Oi! Americans! Your country sucks!
Sep. 10th, 2003 11:03 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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.
no subject
Date: 2003-09-10 05:35 pm (UTC)Some of this problem is do to people having a foolish work ethic, but most if it is fear that they will be fired it they take too many days off, including sick days. Most Americans work for moderate to large-sized corporations and such corporations care far more about productivity and enforcing a climate of total obedience than about acting in a human manner. Given the pathetic lack of laws protecting workers from such abuse, it happens all the time. Change those laws and I'm certain that Americans would work considerably less.