No-vacation Nation

[londongal 17]

Hi all

I'm sure you're all aware of the lack of paid vacation time in the US. I was just wondering if any of you have had any personal experience with this transition.

http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/20141106-the-no-vacation-nation

At the moment in the UK I get 30 days of paid vacation a year and I'm truly terrified of that going down to a measly 10 (If I'm lucky) So much so that I'm seriously considering a career in teaching so that I can have summers off.

I just wanted to find out from you guys what your experiences have been so far. And if you knew of any companies that offer good annual leave packages, or offer flexible working?

[Anh map 2,098]

Many jobs offer much more than 2 weeks. I'd do some more research before jumping to any conclusions.

Do you have an education degree? Have you explored the requirements for a teacher/educator license in the state where you will be living?

[rutabaga 209]

My wife is a high school teacher. Despite having a BA in the field she's teaching and two MAs in related fields as well as about five years teaching experience at the university level, she's having to take 36 hrs of classes at a level of a masters degree in education in order to be certified to teach and be hired on a non-probationary basis (at least she's got five years to do that as she's already working full time... teaching ). Also, the summers off are mostly not off (there's a lot to do over the summer) so... not to be a Debby downer, but I'd thing that plan through

Edited April 5, 2016 by rutabaga

[PK and PK 13]

Hi all

I'm sure you're all aware of the lack of paid vacation time in the US. I was just wondering if any of you have had any personal experience with this transition.

http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/20141106-the-no-vacation-nation

At the moment in the UK I get 30 days of paid vacation a year and I'm truly terrified of that going down to a measly 10 (If I'm lucky) So much so that I'm seriously considering a career in teaching so that I can have summers off.

I just wanted to find out from you guys what your experiences have been so far. And if you knew of any companies that offer good annual leave packages, or offer flexible working?

It is just that there is no national mandates for vacation time in the US. It is determined by the individual employer. Generally the ones working in governmental agencies, unions and professionals tend to get vacation time so you have to pick one of those. If income in not a consideration, there are jobs with more flexible schedules like uber like jobs, temporary workers, contractor professionals, seasonal jobs (tax preparers), self employment where you can set your own time.

The actual amount is based on employer and years of tenure. 10 days is probably the average. Generally about 10 days holidays, 10 days vacation and 10 days sick leave are common give or take. Some will combine the vacation and sick leave time.

[londongal 17]

My wife is a high school teacher. Despite having a BA in the field she's teaching and two MAs in related fields as well as about five years teaching experience at the university level, she's having to take 36 hrs of classes at a level of a masters degree in education in order to be certified to teach and be hired on a non-probationary basis (at least she's got five years to do that as she's already working full time... teaching ). Also, the summers off are mostly not off (there's a lot to do over the summer) so... not to be a Debby downer, but I'd thing that plan through

Oh gosh Which state is this?

I've done some research and contacted the Texas Teachers board and it looks like I would just need to get my degree transcripts converted by an independent company and then complete a certification course to become certified (on a probationary basis) but I don't doubt that maybe in reality the competition is extremely fierce and I'd need to do a masters degree as well

Many jobs offer much more than 2 weeks. I'd do some more research before jumping to any conclusions.

Do you have an education degree? Have you explored the requirements for a teacher/educator license in the state where you will be living?

I've tried looking online to find out which companies offer more than two weeks but haven't had much luck. Do you have any advice on what kind of research I should be conducting?

I have a degree and have researched the teaching certificate in Texas

[rutabaga 209]

WV and btw, she's the USC in the relationship and all her degrees are from US universities. The reason she's able to teach at all on a probationary basis without having been certified first is that there's a shortage of teachers in her field in the county/state (from what I understand).

Edited April 5, 2016 by rutabaga

[Kastrs 723]

It depends on your career field, but for most professional jobs the standard for starting is 2 weeks of time off plus some sort of sick time. KPMG starts at 4 weeks-if you happen to be an actuary, as does the company where I work. Based upon my knowledge, to be a public school teacher you typically need to have a degree in education.

[londongal 17]

It depends on your career field, but for most professional jobs the standard for starting is 2 weeks of time off plus some sort of sick time. KPMG starts at 4 weeks-if you happen to be an actuary, as does the company where I work. Based upon my knowledge, to be a public school teacher you typically need to have a degree in education.

Is the 4 weeks only if you are an actuary? I work for one of their competitors so considering transferring over, but the annual leave starts at two weeks. I might look into what KPMG start at on roles other than an actuary....

[londongal 17]

WV and btw, she's the USC in the relationship and all her degrees are from US universities. The reason she's able to teach at all on a probationary basis without having been certified first is that there's a shortage of teachers in her field in the county/state (from what I understand).

Well, that's definitely given me some much needed perspective

[rutabaga 209]

Public education at that level is very... bureaucratic, like there's a lot of stuff (like the certification) that's mandated by state law and there's just no way around it sometimes despite the qualifications. I sometimes find it funny how similar it is to Serbia in that regard as some things are just plain, verbatim the same, e.g., both my wife teaching HS in WV and one of my college friends teaching HS in Serbia have the requirement to fill out their lesson plan forms by hand (even though it would be like ten times quicker to do it on a computer).

[rutabaga 209]

P.S. It's not all bad--at least they reimburse her for the tuition expenses... as long as she submits the reimbursement forms before the school board runs out of cash for the year

Edited April 5, 2016 by rutabaga

[Kastrs 723]

Is the 4 weeks only if you are an actuary? I work for one of their competitors so considering transferring over, but the annual leave starts at two weeks. I might look into what KPMG start at on roles other than an actuary....

I believe that is actually company wide at KPMG

[perfect 39]

One of the things I miss the most!!

I have what is considered very generous time off - which is unusual here - 3 weeks paid vacation (15 days) - 5 days personal time and 8 sick days per year.

However, compared with my 42 days (just vacation) when I left the UK it sucks!

My son who works for a global company here in SoCal gets 3 weeks a year (15 days) but that combines vacation, personal and sick leave - they are not broken out separately!

Also, culturally here (at least in Southern California), it is frowned upon to take ANY time off for any reason and it gets very wearing knowing that you have such limited work/life balance. If my husband would consider moving to the UK - that would be one reason I would move back TBH!

Edited April 5, 2016 by perfect

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

Don't get me started on this. It is a definite pet peeve of mine. Americans are so stressed out and work like crazy. Everyone just

falls in line and works like a slave. Every request for medical time off is like 'well are you dying' or can it wait.

I am self employed and make my own hours for the past 20 years. Not rich by any means but I like the freedom and not having a boss

looking over my shoulders, the flip side is I have to save enough to be able to take off for a vacation.

Why this has not changed by the clowns who vote on the bills (and get long vacations themselves !) I do not know.

Why everyone lines up like good little soldiers and does not revolt I do not know either.

America behind the times as with health care.

This is a haven for corporations and worker bees just flap along, work off their arses and keel over from a heart attack.

As a therapist I have seen clients who are too afraid to have elective surgery because of time off issues.

The loyalty merry-go-round has to stop somewhere.

Good luck to you in whatever profession you chose.

[Georgia16 2,858]

We have a lot of vacation time here too and I have been thinking the same about the 2 weeks vacation over there and thinking the same as you ... It'll be darn hard!