From: labiche@crchh561.BNR.CA (Maurice LaBiche)
Subject: Re: Why do Americans get so little vacation time?
Reply-To: labiche@crchh561.BNR.CA (Maurice LaBiche)
Organization: Bell-Northern Research Ltd.
Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1992 19:08:40 GMT

In article <1992Aug12.103613.3389@desire.wright.edu>,
demon@desire.wright.edu (Stupendous Man) writes:
|>In article <1992Aug11.225503.13330@ncar.ucar.edu>,
ilana@kiowa.scd.ucar.edu (Ilana Stern) writes:
|>> I agree, let's get rid of the politics and back to the culture.  I am
|>> certainly not going to share my favorite unspoiled vacation spots, as
|>> I want to keep them to myself :-) but that proposed topic brings up
|>> another which is near to my heart:  why is vacation so undervalued
|>> in the US?
|>
|>	Undervalued?  We value it very much.
|>> 
|>> In most western European companies, 5-6 weeks of vacation is *standard*
|>> for employees.  In the US, two weeks is standard;  some companies don't
|>> even give first-year employees any vacation, and many give only one
|>> week.  It is often difficult to get unpaid leaves to supplement vacation.
|>> Even when one has accumulated the leave, many companies discourage
|>> long vacations, or require very strict scheduling ("You can't take that
|>> week off, we need you here").
|>
|>	I've had three weeks from the start.  My wife gets four.  That's
|>separate from holidays.  Any time I want to take a vacation, I can. 
Of course
|>I'm responsible enough not to do it at a critical point in a project.
|>	It all depends on where you work and what you ask for.
|>
|>> Why is vacation time so grudgingly awarded here?  Does it really help
|>> productivity?  Do we have any hopes of changing the system -- and how?
|>
|>	I have a feeling it's due to both the work-ethic during the industrial
|>revolution and the way in which people in the US simply agree to terms
instead
|>of bargaining.
|>	Most people don't understand that terms of employment are negotiable.
|>
|>> (PS I personally work for an institution (quasi-governmental) which 
|>> has a fairly generous policy w/r to paid and unpaid leave.  Relative
|>> to most private companies, I have nothing to complain about -- but I'd
|>> still be happier with 5 weeks, no questions asked!)
|>
|>	Yeah, I'd be happier with 50 weeks :).
|>
|>	Seriously, though.  I think five weeks is a bit much unless you've been
|>working for the company for years.  Starting off with 2/3 weeks initially and
|>progressing by 1 week for every five years of employment would be
sufficient. 
|>

5 weeks a bit much, seems like your mentally stuck with the majority of the
populous, in the industrial era frame of mind.  Why is 2/3 weeks initially 
ok but should be increased.  Why do people have to slowly earn time off?  
I believe anyone who can think of things they like to do outside of work
would relish the time off wisely.  Anyone who doesn't want more time off
must not have much of a life outside of their job.  

|>	I also like the "earned" vacation.  Where for each pay period you get
|>some of your leave.  As opposed to the method of awarding leave each January.
|>
|>	Speaking of vacactions :).  We just got back from two weeks in New
|>England.  Very nice scenery.  We visited Francona notch and the W-----
highway
|>(can't spell it :).  Spent a lot of money at the outlet stores in
North Conway. 
|>Visited the mansions in Rhode Island, the beaches of New Hampshire.  Visited
|>southern Maine.  A couple of days in Boston, of course.
|>	New Hampshire was really great though.  I wouldn't mind living there.
|>
|>Brett                                                      
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|>Proconsul Computer Consulting                                       
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