Originally Posted by TouristTrap

You left out the cream and butter..... It is truly the 'no worries' society.

Originally Posted by USBound

we get 15 days vaca + 6 days sick.

our company is fairly relaxed regarding taking time off tho.

Originally Posted by Sarah

We get 5 sick days off a year. After that, if you're off sick, you don't get paid.
Yes it does suck.
I always find it funny that over here they say you have 2 weeks off, when what you really have off is 10 business days. In the UK 2 weeks means 2 7-day weeks.

Originally Posted by kev_in_hawaii

I knew that the USA wouldn't be up to the UK in terms of time off - I've been working here in Hawaii for 6 months and I've earned just about enough time to take off 3 whole days! It's supposed to get better next year (up to 2 weeks + carry over time).

This in itself is OK (since I only live 5 minutes walk from work = long evenings) - but the company insists that any sick time comes out of your vacation time. Presumably to stop too many 'sickies'!

Is this usual policy for US companies? It means you have to come in when you're genuinely sick because you don't want to lose what little time off you have!

Still, I'm not too cut up about it, I'm happy I was able to get a decent job fairly quicky

Originally Posted by dan_alford

We have the sick time comes out of vacation also but my boss is a star. He isn't a stickler and has sent me home before when I have been ill without counting it.

On the flip side, when I worked in England one of my colleague's daughters worked in France as part of a french degree program. She got 45 days off a year! The minimum you could take I think was 3 days at a time!

Originally Posted by Dan725

Ah, my favourite subject! I'm saying nowt, me....

Originally Posted by BigDavyG

Anywhere i've worked hols are always the same - 2 weeks = just that - 2 weeks which equated to 10 work days. I've never worked anywhere where 2 weeks vacation meant 14 business days - that's uk or us.

Originally Posted by newbieloubie

I get 15 "vacation" days and two personal days (whatever those are).

My firm only recognises 10 of the US Public Holidays - is this the same for everyone else?

Originally Posted by Dan725

Of course, this lack of vacation is the real reason why most Americans do not have passports.

Originally Posted by kev_in_hawaii

Yeah we get those too. Can't wait for November when we get 2 of 'em!

I used to get 30 days off + public holidays in the UK. Bit of a contrast here!

But that's the way it is...the funny thing is, as someone else mentioned, alot of Americans seem to bother more about earning $$ and coming in all the time, rather than taking vacation. It's not uncommon to speak to people where I work who have 500-600 hours stored up to take, and are forced to take some of those hours because they'll lose them otherwise!

Originally Posted by Lynne

I also used to get 30 days paid vacation, plus holidays, plus two weeks at Christmas plus 14 sick days. Then I came here and got three weeks paid vacation, paid holidays and no sick. Most of the people around here always seem to be on vacation but tend to take shorter trips. They spend a lot of time at the beach leaving early Friday and coming back Sunday night. For me its a waste of time taking a six hour drive for such a small time. If you are lucky enough to work with a government contractor or NASA around here then you come and go as you please. Try calling one of these agencies after 2:30 on a Friday. lolol Or between 11:00 and 2:30 weekdays.

Originally Posted by Dan725

N...........being paid California wages to live in Alabama, no wonder they are all laid back and not stressed!

Originally Posted by kev_in_hawaii

This in itself is OK (since I only live 5 minutes walk from work = long evenings) - but the company insists that any sick time comes out of your vacation time. Presumably to stop too many 'sickies'!

Is this usual policy for US companies? It means you have to come in when you're genuinely sick because you don't want to lose what little time off you have!