tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3706185.post116644070215974852..comments2023-10-28T04:04:43.525-05:00Comments on Easter Lemming Liberal News: Vacation Days Off - Who Is Our Economy FOR, Anyway?Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17414725749450659875noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3706185.post-1166547340432031152006-12-19T10:55:00.000-06:002006-12-19T10:55:00.000-06:00The answer is easy to see: lack of influence of la...The answer is easy to see: lack of influence of labor unions in USA, as compared to other countries. <BR/><BR/>Also, American workers do derive some advantages from the small amount of vacation days: lower unemployment rate (because companies have more flexibility about hiring). Required vacation days imposes costs on hiring new people.<BR/><BR/>The unemployment rate in EU countries and others is dreadful. <BR/><BR/>On the other hand, the market does determine HR benefits. If enough people sought flextime/longer vacation periods for their job, companies would respond. <BR/><BR/>One indicator to watch is what percentage of working adults work part time or do temp work. this group includes many who find the rigors of a full time work schedule to be unacceptable for one reason or another. <BR/><BR/>I recently left my job partially for lack of vacation days, partially because of the inflexibility of the 40 hour work week. So I definitely know the problem. But the solutions lie not with government or even with companies but with worker attitudes. <BR/><BR/>One underlying problem is tying benefits to jobs. Many health benefits for example, accrue only when you work full time, and people are reluctant to leave a job with benefits. As an independent/contractor, I definitely see the advantages of not bestowing tax advantages to individuals receiving company health benefits.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com