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66% of Americans say they want extended European-style vacation policies at work

cnbc.com

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Re: 66% of Americans say they want extended European-style vacation policies at work

#21

Post by Longhanks »

lionkor wrote: post #7
cynicalsecurity wrote: post #3

As much as I like my vacations, I would rather prefer US salary over it.

Does the US salary hold up against the benefits you get in a well-off EU country? Namely free healthcare, automatic payments into pension fund, strong social system if you're ever in trouble, etc.? It seems to me that, as high as US salaries are, they arent that much higher compared to European salaries when you factor all this in, plus the face that a month of that work youre paid for youre OOO

For Germany: "Free" as in waiting for months to get an appointment with a specialist? "Pension fund" as in gigantic ponzi scheme that requires 30% of the state‘s yearly budget, with no party having any kind of plan how to save the system? "Strong social system" as in being taken advantage of with the world‘s second highest taxes?

Sure, I’d rather be super poor in Europe than in the US. But anybody above the poorest, anybody that can and wants to work for a living, I’d much rather try to find my luck in America.

Re: 66% of Americans say they want extended European-style vacation policies at work

#23

Post by pjmlp »

unmole wrote: post #6

Did the survey ask if they wanted a pay cut to match European style wages?

Reaching 50 years old, never got this American complaint about our salaries.

The whole package is what matters.

We work to live, not live to work.

Re: 66% of Americans say they want extended European-style vacation policies at work

#24

Post by dopidopHN »

momirlan wrote: post #12
unmole wrote: post #6

Did the survey ask if they wanted a pay cut to match European style wages?

and taxes...

I pay a month worth of salary per year in France and I pay the same in Louisiana. 1/12

But in France you get something out of your taxes

Re: 66% of Americans say they want extended European-style vacation policies at work

#25

Post by defrost »

NavinF wrote: post #10
unmole wrote: post #6

Did the survey ask if they wanted a pay cut to match European style wages?

I suspect the survey results will change drastically if each person was shown this table: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disposable_household_and_per_c...

The US might have higher disposable income but there are less benefits to go with that.

I'll stick with the health care, education, paid vacation and sick leave, lower crime rates, lower incarceration rates, zero school shootings, etc.

Re: 66% of Americans say they want extended European-style vacation policies at work

#26

Post by Tomte »

pcthrowaway wrote: post #17
lionkor wrote: post #4

> While the average American is lucky to get 11 vacation days WHAT? Does that count sick days as well, or is that a myth? Here in Germany, I get 30 vacation days per calendar year, plus any sick days, and thats fairly normal. Edit: Sure the absolute salaries here are lower, but the cost of living is vastly different and the social support structures and healthcare are different, too. That should definitely be kept in…

> Here in Germany, I get 30 vacation days Does this include public holidays? Or do you have public holidays?

In addition to public holidays.

Depending on the state there are ten to thirteen public holidays (but some invariably fall on the weekend).

Re: 66% of Americans say they want extended European-style vacation policies at work

#27

Post by [deleted] »

pcthrowaway wrote: post #17
lionkor wrote: post #4

> While the average American is lucky to get 11 vacation days WHAT? Does that count sick days as well, or is that a myth? Here in Germany, I get 30 vacation days per calendar year, plus any sick days, and thats fairly normal. Edit: Sure the absolute salaries here are lower, but the cost of living is vastly different and the social support structures and healthcare are different, too. That should definitely be kept in…

> Here in Germany, I get 30 vacation days Does this include public holidays? Or do you have public holidays?

[deleted]

Re: 66% of Americans say they want extended European-style vacation policies at work

#28

Post by bityard »

lionkor wrote: post #4

> While the average American is lucky to get 11 vacation days WHAT? Does that count sick days as well, or is that a myth? Here in Germany, I get 30 vacation days per calendar year, plus any sick days, and thats fairly normal. Edit: Sure the absolute salaries here are lower, but the cost of living is vastly different and the social support structures and healthcare are different, too. That should definitely be kept in…

It depends greatly on the job. I have a fairly typical tech job in the US and have about a month of paid time off in total. Most white collar work is roughly the same, unless the company is managed by assholes.

Retail, service industry, and blue collar work is very different, though. Time off is not always guaranteed, and sick days are not always paid.

Re: 66% of Americans say they want extended European-style vacation policies at work

#30

Post by 1letterunixname »

Meanwhile, Americans don't know how bad they have it and are far more productive for more hours for less money. Perhaps Americans should unionize smartly more and insist on collective bargaining for workplace safety, proper healthcare, and livable wages to start?

Most Americans are living paycheck-to-paycheck and don't have much hope for their future. They feel like they're going to work until they drop without a plan or the resources to grow old with a shred of dignity.

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