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Americans on vacation: Spot this rare creature out there somewhere if you can
It's certainly no news flash that Americans are overworked and for their trouble are rewarded by the world's most pathetic vacation allowances. Still every once in a while a little factoid jumps out that is surprising (well, at least to me), like this one over at Expedia that says that despite being dead last in the world in terms of vacation days earned, Americans will still leave an average of 3 days untouched. That means your average American is going to get out of the office for a whopping 11 days this year. Europeans take more days off sick than that.
Folks, they give them to you for a reason.
Expedia says a third of all Americans don't take the vacation they deserve. Now, the Web site's eighth annual "vacation depredation survey" is coming from a company whose business is in part to send Americans on vacation, but the numbers they tout still jive with what's pretty well known: Europeans are the world's best vacationers.
Your average Briton will earn 26 days of vacation this year (and take 23). Germans? Twenty-seven (and 25). The Spanish? 31 (and 27). And let's not forget the French, who were pretty much born on vacation: they'll get 37 vacation days this year, and will on average use all but two of those puppies.
None have any qualms of taking these days in one lump, either.
Europeans hold their right to go on holiday as sacrosanct. I worked for two years in the Czech Republic and I would have Czech employees call out sick for two weeks only to go on vacation the day after they return. My father likes to tell me the story of a French colleague of his who was out more than three months on maternity leave, and upon returning to work in the summer, promptly left on the three-week summer holiday common throughout France.
Europeans will defend all this with teeth bared as an offspring of their societies' generous social welfare benefits. And let's face it, which one of us wouldn't love to have a month vacation every year?
Check out Expedia's survey.
How much vacation are you getting this year? Will you take it all?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Emma Leigh Apr 23rd 2008 4:16PM
I would love to take a month off every year but I have this funny habit of eating and paying my mortgage.
I earn 2 weeks per year but, unfortunately, I have nearly burned all of this year's allotment due to taking my mom to oncology appointments that take an entire day.
I wonder if the reason there is less time used in the US is due to small business. My boss doesn't take more than a week per year because he doesn't like to leave the office that long. My dad was a farmer and had the same concern.
I prefer to take one day of vacation with a federal holiday to get a long weekend rather than burn all the time at once (when I have any.)
Matt Apr 23rd 2008 4:57PM
Uh... I'm pretty sure this article refers to paid vacation time, as in "you're paid to go on vacation." Unless you're payed hourly and not on a salary, I'm fairly certain that you don't lose money by taking off your whole two weeks.
John Apr 23rd 2008 4:58PM
That survey seems to be just a marketing strategy of EXPEDIA to make americans book through them. Besides, EXPEDIA cannot be trusted in any way since they are scamming travelers (Source: http://www.expedianews.com).
Rob Apr 23rd 2008 5:23PM
After 16+ years at my current job, I've earned 25 days/year here in the US (use it or lose it system). Part of the other problem American's have is longevity in jobs too - not staying long enough to earn those long vacation stints. Sure, corporation's haven't made it any easier to stay that long - but there are still a few companies worth working for out there.
That said - I'm spending most my vacation time these days in the UK, where my US$ is worth half the UK£ (ugh), but after years of not taking my full allotment, getting engaged to a Brit has a way of using every last minute of holiday time.
Candida Apr 23rd 2008 5:33PM
Right now I have 10 per year, plus some number of personal/sick days. I sure as heck am taking every single one of those days. I've already used 7, but that includes 5 I had from last year... so I've got another vacation left to go. Plus those personal days... oh I'm using every last one I can.
BrianM Apr 23rd 2008 6:23PM
Not all Americans are stuck with 10/year... work for a city/county/state/federal entity and you earn 2.5 days of leave per month (30 a year). You don't have to be a "typical" gov. employee either... I work for a public library. ;)
Gargamello Apr 23rd 2008 9:23PM
Not everyone gets that much vacation time. I agree with Emma.
The rising cost of travel and hotels, restaurants and theme parks makes big vacations unattractive. For example Disney World, no desire to go there and be mugged, or NYC.
Chris M. Apr 24th 2008 12:00AM
Your choice of pictures is ironic considering you use "Americans" in the subject, the picture is of a Canadian beer, Kokanee. ;) Just an observation.
Andrew Apr 24th 2008 8:41AM
I'm a Canadian, and we're about on par with the US for lack of vacations taken...
This year I'm up to 21 days of vacation. I'm taking every stich of it too. Life's far to short to not get away.
Later this year, I've got 2 weeks in Europe booked, then back to work for a month before splitting to Mexico for another week.
I'm not sure what it is about North Americans and our lack of desire to travel, but plop a vacation on a European, and he's on a plane to somewhere the next day...
Without vacations, my sanity would soon evaporate...
Emma Leigh Apr 24th 2008 9:09AM
Matt is right. I let my vacation envy get the better of me. There are tons of (mostly unpaid and a few paid) benefits working for a small company - vacation time is not one of them.
In the US, workers that are not a member of a union or have negotiated their own employment contract are working "at will." That means that a worker can be fired at any time for any (or no) reason. I am going to guess that most employees are not so confident in their position that they would take a large leave of absence only to return and take vacation. It is my understanding that it is very difficult to fire someone in France. I am going to assume that is the same for the other EU nations as well. Those workers can take the time because they don't have to fear losing their job.
Here is it a "dog-eat-dog" and "early bird catches the worm" and whatever other cliches you can think of. You could take off for 3 weeks and come back to find that your co-worker is now your boss or that you position was downsized while you were gone. I think there are more workaholics in the US as well.
Craig Apr 24th 2008 12:11PM
Your post rings true and I think it is a sick way to live. There's too much out there to see and experience to spend so much time working.
I chose where I work based in large part on the vacation time. I could make a little more elsewhere, but that's all I'd ever do -- work. Being in my second year, I get 14 days per year plus 5 personal days and I would consider it a crime not to use each and every one of them. Fortunately the culture here also lets me use the time off that it gives me.
Finnur Sep 12th 2008 12:19PM
Wow I couldn't live like that.. I live in Denmark atm and I get 35 days worth of vacation each year. Where I'm at now doesn't pay me overtime but if I have overtime hours saved up I can use those hours as vacation too, which gave me an extra three weeks worth of vacation last year :-)
Helen May 2nd 2008 9:28AM
I live in Ireland and work for a semi-state body. Our holidays/vacation days are linked to what grade your job is rather than your length of service. I only get 1 more day than the EU statutory minimum of 20 per year after working here for 7 years. The higher grades only get 2 more.
My American friends are envious, but I'm looking at France and thinking, that's the way it should be!
However, if you were lucky enough to be employed
when the Catholic Church held more sway in Ireland and the organisation shut for holy days of obligation and for Holy Week, you have an additional 10 days per year in lieu! Of course, you would of had to quit your job if you were a woman and got married...