From: demon@desire.wright.edu (Stupendous Man)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.usa
Subject: Re: Why do Americans get so little vacation time?
Date: 12 Aug 92 15:36:13 GMT
Organization: Demonic Possesions, Inc.

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. 

	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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Newsgroups: soc.culture.usa,soc.culture.nordic