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aviinterra -> no vacation (7/13/2007 4:04:50 AM)

" Wallace Huffman, a professor at Iowa State University in Ames who is a specialist in labor economics, said Americans work longer hours than their European counterparts. While many Europeans take four to six weeks of vacation — often including the entire month of August when factories close — many Americans take no vacation at all, Huffman said."

I recall recently how one of my family members in Europe reacted with shock when she heard I was "only visiting for two weeks."  Why is it that we in this country have to work constantly? Even if we get that big house, that great car, all the needless toys, then when will we have the time to actually enjoy them- much less the time that is life, which keeps slipping through our fingers with every breath we take? I LOVE vacations, travel. They are only as much of a hassle as you make them to be, and I have found that tourists and people who complain about vacations are the ones who just can't relax and minimally organize themselves. Not every detail has to be planned out.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap_travel/20070712/ap_tr_ge/travel_brief_vacation_time



StellaByStarlite -> RE: no vacation (7/13/2007 5:34:11 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: aviinterra

" Wallace Huffman, a professor at Iowa State University in Ames who is a specialist in labor economics, said Americans work longer hours than their European counterparts. While many Europeans take four to six weeks of vacation — often including the entire month of August when factories close — many Americans take no vacation at all, Huffman said."

I recall recently how one of my family members in Europe reacted with shock when she heard I was "only visiting for two weeks."  Why is it that we in this country have to work constantly? Even if we get that big house, that great car, all the needless toys, then when will we have the time to actually enjoy them- much less the time that is life, which keeps slipping through our fingers with every breath we take? I LOVE vacations, travel. They are only as much of a hassle as you make them to be, and I have found that tourists and people who complain about vacations are the ones who just can't relax and minimally organize themselves. Not every detail has to be planned out.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap_travel/20070712/ap_tr_ge/travel_brief_vacation_time




Could be worse... could be Japan, where the poor guys are working themselves to death.



meatcleaver -> RE: no vacation (7/13/2007 6:15:25 AM)

My ex used to work in the City of London for a big international accountancy firm and while on holiday in California she met a woman who worked for the same firm in the offices in San Francisco. My ex used to have eight weeks holiday a year, earn a much higher salary and had a lot more perks and benefits than her counterpart in San Francisco for similar work. Not only did the America woman she met only have two weeks holiday a year, she had great difficulty getting the same weeks off as her husband. Neither the company she worked for or her husbands were prepared to compromise so they could have the same holiday dates. I don't know why Americans put up with the situation, it isn't necessary, the London office were ruthless in closing down departments if not enough profits were being generated so it had nothing to do with profitability. I think Americans just buy into the work ethic propaganda without questioning it. One should work to live, not live to work. You spend a long time in your grave and you only have one life, why spend it making your bosses excessively rich?



MzMia -> RE: no vacation (7/13/2007 6:26:28 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: aviinterra

" Wallace Huffman, a professor at Iowa State University in Ames who is a specialist in labor economics, said Americans work longer hours than their European counterparts. While many Europeans take four to six weeks of vacation — often including the entire month of August when factories close — many Americans take no vacation at all, Huffman said."

I recall recently how one of my family members in Europe reacted with shock when she heard I was "only visiting for two weeks."  Why is it that we in this country have to work constantly? Even if we get that big house, that great car, all the needless toys, then when will we have the time to actually enjoy them- much less the time that is life, which keeps slipping through our fingers with every breath we take? I LOVE vacations, travel. They are only as much of a hassle as you make them to be, and I have found that tourists and people who complain about vacations are the ones who just can't relax and minimally organize themselves. Not every detail has to be planned out.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap_travel/20070712/ap_tr_ge/travel_brief_vacation_time



It is not an easy job, but that is one of the perks of teaching.
As long as they don't attempt to make all schools 12 months!!!!
I have 4 more weeks off!
weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee [sm=mrpuffy.gif]

Seriously, everyone needs vacation time and time off.....changes should be made.
This is a big societal problem in America that should be addressed.
I think lack of time off has a great deal to do with the breakdown and destruction
of many families.



pahunkboy -> RE: no vacation (7/13/2007 6:40:55 AM)

on one of my bus trips to Chicago- this lovely blood girl from Sweeden sat next to me. She said "only two weeks???"  only when i mentioned i was alowed a 2nd 2 weeks the following month...did she thing it was fair.  BTW- she said Pennsylvania was baeutiful!

Many workers in urban areas here- dont get a retirement. they work till they drop dead. i see them in walgreeen in chicago.

even tho i was hurt -injuried and retired early- i GETT a RETIREMENT.

be jealous if you want. eat my dust.  but my dad,  his dad worked emself into teh grave- and i aint gonna do that!!!!!!!



