No-vacation Nation

[jjbandero 39]

I think you should Google "best companies to work for" in the US and see what comes up in terms of benefits other than salary, I totally agree with the poster who stated that it really depends on the company and how much competition the company has for talented resources. I think my company (public company) for example, falls somewhere in the middle:

• Sick days: 10 (can be used for yourself, anyone you're caring for or pets)
• Floating days: 2
• Vacation days: start at 10 for new starters, increasing by 5 days every four years and tops out at 30 days; for executives, new starters get 15 days
• Public holidays: 10
• Paid parental leave: 3 weeks at 100% in addition to state requirements
• Flexible working arrangements (alternative hours, working from home): negotiated with supervisor

cheers

[kzielu 1,149]

How about unlimited vacation ? (One if the biggest corporations)

Comes with a fine print of being permissive so requires permission, but nobody counts how many days you take.

Studies showed (company I work for isn't the only one) people typically take less than they used to, but technically you can take more. How did that compare to 30 days ?

[NikLR 13,227]

paid vacation time varies, yes. As does sick leave. If a company doesn't have to compensate sick leave (like they don't have to in CO) then they may not. However think about it, 10 days is 2 weeks of paid vacation time. (you only work 5 days a week...) So yes that's pretty normal.

I work a lower level job so I can take off unpaid vacation time as needed or wanted but as I'm full time, if I work full time hours, I get 2+ weeks of paid vacation.

My husband works for the govt and gets about 160 hours a year... so about 16 days which translates into 4 weeks for him since he works 4 days a week and 10 hour days.

[LORIEandPHIL 123]

I work for Coca-Cola, and have done for almost two years. I get one weeks vacation plus two float days. Any days off sick are not paid.

[Merrytooth 5,748]

I work for Coca-Cola, and have done for almost two years. I get one weeks vacation plus two float days. Any days off sick are not paid.

Do you get unlimited Coca-Cola products at work ?

[TabeaK 517]

I work for Coca-Cola, and have done for almost two years. I get one weeks vacation plus two float days. Any days off sick are not paid.

Wow, that is bad! Do they at least let you take unpaid leave?

[Nailah lyfe 0]

Everything is dependent on your employer. I'm a nurse and i acquire Paid time off (hours) weekly, the more hours i work the more time i accrue.. so we're basically paying ourselves for vacation. I"m not sure how other institutions do their thing..best of luck to you..

[NikLR 13,227]

Everything is dependent on your employer. I'm a nurse and i acquire Paid time off (hours) weekly, the more hours i work the more time i accrue.. so we're basically paying ourselves for vacation. I"m not sure how other institutions do their thing..best of luck to you..

Most places are like that. Hubs gets like 4hrs of leave per 2 week work period when he works 40 hrs a week.

[Joshua@Tinz 52]

I get 30 days vacation, about to take the whole month of May off and go to my wife's interview

[OnMyWayID 1,489]

My last job I had six weeks a year (it took 15 years on the job to get it and the first year I got no vacation) - I now work for a non-US company and have just three weeks (which had to be negotiated up from two) but they do give 10 holidays a year and allow me to work form home so I can say visit Colombia with my wife for a month or two without using vacation time.. So there are options out there.

Overall - for sure you are less likely to get any decent vacation time in the US to start off with unless you are in a higher demand field (and always negotiate for more). It does suck.

[WandY 430]

"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. ....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."

That's why you and just about everyone else wants to live here - because Americans (most of us, anyway) work our butt off to make the USA the best country on the planet. And defend the Constitutional freedoms that you are enjoying every minute of your life (including on this website). America is not behind the times; it's your thinking that needs a little re-education. If you don't like America, find an airport. I'll buy you a one-way ticket.

[ricnally 258]

So, OP, you're "seriously considering" entering the teaching profession just so you can have summers off? I'm sure the profession will welcome you with open arms.

[HollywoodNorth 22]

I had a few US jobs. When I first started I was a term contractor, basically a W2 employee with a 1 year end date. I didn't receive full benefits, but I got the base 2 weeks which included sick days and paid holidays. Once i was made "staff"/at will. I received the full benefits package which was 10 weeks vacation a year base, plus a 8 week sabbatical every 5 years. All of which can be paid out cash if I didn't want to take time off.

Second US job, I was a contractor, no vacation but they paid me the vacation benefit as a 8% bonus on my rate.

The next job was a union employee at a large film studio, I got 10 vacation days, and 10 sick days, pension, on site health care, free cooked meals, valet parking, etc, lots of great benefits. [iATSE]

Job after that was back to the 2nd US job, same deal, I got federal paid holidays but a 8% bonus vs getting actual sick/vacation days.

I think it depends. I'm about become a contractor, I won't get vacation but I'll be getting close to double my old pay rates, in that case once i"m off the clock I can turn around and take a few months off. It's all relative.

I agree with looking at the best employees lists of various us business magazines and see who has the best benefits packages. Personally I found that companies with the best benefits may not have the highest rate of pay in that particular field but that depends on a case by case basis.

[Tac05 3]

My husband and I were only talking about this the other day. His words were...'you're going to hate working over here!' & yes I will admit I'm going to miss my 4 weeks paid annual leave & 12 paid sick days a year, not to mention the huge drop in pay rate, but funnily enough I'm looking forward to it!! A change is as good as a holiday, so they say. ?

[statmania 12]

Curious, why if the number of days off is such an issue anyone moves to the USA or get jobs here? Agreed, that 2 weeks sucks but that is just part of the package. No one is forced to move to the US and why not have your spouses move to your countries where they can maybe get a job and 30+ days off?