Are Americans Afraid to Use Their Vacation Time?
When you ask someone how they’re doing, typical responses might be, “I’m so busy,” or “I work all the time.” In our hustle and hurry world we almost seem afraid of not being busy, afraid that a life of balance might signify to others that we are lacking in some way. We must not be very important if we aren’t as busy as everyone else, right? Wrong. In fact, in America, we have this "busy-ness," workaholic thing completely backwards. Instead of working in order to live our lives, we are living our lives to work.
How America Compares to the Rest of World When it Comes to Time Off:
France, Finland and Brazil offer their employees an amazing 30 days of paid vacation per year. This doesn’t include time off for public holidays. That means employees in these countries average a full 6 weeks of vacation yearly. Furthermore, countries like Russia, France, Finland, Lithuania, and Brazil provide workers with 40 days of paid vacation after they have worked for the same company for 10 years. In comparison, the average full-time American worker is allowed only 8.1 vacation days a year according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. They also typically have to work with a company for 1 year before they get any paid vacation days at all.
The Disparity Between America And Other Countries When Taking Vacations:
The fact that America lags behind exceptionally when it comes to emphasis on vacations shows that a real problem exists within the U.S. when it comes to taking time for yourself and your family. Perhaps at some point in America, going on vacation --- or just taking time off from work to recharge or get some some personal things done --- became synonymous with lacking ambition, or even being lazy. Maybe it is just that American employers know that they can work their employees harder and that the employees will simply rise to the occasion. Either way, not only are Americans not given as many vacation days as people in many other countries, they are also frequently made to feel guilty, or even ridiculed, for taking the precious few vacation days they do have.
Vacation is Better For Your Mind and Body
This is unfortunate because many studies have shown that workers who take their vacations are healthier, happier and more productive than their colleagues who work too much. Aside from this leading to better and more productive employees, it also means that employees are much less likely to get sick and have to stay home at times when they are really needed at work (during important projects, etc). Living a life of wellness requires rest, rejuvenation and time with those we love, all of which can come about when there is a healthy balance between work and play.
So work hard, earn your vacation days, and use them. Your family, your mind, your body and your boss will be glad you did!
Source Link:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/11/why-other-countries-are-s_n_5127495.html
