About this episode
This episode explores the stark contrast in paid vacation policies between the U.S. and other countries, examining why Americans take so little time off.
Do you work more for more money? Or work less for more time? For some, this is the ultimate economic choice. Every single worker in the European Union is guaranteed four weeks of paid vacation. No matter how long they’ve been at a company. No matter how low paying the job is. Vacation is a right. In fact, all but one of the richest countries in the world guarantees paid vacation, except: the U.S. According to a 2019 study , people in Japan get 10 paid vacation days and 15 paid holidays; in Australia it’s 20 paid vacation days and 8 paid holidays; and in Spain it’s 25 paid vacation days and 14 paid holidays. And it’s not just a rich country thing: Mexico, Afghanistan, Thailand, Tanzania - they all guarantee paid vacation from work, at least in the formal job sector. In the U.S: Zero paid vacation days and zero paid holidays. So, why is the United States the outlier? We go to several labor economists and historians, to find out what makes Americans different from Europeans. It’s a winding journey, so maybe put in a request for some paid time off and take a listen! Note: This episode originally ran in 2023 . Some articles we mention in this episode: “ No Vacation Nation ” “ Study: A…
People in this episode
Host: Sarah Gonzalez
Topics covered
- vacation
- work-life balance
- paid time off
- labor economics
- cultural differences
- U.S. employment policies
Keywords
- paid vacation
- U.S. labor laws
- work culture
- European vacation policies
- economic choices
- time off
- employment rights
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: NPR
Books & works: No Vacation Nation, Study: A Record 768 Million U.S. Vacation Days Went Unused in ‘18, Opportunity Cost in the Billions, Why the US is one of only a few countries with no paid time off
Places: United States, European Union, Japan, Australia, Spain, Mexico, Afghanistan, Thailand, Tanzania
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