], you can see that people in european countries come out on top of the happiness index. One could argue that working less is actually better for productivity and overall happiness. [1] http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-04-23/these-are-...

It's almost like working 60+ hour weeks churning out CRUD apps to get a rich person richer isn't the secret path to happiness or something.

Hold on, I need to write that one down...

Re: Americans Work 25% More Than Europeans, Study Finds

#14

Post by eeZah7Ux »

mbillie1 wrote: post #4
webaholic wrote: post #3

How happy are they working that extra 25%? They are richer, sure. But I don't think being rich is an indicator of your overall state. Looking at [1], you can see that people in european countries come out on top of the happiness index. One could argue that working less is actually better for productivity and overall happiness. [1] http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-04-23/these-are-...

It's almost like working 60+ hour weeks churning out CRUD apps to get a rich person richer isn't the secret path to happiness or something.

Shocking how people accept that.

Re: Americans Work 25% More Than Europeans, Study Finds

#16

Post by pjc50 »

cletus wrote: post #2

Thing is, in the software world at least, you earn >25% more than Europeans in the US. Just look at salaries in London. Given the extraordinary cost of living, salaries are pitiful. Why is that?

Is that doing the dollar conversion at pre- or post-Brexit prices? It's now 20% worse than it used to be.

I'm not in London, but I'm seriously considering sniffing around for jobs which can be done with transatlantic remote working. Sadly that's a rare and oversubscribed option :(

Re: Americans Work 25% More Than Europeans, Study Finds

#17

Post by vinay427 »

ythl wrote: post #5
cletus wrote: post #2

Thing is, in the software world at least, you earn >25% more than Europeans in the US. Just look at salaries in London. Given the extraordinary cost of living, salaries are pitiful. Why is that?

Because European governments take a lot more out of your salary before it reaches you in exchange for social services (pensions, healthcare, etc). Unlike America where you are expected to either drop a stack of bills just to see the doctor or die in the streets.

About 90% of Americans overall have health insurance. Most full-time tech jobs in the US at the companies that would pay more than European salaries will include sufficient health insurance. I'm not sure who you're referring to dying in the streets because of a lack of medical treatment due to financial limitations.

Re: Americans Work 25% More Than Europeans, Study Finds

#18

Post by mcv »

webaholic wrote: post #3

How happy are they working that extra 25%? They are richer, sure. But I don't think being rich is an indicator of your overall state. Looking at [1], you can see that people in european countries come out on top of the happiness index. One could argue that working less is actually better for productivity and overall happiness. [1] http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-04-23/these-are-...

That's exactly it. Dutch workers apparently work the least number of hours per year, yet Netherland is one of the richest, happiest and most productive countries in Europe. The country where people work the most hours in the EU is Greece.

(I realize this Bloomberg article has slightly different figures than the one I remember from another study. Maybe they used different ways to measure this, maybe the situation changed. I think the former.)

Re: Americans Work 25% More Than Europeans, Study Finds

#19

Post by eeZah7Ux »

cmdrfred wrote: post #7
cletus wrote: post #2

Thing is, in the software world at least, you earn >25% more than Europeans in the US. Just look at salaries in London. Given the extraordinary cost of living, salaries are pitiful. Why is that?

We also have higher costs of living when you factor in healthcare costs and lack of public transportation. A healthy 20 year old can pay $300 a month for insurance that covers nothing until you hit 10k in expenses.

Where is "we"?

Re: Americans Work 25% More Than Europeans, Study Finds

#20

Post by UK-AL »

akhatri_aus wrote: post #12
cletus wrote: post #2

Thing is, in the software world at least, you earn >25% more than Europeans in the US. Just look at salaries in London. Given the extraordinary cost of living, salaries are pitiful. Why is that?

You wont have healthcare cost problems in London though.. for starters.

But other professions are comparable.
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