The no-vacation nation?

While most of us are slaving away at our jobs for a pitiful one or two weeks worth of vacation, across the globe things are a lot different.

 

Why is America the no-vacation nation? While most of us are slaving away at our jobs for a pitiful one or two weeks worth of vacation, across the globe things are a lot different. In most European countries like Germany, it’s typical for workers to have six weeks of paid vacation. In fact, most take off three consecutive weeks in August when most of the countries in Europe shut down. While most industrialized nations guarantee their workers at least 20 paid vacation days a year, the U.S. guarantees their workers exactly zero. I’m not lying – you can see the data here. Any vacation time you receive now is out of the kindness of your employer’s heart, just like the pension, great health care and raises you used to get! So while you’re typing away, afraid to take your vacation, and wondering why you can’t have the same vacation benefits other countries enjoy, remember that more government can actually be a good thing, despite what your tea party co-worker says. —– Rob Tornoe is a political cartoonist and a WHYY contributor. See more of his work at RobTornoe.com, and follow him on twitter @RobTornoe.