LuckyAlbatross -> RE: no vacation (7/13/2007 7:23:12 AM)

Trust me, most people want and encourage the working style we have going.  I'm still flabbergasted by the need for things to be overnighted other than for medical emergencies.  I work with people's finances and it's CRAZY how uptight they get about seeing paperwork NOW NOW NOW and getting answers NOW NOW NOW, even if they sit on it for two weeks.




pahunkboy -> RE: no vacation (7/13/2007 7:47:04 AM)

from a logistics point of view- USA cant shut donw for a month. that would prove idiotic in the USA.

we are a 24/7 market economy. even when you presume nothing is happening- trucks are shipping goods overnight- just in time delivery- truck traffic increased 75% between 1980 and 1990. [we dumped trains]

Also- since we are more global- the stock markets overseas are monitorred here- as well as commodities.

PA for many years had "blue laws" meaning no work on a Sunday. so stored werent open for the many years on Sunday. [?the lords day]
well that has chaged tho not as quick as other parts of the US.

when i worked with the public- i noticved a trend-- each year they got ickier to serve. more complaining- bitchy- rude. literally.

the clerk doesnt sett he price corporate out of New York does!!!! so dont take it out on me!!!



Lothlauren -> RE: no vacation (7/13/2007 9:20:31 AM)

All I have to say is try working in the computer industry in canada. the normal labour laws do not apply to the computer industry in the same way.

Vacation... what is that? until I started working for myself as a contractor and consultant I saw no time off. (Longest stretch was about 91 days without a day off at sixteen hrs a day roughly)

The corporations are doing more and more to increase the amount of productivity they get out of each individual and automating any process they can that would prove to be cost effective.



pahunkboy -> RE: no vacation (7/13/2007 9:31:01 AM)

i worked in group homes. shey shoot themself in the foot.  good staff is asked to come in on an "emergency"; the emergencies become more frequent. every day- it is earth shatterring that we do this.... so good stafff burns out, snaps, or leaves. flaming the problem. it is somehow cheaper to work 1 employee overtime then to hire a 2nd employee.

when i worked building houses- management- would annouce youll be here 10 hours today. the men get angry- swing hammer fater and harder. in essence more production. so- lets speed it up abit. more- go faster- it is URGENT, ok- 60-70 hour weeks- the body cant relax. then work place accidents happen. [yes- to me] then they blame the employee. worker comp reform was redone 3 times in the space of 10 years. the corporation had the nerve to call the treatring dr [of me] and demand he place me on full duty. the dr- refused.  then the ins ppl play both sides- they tell the company your rates are high cos u have accidents- they will pay 50k-in lawyers to not pay $1 in worker comp.  my mind went ballistic when their atty put in writing - that my demands were unrealistic- and i quote "mr  llllll is asking for everything, and he may as well ask for a partich in a pare tree' unquote.

bottom line- US workers have been treated crappy. and there is a hostility-



pahunkboy -> RE: no vacation (7/13/2007 9:41:51 AM)

PS- the "man" the "corporation" fkked my back- my health- my earnings potential.

i cant specifically tell what i did. but- as you may know THE most important thing is that the line keep moving. every second is $$$$.  i managed to disrupt the line, per hap 40 minutes. it was unplanned- i seen a weak point- then i blah blah blah.

do i feel quilty? nope.

those frick a-holes even kept my tools! including dads hammer! and 1 i used as a dildo!!!

of course the judge- whom the corp donated to his campaigne- why did i not think of it? it is all staged. we pretend to have worker rights here and we dont.

Luckily- i worked since age 14. i had my 40 quarters paid in. i worked 2 jobs for 4 years----

today- the anger is diminished. [it isnt worth jail]

*smirks* it was so easy to disrupt the line!  LMAO.  but i wont do so again. i had the chance- but i said to myself- "living well is the best revenge". so thats what i do.

i live well.  happy new year!!!



Masternslave07 -> RE: no vacation (7/13/2007 9:42:14 AM)

Now we are owed vacations too? Lol.



pahunkboy -> RE: no vacation (7/13/2007 9:44:08 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: LuckyAlbatross

Trust me, most people want and encourage the working style we have going.  I'm still flabbergasted by the need for things to be overnighted other than for medical emergencies.  I work with people's finances and it's CRAZY how uptight they get about seeing paperwork NOW NOW NOW and getting answers NOW NOW NOW, even if they sit on it for two weeks.




i have an ocean of papers. not sure what to keep. been in a handfull of litigations.... argh



pahunkboy -> RE: no vacation (7/13/2007 9:45:53 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Masternslave07

Now we are owed vacations too? Lol.


