jasper123

Fish since Ive been home thats one thing that really sticks out at you, all the holidays the average Jack & Jill have here, I wondered where they get the money to afford to travel abroad so much, in my extended family its always a holiday abroad somewhere,
Example, my Nephew and wife, he is working for the water company, she is a R.N. nurse working in a hospital, she gets 6 weeks fully paid vacations each year and he gets
(ONLY) 5 weeks thats about normal for just about everyone over here,
since Ive been back just 16 months I have seen them go on 5 holidays together, three were lovely cruises abroad each lasting around 10 days ----- they love there cruises,
This Summer they have a lovely air and cruise holiday taking in San Francisco, and the yosemite, along with other places, they are looking forward to that one cause they have never been to the States before,
And Just before I came home, about 2 years ago they had a nice month in Thailand, they showed me all the pics and videos they took, they had a great time there,
Other relatives have all gone abroad somewhere on holidays since Ive been home,
The way I see it Fish the average Joe American even if they did have the money to go abroad (which most dont) or even see another part of there own country ---- they would not have the holidays to do so, I mean what can you do with a pathetic 5 days a year vacation pay ---- or if you are real lucky you may have 2 weeks paid vacation and then they may be able to take the kids to disney land for the weekend
And I think that all these differences between the average working class Brit compared to the working class American is why the Brits are more worldly then the average American, we have so much more opportunity to go and travel to other countries, and of course with Europe being on the U.K'S doorstep helps a lot too
Take care mate,
Rodney.

Beedubya

One of the reasons that they can afford all these holidays is that they are more established than we are, those of us who have moved back and forth across the world, removals, air fares, buying cars and furniture at full price selling it for next to nothing, moving again, more air fares and so it goes on.

My sister and her husband are in Spain or somewhere right now, I can't remember where as they have so many holidays HOWEVER they have been married 26 years (2nd marriage for both) and have always lived in the same town and only moved house twice in all that time.

So we have spent our money and our lives in different ways. Now for myself I couldn't think of anything worse than sitting around a hotel pool day after day sunbaking, when you have had your own swimming pool and enough sun to last a lifetime it doesn't have quite the same appeal.

When I get settled properly I will be spending my holiday time in jolly olde England thank you.

I got 20 days annual leave in Australia (that is standard) and I used to get 25 days when I was a shift worker. I think the sick pay was about 10 days per year, I can't quite remember.

Here in this job I get:

23 days per year annual leave
25 days after 2 years
26 days after 5 years

Sick pay

0-6 months - nil
6 months to 5 years - 6 weeks full pay
5 years to 10 years - 6 weeks full pay, 6 weeks half pay
Over 10 years - 12 weeks full pay

dontheturner

[QUOTE=Beedubya;10041270]One of the reasons that they can afford all these holidays is that they are more established than we are, those of us Sick pay

Hello Barb, Hope you are keeping well. Long time, no visit.
Had to comment. I worked for the Army department, as a Civilian, and ended my career, with 7 weeks paid leave, which I could take by days, except for two weeks, which had to be taken, in one stretch. I got 5 days uncertified sick days, and up to Thirteen weeks sick leave per year.

I also have to comment on Rodneys statements about leave: My second Wife and I, took the two eldest grandchildren, with us on holiday to USA, for Five Weeks, staying in the California Area in Holiday Inns, for 3 weeks, then travelled by Coach up to Seattle (after disneyland, Knotts Berry farm, and Universal), before going into Canada, and on the Vancouver island, to see my Bro in Law, for 10 days.. Oh! and we bought a Condo, on the Isle of Minorca, which we kept for 5 years, Too.. Speak again soon. Love Don

Homeiswheretheheartis

What I can't get over is the cost of holidays in the US even in the same State!

From the UK last year we went to France and stayed a week, we went to Paris, Theme Park for the kids, we visited WWI trenches/musuems (very moving). Cost including travel/accommodation £400 approx $630. I could spend that here on a long weekend down the road.

As we have a limited time here of 3 years, we wanted to do as much as possible. Well having looked at distance and cost we have realised we can only manage to get to approx 7 or so places out of state. As some places are cheaper and easier to get to when we go back to the UK!

I have also descoverd that there are two types of Americans, one that works hard to survive and the other who works hard, to earn more money and buy rubbish that the don't need. I find UK people place more value on life experiences than material goods.

I'm off now to have coffee (I drink tea, even take my own teabag) with some US friends, which means some tongue biting even though they are nice people, its just the brainwashed part I struggle with.

Fish n Chips 56

Many if not most of my family are exactly the same Rodney, My cousin who isnt well off by any means also has holidays in the UK, she doesnt have a fancy job house or lifestyle but she goes places and enjoys herself.

Fish n Chips 56

Wow Barb your sick pay is amazing...

Ive spent most of my vacations/holidays visiting my family in the UK, once Im back I intend to spend most of my holidays there, visisting places I have never been before, Ireland, Scotland and the Lake District, I will also go to places I love like Norfolk Devon and Cornwall... I have sisters in the USA so I will be here every other year, hopefully they will come to see me...

Beedubya

When I joined the Civil Service years ago my sick pay ON THE DAY I STARTED was 182.5 days per year - 6 months!!!

Yes I plan on doing all the above Fish when I get myself straight. Any change in your circumstances these days, ie housing market moving??

cheers

You made me think of the expression "you don't have a job, you have a position"
It is unbelievable that in the US so many working people don't have any benefits. How they get around it is they are hired as temporary workers or part-time employees. Now if you are lucky to be hired as a full time employee then your holiday pay would be 1 week after you have completed one year of employment. wooopy!

sallysimmons

We went for dinner last night with some of my oldest friends (what a treat to be able to do that!) They were telling us their holiday plans - 2 weeks in Cornwall in June and one week up in the Lake District in August. Then the following summer they're planning a train trip across the Canadian Rockies. One is a teacher and one is a local government worker - hardly the best paying jobs, and yet all this is within reach for them. I don't know any American teachers planning to have three vacations within the next 12 months!

Beedubya

Well that's what happens when you live in the country where the streets are paved with gold.

cheers

now now

mikelincs

yes, even in the health service you would get 6 months on full pay, then sick pay would drop to 50%.

Mummy in the foothills

J.JsOH

Brits have a culture and expectation of foreign holidays. Foreign holidays have a higher priority than that of the people I knew in USA.
Americans I knew would often use vacation days one-by-one to go to school or church events, sport fixtures or family gatherings. Not all though, some US friends would take vacation to other parts of the US and another is in Zurich right now. I have met Americans is diverse places around the world.
No doubt the lesser availability of vacation days restricts Americans from extensive travel but I feel they just don't see it as necessary to have a good time.

cheers

We are controlled by the 1%