Why can't Americans have a vacation?

[uscitizen]

So you Watchovia other peoples money?

I'm in IT, actually.

IT? I was in that for about 15 years with a major Telecom company.
Job went to india.

 

[anotherlife]

And yet, Germany does almost as good as the USA in every aspect. Shows how meaningles is the American anti-vacation mentality.

Uh, you haven't proven that Americans have an anti-vacation mentality, bub.

I'd like to see him prove that germany is anywhere near as good as the USA.

First, you need a vacation day, to get a passport and go to Germany and see it yourself. The country speaks for itself. Too bad though, you are an American who is too busy being afraid in the office and proudly uncaring about what happens around. You clearly can't afford to step out of the office or to apply for a passport. HAHAHA

 

[anotherlife]

Uh, you haven't proven that Americans have an anti-vacation mentality, bub.

I'd like to see him prove that germany is anywhere near as good as the USA.

Do you know what Germany is doing now?

They are sending off their elderly to die overseas.....

This thread is about vacation benefits.

 

[anotherlife]

Every country is at a LEGISLATED vacation mandate of ~ 5 weeks per year, +/- 1 or 2, except the USA, where there is no vacation legislation for workers, and the ridiculously low 2 weeks is a "gift". Why are Americans so freakishly different again? And why do Americans love undercutting themselves this much?

I get 3 weeks vacation (four weeks starting next year or 2014), 5 personal days, and 5 sick days. Honestly...I never use the sick time or most of the personal time.

Why?

 

[anotherlife]

Uh, you haven't proven that Americans have an anti-vacation mentality, bub.

But every American I had asked says that they don't like vacations because they don't want their employers to incure the extra expense of it. (A self defeating shoot-your-own-foot attitude?)

Are you lying or are you just hallucinating?

I am telling the truth. But you can too open threads with this question at as many political forums as you want and this will be the most common answer, by far. (In addition to real life conversations.)

 

[Cammmpbell]

But every American I had asked says that they don't like vacations because they don't want their employers to incure the extra expense of it. (A self defeating shoot-your-own-foot attitude?)

Are you lying or are you just hallucinating?

I am telling the truth. But you can too open threads with this question at as many political forums as you want and this will be the most common answer, by far. (In addition to real life conversations.)

LMAO!! You're either brain numb or very dumb. Keep it up. You think you just got an ass kicking? Wait till next time and you'll find out about a landslide. Go check and see what Lyndon Johnson did to Barry Goldwater in 1964.

 

[Jarlaxle]

Every country is at a LEGISLATED vacation mandate of ~ 5 weeks per year, +/- 1 or 2, except the USA, where there is no vacation legislation for workers, and the ridiculously low 2 weeks is a "gift". Why are Americans so freakishly different again? And why do Americans love undercutting themselves this much?

I get 3 weeks vacation (four weeks starting next year or 2014), 5 personal days, and 5 sick days. Honestly...I never use the sick time or most of the personal time.

Why?

Unused sick & personal time gets paid out (sick time 100%, personal I think 75%) at the end of the year. This year, I have used no sick time and two personal days. (I am also carrying over 4 vacation days I have to use in the first quarter.)

About seven days' pay will be a pretty nice check.

 

[anotherlife]

REALLY?????

So which industry sector and which state/region? Or are you at some government job in the same office for the past 20+ years? Does not apply to most American workers.

I work for a bank in Charlotte. I'm going on my 11th year with them.

Okay, so you have uncovered the next con. Length of service. Few people get 11 years at the same office these days. But even if you do, why should you lose your own free time whilst you happily accept that you are labelled undeserving until the 11th year? Because your work is less valuable until then?

 

[Dragonlady]

Most high tech companies use something known as a "Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement" that is part of the employment arrangement when an employee is hired. If he is using his former employer's proprietary information to compete with them, he is likely already in violation of a legal agreement.

My friend's company was not a high-tech company. It's a company which uses very sophisticated software applications, which were virtually all developed by people within this very small industry. I cannot emphasize how small this niche is.

My friend's employment with this company pre-dated proprietary information contracts and his company was not a high-tech innovative company. The company's function was to provide weather forecasts. My friend didn't write his applications as part of his employment, he created this as a hobby on his home computer, so his employer had no proprietary claim to them. He had been involved with the company since before they even used computers and had been instrumental in the development of the niche technology they currently use, which is why they wanted to continue to consult with them.

Since he had no contract there was no non-competition or non-solicitation clauses. He was not only free to consult with his former employer's clients, but also to offer his services to those who hadn't approached him. People are going to continue to approach him for his skill and expertise in developing modelling software in any case.

I would like to add that when his bosses initially cut staff and made the rest work longer hours, they used some of the cash saved to buy an "executive retreat" in Mexico for themselves so they could go for "team building" events. The guys who really paid for this vacation paradise with their 60 hour weeks weren't allowed to use it.

