Oi! Americans! Your country sucks!

[andrewducker]

Says so here.

U.S. workers are putting in longer hours on the job and taking fewer vacation days than any other industrialized countries," ms_sue_collins writes. "Labor statistics show that U.S. workers have even surpassed the Japanese in the number of days at work per year. Working Americans average a little over two weeks' vacation anually, but unlike all other industrialized countries, the U.S. has no legislative requirement guaranteeing a minimum number of days of paid leave. A national survey by Oxford Health plans found that one out of six Americans who receive paid vacation are unable to use it, nearly one-third of employees work through lunch and 19 percent reported feeling obligated to work even when sick or injured. Whether such numbers reflect workers' anxiety or a stronger work ethic, experts worry about the physical and psychological ramifications while policymakers argue over proposed solutions.

Comments

I *know*

[moniqueleigh]

Yes, this country sucks. As for feeling like one can't take time off, I've got 2 examples.

1. Last company for which I worked was a paging service (probably oughtn't mention which one - while I worked there, it was bought by one of the largest telecommunications companies /hint). They had an "occurrence" policy such that if you called in sick, you received the equivalent of a demerit. Earn enough of these & you'd get written up, eventually fired. The only way to take a day off without an occurrence was to request the day, in advance, & pray it would be approved. Yeah. I'm going to plan to eat something really bad next Tuesday evening & will therefore need the following Wednesday as a vacation day. Suuuuuure.

2. Currently working for a house museum which is operated by our state government. The entire Department of Archives & History is in a bit of a crunch. Museum Division is short-staffed. We have 4 employees (including me) to cover Monday - Saturday. We have to have 2 employees on site during open hours (including lunch times). I work Tue-Sat, & my co-workers alternate Saturdays. Days off? What are those? *sigh*

Oh, & btw, just in case my email to you earlier made absolutely no sense (I was in a bit of a rush), I'm the one looking for info on the house in Glasgow. Yes, I know you're in Edinburgh, but I don't think anybody else on my friends list is even in Scotland. :) I'm posting the info I have right now on my journal. I'll see if I can add any more tomorrow.

Re: I *know*

[missedith01.livejournal.com]

You don't know me but I am relatively normal :-) and I have a friend who lives not far from Glasgow. Did you need a local?

[moniqueleigh]

Anybody who can give info on the mystery is most welcome!! You can see more info in my journal... Ummm.... Over here.