91. Vacation Time

The stereotype is that Americans are lazy, but show that people in the U.S. get less time than people in other parts of the . A typical American worker gets two or three off out of a whole year for vacation. U.S. workers cannot take those two or three consecutively. They usually have to be spread out the year. Even when U.S. workers are on , they are often expected to be in communication their boss. This means checking in via email mobile phone. Most U.S. businesses do not encourage employees to take all the vacation days they entitled to. In fact, most U.S. companies discourage .

Other countries, especially countries in Europe, have much vacation time. In Germany many people have six of paid vacation. At least three of these can be taken consecutively. Maybe this is why and other travelers vacation in far-off exotic places. American families tend to stay closer to home, leaving the country.

The difference in the amount vacation time is legal. Most companies in countries the U.S. have to give paid time off their employees or else pay hefty fines. However, the U.S. there is no federal law requiring to give workers paid vacation. In fact the .S. is the only developed country that doesn't guarantee time off to workers. There have been efforts pass laws giving U.S. workers one week of vacation by law, but so far those efforts not been successful.

Even when U.S. workers do time off, many are afraid to take it they worry they may be seen as non-productive and lose their job. Other workers worry about on vacation and having a mountain of work they return.