Every summer, someone invariably brings up the fact that Europeans get so much more vacation that we do in the States. It’s usually chalked up to the fact that Europeans are so much more “chill†about life (the pro-Europe POV), or that Europeans are just lazy (the pro-US POV). Knowledge@Wharton cite experts with more economically oriented explanations: * In the US, status = more possessions, more money, more, more more. In Europe, people actually view the ability for long vacations as a sign of status. Says Wharton professor Mauro Guillen “Having fun, or being able to have fun, also is a sign of success and a source of social esteem.†Any Euros care to respond to whether this is true or not? * European countries provide less incentive to work more hours because of higher marginal taxes. Any explanation about the masses using taxes as a motivation I’m a bit wary about since most people don’t even know how to do their taxes here. * 9/10 European workers are covered by unions who fought for more vacation (why that versus other benefits is another issue), vs. 2/10 in the US. How about the fact that Americans as a people aren’t comparable to the people in other countries, because those who come here are self-selecting hard workers who moved specifically to improve their lot? Source: BankersBall
The european union has a minimum of 28days vacation a year, which is double what I get here in Canada, and i'm past the minimum(at my job). If that's the minimum, I wonder how much you can get up to working a longtime job, eg. after 5 years you get 40days... any euro's got some input on this?
The most workoholic workers in the world should be either Japanese or Korea. By the way, the Israel people also work harder each week.
Funny that you posted this as Ireland is on a bank holiday today. There is a saying that Europeans work to live and the US lives to work, which I found somewhat true when I was working in New York. I found it hard to believe the oldest person in our company in the U.S. was 72 and was holding down two jobs and another 60-year-old woman was working three jobs that is something you really would not see very often in Europe. I knew at least ten people in the U.S. that I would classify as a work alcoholics and in Ireland I don’t know any at all, I wonder if that’s a good or a bad thing, lol. Its strange why the U.S. works so hard as everything is extremely cheap over there such as the housing, cars, electronics and food but maybe it’s the status thing i.e. more possessions such as the bigger house and bigger car. Over here, it is very expensive but I would not push myself to work more hours etc. As long as I have a roof over my head and food in the press then I am happy, oh yeah and a few euros for some drinking at the weekend. What I did notice in the States though was it is very easy to make a lot of money fast, if you have a good job, and I would say its more easier over there than it is here. Maybe that would be a reason why Europeans don’t push themselves hard enough as the rewards are not as big as what you would get in the States. As sysop said there are other countries that are more workoholic than most other places, I wouldnt mind finding out why - would it be expenses, a status thing or just people being plain mad.
I'm a firm believer in work smarter not harder. I value my time off from work, with my friends and family. I earn very good money from different places, I'm 27 and co-own with my girlfriend a 4 bedroom detached house on the edge of London, and we're looking at getting a second place next year. You don't need to put in 20 hour days to be successful, you need to look at what you're good at and prioritise your time from there. I don't see the point in having money if you have no time to enjoy it.
This is from Bill Bryson's 'Made in America' (fantastic book, by the way): Not surprisingly, nearly all the recent neologisms relating to work and the wrokplace are negative (and American in origin): workaholic (1968), three o'clock syndrome (1980), information overload (1985), sick building syndrome (1983), time squeeze (1990) and so on. What is certain is that Americans work longer hours and more days than their counterparts in almost any other nation in the developed world. Principally as a result of shorter vacations and fewer national holidays, the average manufacturing employee in America puts in the equivalent of eight weeks a year more than a manufacturing employee in France or Germany. Thanks to all that hard work, America as a nation produces twice the goods and services per person that it produced in 1948. Everyone in the country could, in principle at least, work a four-hour day or a six-month year and still maintain a standard of living equivalent to that enjoyed by our parents. Almost uniquely among developed nations, America took none of its productivity gains in additional leisure time. It bought consumer items instead. I usually put in a 60-hour week (occasionally pushing myself to 100, depending on how desperate the deadlines are) but I value my leisure time above all. Given the option of an extra unnecessary hour in work or an hour messing about with a Playstation, you'll be able to recognise me as the one clutching the control pad.
I guess that people who are workaholics are avoiding family and social life.They need to balance their life style.Just work and work wont do good.