HELL YEAH!  they dont have to be paid ones. but for optimal performance you cant work someone 110% capacity, and never have a breaking point.



Zensee -> RE: no vacation (7/13/2007 1:23:30 PM)

What are you pathetic, whining creatures doing chatting about vacations on the internet?

Get back to the salt mines before I have you all shot!


Z.



NorthernGent -> RE: no vacation (7/13/2007 1:35:49 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: aviinterra

" Wallace Huffman, a professor at Iowa State University in Ames who is a specialist in labor economics, said Americans work longer hours than their European counterparts. While many Europeans take four to six weeks of vacation — often including the entire month of August when factories close — many Americans take no vacation at all, Huffman said."

I recall recently how one of my family members in Europe reacted with shock when she heard I was "only visiting for two weeks."  Why is it that we in this country have to work constantly? Even if we get that big house, that great car, all the needless toys, then when will we have the time to actually enjoy them- much less the time that is life, which keeps slipping through our fingers with every breath we take? I LOVE vacations, travel. They are only as much of a hassle as you make them to be, and I have found that tourists and people who complain about vacations are the ones who just can't relax and minimally organize themselves. Not every detail has to be planned out.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap_travel/20070712/ap_tr_ge/travel_brief_vacation_time



Maybe contintental Europeans take so much time (couldn't say as don't live there), but the English certainly do not.

A recent study found that the English currently work more hours per week than anyone in the developed world, including Americans. I do know that on average we get more time off for holidays, here.

I completely agree with your point, however. 'No point having loads of money if you've no time to spend it, and if a ferrari and a house is the extent of a person's aspirations, well..... I love seeing places, too. I've managed to get to around 25 other countries, and would much rather travel than have a big house and car. 

The strange thing is that we're so proud of ourselves because we work longer hours than our neighbours. How fuckin' ridiculous is that? The Germans and French are sat having a glass of wine with their families at 6 in the evening while the English are still in the office. The height of stupidity. ' Problem is that in a global economy, it's only going to get worse.



NorthernGent -> RE: no vacation (7/13/2007 1:43:02 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Lothlauren

The corporations are doing more and more to increase the amount of productivity they get out of each individual and automating any process they can that would prove to be cost effective.



Yeah, and they're supported by the status quo who drive this long hours working culture because they take the lion's share of the reward.

I suppose that regardless of the poltical system (i.e. constitutional monarchy, democracy, republic etc) people are stupid the world over. Working themselves into the ground because the the upper echelons of society has told them they "need" a big house and a big car. I suppose it's the economic equivalent of war.



Sinergy -> RE: no vacation (7/13/2007 1:47:33 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: pahunkboy

when i worked with the public- i noticved a trend-- each year they got ickier to serve. more complaining- bitchy- rude. literally.



I have found I have been extremely nice.  Im nice to longshoremen, Im nice to superintendents (company goons), Im nice to security, Im nice to waitpeople, Im nice to clerks, etc.

I figure I dont like getting sh*t from people at work, Im not going to give people sh*t at their job.

Just me, etc.

Sinergy



Politesub53 -> RE: no vacation (7/13/2007 1:50:28 PM)

The main reason factories close has nothing to do with the benefit of the workers. Its cheaper to close the whole place for the yearly maintenance and send everyone home, rather than have some departments standing idle. Most people in the UK get 4 weeks holiday, some firms give a day extra for each year you stay there. This tends to make staff a bit more loyal.
When i was in contruction, working 13/14 hours a day, including travelling to and from work, was normal.



thompsonx -> RE: no vacation (7/13/2007 2:45:17 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Masternslave07

Now we are owed vacations too? Lol.


Masternslave:
We are owed what ever we can negotiate with our employer.  If you try to negotiate with a corporation as a single individual it is like trying to play football by yourself against an NFL team...what you get are foot prints on your face.  If you negotiate with a corporation as a union the deal gets a little better. 
Given your choice of fifty dollars an hour, six weeks paid vacation per year and full medical/dental coverage or six dollars an hour no benefits and five days paid vacation after two years which would you choose?
Please do not trot out the old story that that would bankrupt the company.  It did not bankrupt Home Depot when they fired their CEO for incompetence and gave him nearly a quarter of a billion yes billion with a B for being incompetent.
thompson



Sinergy -> RE: no vacation (7/13/2007 2:48:39 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Masternslave07

Now we are owed vacations too? Lol.


Technically, I am not "owed" a vacation.  I get paid 2 weeks of pay every February.  3 weeks after 5 years.  Etc.

I have to work 1300 hours a year for my benefits to kick in the following year.

Since nobody technically cares if I go to work, I can take a vacation whenever I want.

Of course, I dont get paid when I dont work, which kinda sucks.

Unions rule.

Sinergy



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