No-vacation Nation

[Umka36 781]

This is a good comment, in my opinion, and gets at an issue related to the subject title. Specifically, the number of weeks of vacation isn't the only factor in having a good work/life balance. Two years ago I was on the fast track to death/hell/whatever. 10+ hours of work M-F and another 10 hours of work on the weekends. I went from being an occasional weekend drinker to having 3 drinks a night. Exercise, diet, sleep and relationships all went to hell in my sacrifices to the benefit of my employer. My employer has often been deemed one of the best places to work, off and on now for over 100 years. And yet, the job was literally killing me. Stress levels were through the roof. People I worked with knew it was killing me but were powerless to help me because their jobs/lives were in the same straits.

Long story, short, 1.5 years ago I got off that dreadful carousel. Like Umka36, I now have a 40 hour a week job. I don't work evenings. I don't work weekends. I am almost down to the recommended weight for my height. I run 10-12 miles a week. I sleep great. My diet, in no small part due to the arrival of my wife, is great.

I earn only 2 weeks of vacation per year at the new job. I think it goes up to three weeks in 5 or 8 years - I'd have to look it up. But I really don't care. My life is immeasurably better with the new job, even with the limited vacation.

That said, the over-worked culture in America sucks. People really do deserve more vacation and less hours.

One final thing... Umka36 you sound like a good boss to your employees. I commend your employees-first thinking.

Thanks. I've just been lucky to have a boss who supports/thinks the same way.

[Lights 56]

And paid parental leave is a huge issue here! Coming from a country where 52 weeks is normal... I get told here in California when someone gets 6 weeks how lucky they are.

I refuse to have it this way. When I relocated to the US, I was lucky and received a job offer before my EAD came in. When my EAD came in, that following day I went to work. Within that year, I did well for myself (US does pay slightly higher in some fields), and made well into 6 figures. For that year, I saved up and steamrolled our cash. I knew that I had some time to build. We are now a year away from trying for a family and I couldn't think of only getting 6 weeks paid leave (if that). My family is in Canada, and although not a long trip away, I couldn't think of using all my vacation to visit them for a measly 10 days per year. Growing up I was so close to my grandparents and I need to find a way to make it work for my parents as well.

So I consciously quit my job and started my own business. It's not easy. Building a business in a place where you really don't have much of a network. But after almost 1 year in, I'm so glad I did. The time will pass and the work will need to get done whether you're sitting in an office for someone else or for myself. Luckily for me, my profession easily transitioned into self employment. It had made the transition easier and it has made my husband and I happy to know that as much as I've 'sacrificed' to move to be with him, that this isn't one of them.

[NikLR 13,228]

Target has finally implemented parental leave for fathers now too, not just mothers.

[Yalda 54]

And paid parental leave is a huge issue here! Coming from a country where 52 weeks is normal... I get told here in California when someone gets 6 weeks how lucky they are.

I refuse to have it this way. When I relocated to the US, I was lucky and received a job offer before my EAD came in. When my EAD came in, that following day I went to work. Within that year, I did well for myself (US does pay slightly higher in some fields), and made well into 6 figures. For that year, I saved up and steamrolled our cash. I knew that I had some time to build. We are now a year away from trying for a family and I couldn't think of only getting 6 weeks paid leave (if that). My family is in Canada, and although not a long trip away, I couldn't think of using all my vacation to visit them for a measly 10 days per year. Growing up I was so close to my grandparents and I need to find a way to make it work for my parents as well.

So I consciously quit my job and started my own business. It's not easy. Building a business in a place where you really don't have much of a network. But after almost 1 year in, I'm so glad I did. The time will pass and the work will need to get done whether you're sitting in an office for someone else or for myself. Luckily for me, my profession easily transitioned into self employment. It had made the transition easier and it has made my husband and I happy to know that as much as I've 'sacrificed' to move to be with him, that this isn't one of them.

Very interesting! Congrats on your move into the entrepreneurship I was planning to do the same thing as you for the same reason! If imay ask what was your job and what are you doin now?

[Lights 56]

Very interesting! Congrats on your move into the entrepreneurship I was planning to do the same thing as you for the same reason! If imay ask what was your job and what are you doin now?

Thank you! Well, it's not my first go-around. I did do some consulting/side work when I was in Canada as well.

I'm in digital/tech, have been for the last 10+ years. I've been in digital payments, platforms and ad tech in some form over the last decade. Right now, my company essentially builds things for other businesses. Whether that is internal or external tools. Either it's web based or an app, we can do it.

It wasn't much of a change when I decided to work for myself. I already had experience and a network, although not locally.

[Yalda 54]

Thank you! Well, it's not my first go-around. I did do some consulting/side work when I was in Canada as well.

I'm in digital/tech, have been for the last 10+ years. I've been in digital payments, platforms and ad tech in some form over the last decade. Right now, my company essentially builds things for other businesses. Whether that is internal or external tools. Either it's web based or an app, we can do it.

It wasn't much of a change when I decided to work for myself. I already had experience and a network, although not locally.

You definately did the right thing!

[iwannaplay54 985]

"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.

Truly that was uncalled for and I am thinking that in my case my thinking has been re-educated and my thinking is this: Americans are enslaved by debt, taxes, regulations, banks, and insurance companies for many generations to come.

It is not you or I who worked our butt off and made the USA the best country on the planet, it was the people before us who treasured independence and self-sufficiency above everything else and built this country based on those values to what it became. If you think that you are currently either free, self-sufficient, or independent it is you who are deluded.