Summer vacation season is in full swing, with many Americans eager to embark on trips to their favorite destinations. However, unlike citizens of most other countries, Americans do not have a guaranteed number of vacation days. Taking time off is entirely at the discretion of employers. In contrast, workers in many other parts of the world are entitled to a mandated number of vacation days, typically lasting anywhere from four to six weeks.
This distinction also applies to public holidays. Although the United States has 11 federal holidays on the calendar, private employers are not required by law to grant their employees time off on these occasions.
Eileen Applebaum, co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR), a prominent Washington, D.C.-based think tank, once aptly commented, “In the U.S., paid vacation and holiday benefits are based on luck in the boss lottery, not federal policy.”
So, which countries provide the most generous vacation time? According to a 2019 report by the CEPR, France leads the way with a whopping 30 mandated vacation days. Remarkably, this figure has remained unchanged since the report was released, as verified by a French government website.
Several other countries, particularly in Europe, closely follow behind. The United Kingdom grants its workers 28 mandated vacation days, while Austria, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Spain, and Sweden provide 25 days.
When factoring in both vacation days and public holidays, Iran comes out on top globally by offering an impressive total of 53 days off, according to the Visual Capitalist website. Other countries that rank highly in combined vacation and holiday time include San Marino with 46 days off and Yemen with 45 days.
The absence of mandated vacation time in the United States has drawn attention from many sectors, including political, economic, and other commentators.
The Importance of Vacation Time
In a 2022 column for the New York Times, economist Paul Krugman highlighted an issue with the American work culture. While it may seem like our economy thrives because of our workaholic tendencies, Krugman argued that this doesn’t necessarily mean our workers are more productive. He emphasized the significance of time off in terms of employee morale and well-being.
Krugman isn’t the only one pointing out this concern. Younger individuals entering the workforce are also questioning the lack of vacation time available to them. Megan Slusarewicz, in a recent column for the Brown University student newspaper, expressed her shock at the minimal vacation time offered for entry-level jobs she considered as she neared graduation. Typically, she found that companies only provided a mere two weeks of vacation at best.
Slusarewicz observed that these job offerings seemingly exploit the enthusiasm and energy of recent graduates by consuming all their time. She questioned how she was supposed to relax, spend time with loved ones, and pursue her passions within such a limited timeframe. It simply wouldn’t have been possible.
Consequently, Slusarewicz argued that legislation must be implemented to hold businesses accountable for their lack of vacation time provisions.
However, will such legislation realistically be passed? According to Shawn Fremstad, the director of law and political economy at CEPR, the recent focus of federal and state legislatures has been predominantly on offering paid family and medical leave rather than vacation time. President Joe Biden has prioritized providing family and medical leave as part of his administration’s agenda.
Nevertheless, Fremstad believes that the discussion will eventually extend beyond family and medical leave to include vacation time. He expressed his hope that someone like Joe Biden would champion the cause and declare that every working individual deserves vacation days.
By recognizing the importance of vacation time and advocating for its inclusion in employment measures, we can contribute to a happier and more balanced workforce.