Is Summer Now the ‘Vacation Deprivation’ Season?

Travel Blog  •  Michael Yessis  •  06.04.07 | 5:32 PM ET

imagePhoto by m o d e via Flickr, (Creative Commons).

For U.S. citizens, it seems, but not Europeans. While most of our overseas counterparts get at least 20 guaranteed vacation days each year, and while Italian lawmakers are proposing to add seven new holidays to the country’s slate, Americans seem to be moving in the opposite direction. Last month the Center for Economic and Policy Research released its No-Vacation Nation report, which reveals that the U.S. is “the only advanced economy in the world that does not guarantee its workers paid vacation.” Those that do have vacation time aren’t taking it all, or are taking working vacations.

“Some workers say they cannot leave because they have too much to do,” Marilyn Gardner writes in today’s Christian Science Monitor. “Others can’t afford a getaway or say they are too tired to plan one. Some want to save vacation time for emergencies. Still others don’t want to come back to a heavy workload.”

It’s a shame. But at least some U.S. companies have become progressive about vacation time.

 



2 Comments for Is Summer Now the ‘Vacation Deprivation’ Season?

TambourineMan 06.04.07 | 11:12 PM ET

I feel bad for the overworked, but have no sympathy for these boot-lickers:

“For some workers, it is a show of loyalty to be at work all the time,” says Pfeffer…“It shows your commitment and what a wonderful employee you are.”

jennifer rose 06.06.07 | 12:54 PM ET

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