A National Vacation Law, Hmmm

[MTI]

Robert Reich had this idea last year. Here's a downsized version.

It’s summer. The weather’s beautiful. You’d like to take a couple of weeks off work, right? But you already took a week last winter between Christmas and New Years. And then there was that four days you took off for your friend’s wedding last March. So you’re not entitled to two weeks now. Maybe a week, at most.

Well, you’re not alone. Many American workers get only two weeks paid vacation a year. Some companies give three weeks, but then they automatically subtract any sick days. A lot of companies don’t give any vacation time at all, especially to people in their first year on payroll.

Here’s my proposal: A federal law requiring that every company in America give every employee at least four weeks paid vacation per year.

You think this idea is far-fetched? It’s the law in Europe. Even if you’re an entry-level worker in a fast-food restaurant in Sweden or Italy or anywhere in Europe -- even if that fast-food restaurant happens to be called McDonalds or KFC -- you get, by law, four weeks paid vacation.

I’m not running for office, but I offer my proposal to anybody who is. Make it part of your platform: A minimum four weeks paid vacation for every working man and woman in America. You’ll be elected in a flash.

[kerry]

Great idea. Many European countries require more than 4 weeks. If I'm not mistaken all EU countries are required to provide 6 weeks of paid vacation. Some countries even have double pay for vacation. But labor is too weak in the US for this to happen here in the near future.
By the way, required vacations really skew comparative productivity figures when the US is compared to Europe. I believe that once vacation time is taken into account, European workers are more productive than US workers.

Good book from a number of years back: The Overworked American.

[moparmike]

And why does Europe do this?
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Because they are socialists! Federal law making vacations mandatory. My God. "Not a Federal power" DOes that mean anything to the supporters of this ludicrous idea?

[Kuan]

I'd like to see everyone get at least four weeks off per year plus five sick days, five personal days, and their four religious holidays of their choice.

Most people would rather have the time off without pay rather than work all those hours. I've never seen any evidence suggesting that productivity decreases with more vacation time. Like they say, work expands with time available.

[MTI]

Mike, we have minimum hourly wage laws, child labor laws, farm subsidies up the ying & yang, workplace safety laws, tax credits for business investments like Hummer's and Suburbans, Family Leave Act . . . so a vacation law would put us over the line in socialism? I double dare any candidate to say that they're going to revoke any of those pieces of legislation to steer this country away from socialism.

[Botnst]

Originally posted by MTI
Mike, we have minimum hourly wage laws, child labor laws, farm subsidies up the ying & yang, workplace safety laws, tax credits for business investments like Hummer's and Suburbans, Family Leave Act . . . so a vacation law would put us over the line in socialism? I double dare any candidate to say that they're going to revoke any of those pieces of legislation to steer this country away from socialism.

All that, huh? Shoot, lets get rid of those dang-fool laws, too.

Bot

[moparmike]

None of those things fit in the "Constitutional" mold either. But not being allowed to do something by law has never stopped a government organization...


Moparmike now patiently waits for Kirk to show up and lecture me on the Constitution:p

[Botnst]

Mo', you don't need Kirk. I'm here for you.

The standard argument is that the Constitution is a quaint anachronism that needs to be properly interpreted to reflect modern necessities.

We should ignore it if its inconvenient to our social policy du jour.

Or to simplify: The law means whatever the people in power at the moment say it means.

Bot

[MTI]

Indeed, the strength of the Constitution comes from it's flexibility, not rigidity.

[Botnst]

A document of suggestions.

[Freestyler]

Originally posted by moparmike
And why does Europe do this?.
Because they are socialists!

Errr.. no!
But i enjoy all of my 6 weeks of paid vacation. -And that has nothing to do with politics, laws or socialism at all. It's just a part of my job-package. :p :p

Freestyler

[el presidente]

Perhaps the Delta pilots should go on strike now to include this in their labor demands.

EDIT: Plus, it wouldn't be fair for the unemployed, retired or disabled as they would only see higher prices for goods and no direct benefit to them.

BTW, MTI...aren't you retired?

[Angel]

Originally posted by Kuan
Most people would rather have the time off without pay rather than work all those hours. I've never seen any evidence suggesting that productivity decreases with more vacation time. Like they say, work expands with time available.

I'm not sure I belive that statement- but we are using "most" in a very undefined way.

(no flaming intent, please, stick with me here)

I'm not sure I believe that "most people" would rather have the time off becuase, every time I hear about the administration "might sign a law to eliminate overtime pay" then people in that article are all up in arms becuase it would mean a much lower income for them. I know lots of hourly wagearners whose standard of living (drinking and partying-thier choice) are based on the money they make in overtime. I dont think bar hopping is a wise way to spend money, but taking thier overtime pay away will not be a popular option. (probably better in the long run- teach them some better money management)

to be more clear: if so many people wanted more time off (and were willing to sacrifce the money they'd make) then why are so many people working so much overtime that they'd be pissed if it went away ?

That said, I do belive that most white-collar mothertruckers that dont get overtime anyway would LOVE to trade money for time, but I belive that there are more $25/h overtime workers at the local ford plant than 40k/yr project engineers at my plastic molding plant.
I always thought that this country was based on the principle that you got to choose: "work a lot at a stressful job and make lots of money" or "be a low-stress greeter at walmart and make min. wage"- and this choice is fine with me.

-John

[Kuan]

Yerright. Most of it is based on anecdotal evidence from talking with friends and colleagues. Guess it depends on the industry.

Some people complain about overtime, complain that they have to work overtime, then complain that they don't have the opportunity to work overtime.

[TimFreeh]

Why stop at four weeks?

Let's just mandate that everybody gets the entire summer season off. While we are at it lets set the minimum wage at $50 per hour. I mean its only fair right?