About U.S. vacation time..

2 The U.S. taken another beating in the other thread re our societal and corporate attitudes re vacation/personal time off.

I feel like a bit of a fraud to join in that pity party.

I didn't get much the first year back to work but after 1 yr I earned approx 2 1/2 weeks/year and then since my 5 year anniversary, I take three 1 week long vacations and several long weekends per year. This on top of a good income and excellent working conditions. Several of my coworkers have taken 2 weeks without any hoopla for their big vacations but being a single mom I can't afford to take my kids on vacation to Europe, one a week at a time works best for us. If I talked to my manager about needing to take a month next year, they would try to make it work.

I had my babies back in the days of nurses not easy to replace and so my maternity time off was only limited to our financial planning, or lack thereof. I had some sick/PTO time plus my 6-8 weeks of SDI, if my then husband and I had planned better ie if he had a work ethic, I could have taken off as much as I wanted and there would have been a job for me. As it was I took those 6-8 weeks off without blinking.
Although I have plenty of PTO time accrued, I have been unable to use any of it for nearly one year. My problem is that, with the position I hold, only one other person in the facility is qualified to fill in for me when I'm off. I work 12-hour night shifts. When I take time off, the other nurse would be forced to work seven 12-hour night shifts in a row to cover her shifts and the nights that I am gone.This is one of several reasons that leave me seriously entertaining the idea of resigning in the near future.

Quote from TheCommuterAlthough I have plenty of PTO time accrued, I have been unable to use any of it for nearly one year. My problem is that, with the position I hold, only one other person in the facility is qualified to fill in for me when I'm off. I work 12-hour night shifts. When I take time off, the other nurse would be forced to work seven 12-hour night shifts in a row to cover her shifts and the nights that I am gone.This is one of several reasons that leave me seriously entertaining the idea of resigning in the near future.

Other countries can bash us all they like. One of the main reasons this country has had the largest economy in the world is because our population doesn't forgo productivity for multiple weeks at a time on a regular basis. The countries with generous government-paid vacation time also have huge tax burdens, small economies, and usually scream at US when someone needs international aid. Because we have the money and the industry to churn it out. I'm not usually one of those to crow "Murica!" but this is one case where our international critics can pound sand, frankly.

Quote from Red KryptoniteOther countries can bash us all they like. One of the main reasons this country has had the largest economy in the world is because our population doesn't forgo productivity for multiple weeks as a time on a regular basis. The countries with generous government-paid vacation time also have huge tax burdens, small economies, and usually scream at US when someone needs international aid. Because we have the money and the industry to churn it out. I'm not usually one of those to crow "Murica!" but this is one case where our international critics can pound sand, frankly.

Quote from Red KryptoniteOther countries can bash us all they like. One of the main reasons this country has had the largest economy in the world is because our population doesn't forgo productivity for multiple weeks at a time on a regular basis. The countries with generous government-paid vacation time also have huge tax burdens, small economies, and usually scream at US when someone needs international aid. Because we have the money and the industry to churn it out. I'm not usually one of those to crow "Murica!" but this is one case where our international critics can pound sand, frankly.

Quote from macawakeI'm not sure what countries you have in mind when you mention international aid? I know that we don't receive any.

Quote from Red KryptoniteOther countries can bash us all they like. One of the main reasons this country has had the largest economy in the world is because our population doesn't forgo productivity for multiple weeks at a time on a regular basis. The countries with generous government-paid vacation time also have huge tax burdens, small economies, and usually scream at US when someone needs international aid. Because we have the money and the industry to churn it out. I'm not usually one of those to crow "Murica!" but this is one case where our international critics can pound sand, frankly.

Nice opinion piece.I never said take no vacations. And what I said had nothing to do with you personally.

Quote from macawakeHmm... I have no desire to bash the US. I've actually enjoyed and appreciated the time I've spent in your country. I don't think that the perfect country/system exists. They all have their respective strengths and weaknesses. Though I must say that I appreciate my six weeks per year paid vacation Other things I appreciate is that sick pay is for however long you're sick for. The first year only requires a physician's note, after that it becomes more bureaucratic and complicated, but someone who can't work for health reasons will get paid.Paid maternity leave per child is eighteen months. It's actually parental leave because either the mother or father can utilize it, or split it between them. In 2013, it was used 75% by mothers and 25% by fathers.Education, including University, if financed through taxes. The only cost for the student is whatever textbooks that are required.I have lived in the US a few years and I sometimes felt that I encountered some misconceptions about European countries during that time. It's the time of year when I'm doing my taxes. Last year I paid slightly less that 30% (28 point something) income tax. To me it's worth it and it doesn't feel like a burden/imposition. It gives me peace of mind and a society that I perceive to be reasonably fair and balanced. The government doesn't pay my vacation. The business that employs a person pays the employee's vacation, at least here in Sweden.The US GDP per capita does indeed seem to be higher than in most (but not all) European countries. It is larger than Sweden's but we do okay. List of countries by GDP (PPP) per capita - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaI'm not sure what countries you have in mind when you mention international aid? I know that we don't receive any.List of governments by development aid - Ask.com EncyclopediaDonors of Foreign Aid - World Top TenAid to developing countries rebounds in 2013 to reach an all-time high - OECDIn absolute numbers, the US donated a lot more than my country (stats from 2013). $31.55 billion compared to $5.83 billion. First and sixth place respectively.As a percentage of Gross National Income Sweden donated 1.02% (2nd place) and the US 0.19% (20th place).So yes, in absolute numbers the US donates more but there's only slightly less than ten million of us. It's a teeny tiny country Again, I'm not necessarily saying that one system is better than the other, but I felt I needed to explain/clarify a few points from "our" perspective.

Quote from Red KryptoniteNice opinion piece.I never said take no vacations. And what I said had nothing to do with you personally.

I am just waiting for my managers to realize it would be better to just keep paying me and let me stay home....

Quote from KyrshamarksI am just waiting for my managers to realize it would be better to just keep paying me and let me stay home....