An old infographic I had bookmarked which shows this pretty clearly: https://i.imgur.com/Vkd1I01.png Also shows that working more != more pay (I'm Dutch, maybe you can see why I bookmarked it)
Americans Work 25% More Than Europeans, Study Finds
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Re: Americans Work 25% More Than Europeans, Study Finds
#22How 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 seems more interesting to ask Are they any more productive? Even if American companies are more productive, can that be attributed to longer working hours? I'm guessing not, because it is the job if the organization to make its workers more productive. The individual, being locked in his position, has little leverage on his productivity.
Re: Americans Work 25% More Than Europeans, Study Finds
#23The number of hours doesn't tell the whole story though. Working cultures differ a great deal. You may put in longer hours, but then it's more laidback, with more socializing etc. whereas somewhere else it's clock-in, work, clock-out, no fooling about.
Re: Americans Work 25% More Than Europeans, Study Finds
#24Re: Americans Work 25% More Than Europeans, Study Finds
#25Thing 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?
> Just look at salaries in London. Given the extraordinary cost of living, salaries are pitiful.
That certainly wasn't the case when I was working in London about 10 years ago. The going rate for a Java contractor with banking experience was about £600 per day (then $1,100).
Have things changed that much in 10 years?
Re: Americans Work 25% More Than Europeans, Study Finds
#26Re: Americans Work 25% More Than Europeans, Study Finds
#27Earlier quoted context omitted.
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.
I think the parent is actually referring to pre-tax salaries; the baselines are much lower (last I checked) in the EU relative to the US.
A senior ie 10 years experience in London is unlikely to make more than $70k which is about half what the starting salary is for google in the valley
Re: Americans Work 25% More Than Europeans, Study Finds
#28Thing 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 :(
Timezone issues are probably much of an impediment when it comes to remote employment (over the pond)
Re: Americans Work 25% More Than Europeans, Study Finds
#29Earlier quoted context omitted.
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"?
Is there any other developed nation where you pay $300 a month for health insurance and it doesn't cover you for the first $10,000 of expenses?
Re: Americans Work 25% More Than Europeans, Study Finds
#30I've worked in both Europe and the US, and in my opinion, US workers are far worse off for it. You earn more money in the US, you can advance faster, but you have next-to-no vacation time (and even when you do, you're still often expected to be reachable by e-mail), maternity/paternity leave is pitiful, and you have to pay large health insurance premiums, amongst other things. I know that isn't the case for everyone,…
some of us love work.