scrubbedexpat097

Exactly, Karma on its way to this man

nxylas

It's a legacy of America's Puritan history. In America's mythology of itself (which even otherwise intelligent Americans seem too brainwashed to ever question), Americans are so much richer and more successful than the rest of the world (where everyone lives in mud huts and has no teeth) because they work so much harder. If Americans were ever to relax, their prosperity would disappear like leprechaun gold.

Jan in Arizona

You're lucky - my husband gets one week a year and in his boss' mind one week equals 5 working days. He also gets 4 of the holidays such as Christmas Day, New Years Day, 4th July and one other which I can't remember offhand. He gets no sick pay. We have been here nearly 3 years now and to be honest by the end of 2005 he was absolutely done in and needed his break - I think it does nothing but harm for his health but that's just my personal opinion. With only his wage coming in the house, trying to get him to take a day off unpaid is just a joke.

Just Jenney

My point is that Americans, for whatever reason, don't seem to feel ENTITLED to a decent amount of vacation. As if asking for more is somehow a sign of weakness, laziness or perhaps greed. Expecting it is considered even worse.

Yet Europeans EXPECT decent vacation time -- that's why you Brits complain when you "only" get 3 weeks' minimum paid vacation every year. You feel entitled to what you get and more. Americans don't.

I'm not saying I agree with this, but that's what I think part of the problem is.

~ Jenney

snowbunny

I have a similar twist on this. I am currently a contractor (though I'd rather be an employee). In theory, I have as much time off as my employer will allow me to take, because I am paid hourly. I make only minimally more than my colleagues who are employed directly by the company, but I pay more for benefits.

I have just taken a week away from work to get married. This not only costs me money, it means I have to fight to get another week away. My employer can fire me for not working if they don't grant the permission. Both my "real" employer and the company I work at, must grant the leave.

Why do I need a week away? To go DCF for my new husband. It would be cheaper to stay here!

Partystar

My hubby works in downtown Phoenix & is in the same boat. He gets some holidays off, but they are unpaid. We are not entitled to medical insurance yet either, so it's been a bit rough for us. He did take a day off unpaid leave a couple of months ago because our son had a rash while he was on anti-biotics & our doctor told us to come in straight away. So being worried, hubby called in & took the day off unpaid & came with us.

Once we got to the doctors, it turned out it really wasn't that pressing, the rash had already almost gone all by itself. So we made use of the day & went to PHX Zoo. We don't get much time to do things as a family, what with hubby working full-time & attending college in his spare time, so we can't pass up a day off at whatever cost!

He's going to college to become a fireman, one of the perks being more time off to spend with us.

Partystar

Congratulations!

Pimpbot

Welcome to my side of town. I live near the Papago Buttes. Might be buying in your neck of the woods this year though. Money goes further in Glendale than down here or anywhere in the snobby part of Snottsdale.

Partystar

I bet! Right now we live in the Arrowhead Ranch area, we only rent, but we are looking to buy as close to this area as we can possibly afford. I hate Scottsdale, I know one girl that lives there & she's money money money. The only other interaction that I've had with the area is the nightclubs & they're exactly the same way too!!! Most Scottsdale people there think they have class, you know, class that Brits actually have!!!

Pimpbot

I live in the south, but work in the north and love it here, but maybe thats because I live right on the Tempe/Phoenix border. But it's just too damn expensive here to upgrade your housing.

Anyhoo, I'm off to Glendale now to watch the Coyotes play.

gruffbrown

I believe it's called progress.

Partystar

How right you are, we're just trying to get onto the first rung of the ladder.

Lucky B@stard!!!

Pimpbot

I'm not so sure. They sucked!

Partystar

Awww, that's a shame. Although it doesn't bother me too much, I only go for the fights!!!

Shahlax

I actually have to accrue/earn my leave in my first year of work and use it in the following. The vacation year is July-June and I started this job in October so I will have something like 11.5 days to use from July. If I had worked from July I would have got 3 weeks. This concept of having to earn leave is so weird to me. In the UK, you just get pro-rated leave when you start and in theory you can take it straightaway. So not only do I not have much leave but I can't take it for another 6 months!

Anyone else have to accrue leave?

I agree. It's the single worst thing about living in the US.