 

[anotherlife]

No, we can't do that. That would require self accountability and responsibility. That's not fair.

No. That would require money. And money is what we increasingly don't have any more.

You can make all the excuses as to why you can't all day long. At the end of the day you'll still be a loser.

No. If you are not a majority shareholder at the moment of the high spike in the stock price, THEN you are a loser. This pretty much covers me and YOU and 99 % of all other people. HAHAHA

 

[anotherlife]

The last company I worked for, by the time I left I was earning 3 weeks vacation and 10 sick days a year. The sick days banked, and I used them to go on maternity leave.

Vacation isn't a gimme in every job, it's part of employee compensation. Some people would rather work a job that pays more upfront, some would rather have the benefits.

Yes, but such a balance is not reflected in nationwide employer statistics.

And if you were happy to "work yourself up to 3 weeks", then get informed, that most other countries START with 5 weeks. (Including 3rd world!) And how happy were you with your maternity leave limited to 10 days, when my sister had a hard time even after 20 days?

You are only looking at vacation, not all benefits. Vacation is just one part of employee compensation.

I agree, but vacations are the "cheapest", and easiest, and highest quality benefit. Especially compared to health care. Vacations have a health/life improvement effect too. And vacations is the one field where the US is an (negative) odd ball in the international world.

 

[anotherlife]

Every country is at a LEGISLATED vacation mandate of ~ 5 weeks per year, +/- 1 or 2, except the USA, where there is no vacation legislation for workers, and the ridiculously low 2 weeks is a "gift". Why are Americans so freakishly different again? And why do Americans love undercutting themselves this much?

Because we're not lazy socialist sloths, like you guys, except for Democrats/union dregs.

Okay, so how many benefits do we have to take away from you before you realize that you are just as lazy as we all are? Can we start with cancelling your Sundays and Christmas and Thanksgiving?

 

[anotherlife]

Are you lying or are you just hallucinating?

I am telling the truth. But you can too open threads with this question at as many political forums as you want and this will be the most common answer, by far. (In addition to real life conversations.)

LMAO!! You're either brain numb or very dumb. Keep it up. You think you just got an ass kicking? Wait till next time and you'll find out about a landslide. Go check and see what Lyndon Johnson did to Barry Goldwater in 1964.

You know, I would like to know, but you have to be somewhat specific when you talk about our grandfathers' time, because those references are ... well ... dead.

 

[anotherlife]

I get 3 weeks vacation (four weeks starting next year or 2014), 5 personal days, and 5 sick days. Honestly...I never use the sick time or most of the personal time.

Why?

Unused sick & personal time gets paid out (sick time 100%, personal I think 75%) at the end of the year. This year, I have used no sick time and two personal days. (I am also carrying over 4 vacation days I have to use in the first quarter.)

About seven days' pay will be a pretty nice check.

Okay, so does this indicate, that Americans put money far above everything, to the point that they remove all flexibility around it? Assume you wanted to go for a 5 week vacation to see something or meet people or recharge batteries or whatever. Would you be able to negotiate that as easily as to turn your time into just paper (money)?

 

[Zander]

I just got back from a nice vacation and I am on vacation now.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxC8KatxJxo]Go-Go's - Vacation (HQ) - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Mr Natural]

I'm on permanent vacation.

 

[Zander]

I'm on permanent vacation.

It's a state of mind.

 

[Jarlaxle]

Why?

Unused sick & personal time gets paid out (sick time 100%, personal I think 75%) at the end of the year. This year, I have used no sick time and two personal days. (I am also carrying over 4 vacation days I have to use in the first quarter.)

About seven days' pay will be a pretty nice check.

Okay, so does this indicate, that Americans put money far above everything, to the point that they remove all flexibility around it? Assume you wanted to go for a 5 week vacation to see something or meet people or recharge batteries or whatever. Would you be able to negotiate that as easily as to turn your time into just paper (money)?

Probably not...I think we have a 3-week limit in one block. 2 weeks is no problem (I have done it 7 years straight), several people have taken 3.

 

[Soggy in NOLA]

Really? Hard to believe. Which industry sector, and which state/region of the US?

Funny, my private sector employer provides 4 weeks of vacation per year, plus 12 holidays - all without the government mandating it.

Funny, my private sector employer provides 4 weeks of vacation per year, plus 12 holidays - all without the government mandating it.

I had so much at my last job, I literally couldn't use it all. When I left, I cashed out like 2 months.

Shipping. Unused rolled over plus you got 1 more week for each year of service after 5 years up to a max of 7 weeks per year.

 

[Soggy in NOLA]

I'm on permanent vacation.

It's a state of mind.

Chauncey the Gardener. Awesome movie.