6 ms·

Does the US not have guaranteed vacation days? Here in Australia all non-casual workers must be given 20 days off a year (which in my view is actually too littl

by cyphar 6y ago

Does the US not have guaranteed vacation days? Here in Australia all non-casual workers must be given 20 days off a year (which in my view is actually too little -- in Europe workers get even more guaranteed days off). EDIT: This doesn't count public holidays, we have 10 or so public holidays (depending on your state) in addition to your vacation days.

MereInterest 6y ago
Nope. The US has no federal mandate for vacation days. Zero, zilch. The typical amount for full-time employees is 10 days vacation per year. [0] https://www.footholdamerica.com/faqs/employing-a-us-worker/how-many-paid-holiday-days/ https://www.footholdamerica.com/faqs/employing-a-us-worker/h...
- pc86 6y ago
  I think you'd be hard pressed to find 10 days as a software developer. Every place seems to advertise 15 and 20 is becoming more common, especially if you ask for it during the interview process.
Xylakant 6y ago
Germany is 20 days (on a 5 workdays week) as well. The law stipulates 24 days, so you see that number quoted a lot, but the law also assumes a 6 day work week.
- cyphar 6y ago
  I was thinking of the likes of France, Finland, Sweden, and so on which get 5 weeks, but yeah it seems the EU only requires a minimum of 4 weeks paid leave.
refurb 6y ago
I don't think the EU and US count them the same. It looks like the EU minimum includes banks holidays? Where US vacation days don't include them. "By law, every country in the European Union has at least four work weeks of paid vacation. Austria, which guarantees workers the most time off, has a legal minimum of 22 paid vacation days and 13 paid holidays each year." So the US has no minimum, but the minimum offered is typically 10 days and the a middle class job 15 days. On top of that you get at least 10 federal holidays off (or you get paid 2x if you work). Many companies recognize 13+ "official days off". So most US employees (there are exceptions) get ~20 days off a year, while for middle class it's more typical to get closer to 25-30. (15 + 13)
- bserge 6y ago
  The number of people working minimum wage jobs saying they get zero PTO in the US is astounding. Intra-EU immigrants, for example, are quite often treated like second rate workers. Maximum work for minimum pay. Come in at 9pm, stay for 2 hours, we need you for an emergency, 20 Yoyos in your pocket, yeah? That kind of thing. If not for the laws, we'd be treated like disposable trash.
- cyphar 6y ago
  The EU minimum does not include bank holidays. The UK in practice has 20 vacation days (matching the EU minimum) plus 8 public holidays. It's just that the law is written that 28 days is the minimum including the 8 public holidays. The net effect is the same. And by that metric, all Australian employees (excluding casual workers) get at least 32 days off a year (20 vacation days, plus 12 or more public holidays). The UK has 28, but that's because they have fewer public holidays. Seems like the US is still behind on time off, especially since none of your vacation time is actually guaranteed by law. I hope the situation improves over there. The "at will" work concept (where employees can be fired without notice or compensation) is also very strange to me. That's not legal here.

by cyphar 6y ago

MereInterest 6y ago

Nope. The US has no federal mandate for vacation days. Zero, zilch. The typical amount for full-time employees is 10 days vacation per year. [0] https://www.footholdamerica.com/faqs/employing-a-us-worker/how-many-paid-holiday-days/ https://www.footholdamerica.com/faqs/employing-a-us-worker/h...

pc86 6y ago
I think you'd be hard pressed to find 10 days as a software developer. Every place seems to advertise 15 and 20 is becoming more common, especially if you ask for it during the interview process.

Xylakant 6y ago

Germany is 20 days (on a 5 workdays week) as well. The law stipulates 24 days, so you see that number quoted a lot, but the law also assumes a 6 day work week.

cyphar 6y ago
I was thinking of the likes of France, Finland, Sweden, and so on which get 5 weeks, but yeah it seems the EU only requires a minimum of 4 weeks paid leave.

refurb 6y ago

I don't think the EU and US count them the same. It looks like the EU minimum includes banks holidays? Where US vacation days don't include them. "By law, every country in the European Union has at least four work weeks of paid vacation. Austria, which guarantees workers the most time off, has a legal minimum of 22 paid vacation days and 13 paid holidays each year." So the US has no minimum, but the minimum offered is typically 10 days and the a middle class job 15 days. On top of that you get at least 10 federal holidays off (or you get paid 2x if you work). Many companies recognize 13+ "official days off". So most US employees (there are exceptions) get ~20 days off a year, while for middle class it's more typical to get closer to 25-30. (15 + 13)

bserge 6y ago
The number of people working minimum wage jobs saying they get zero PTO in the US is astounding. Intra-EU immigrants, for example, are quite often treated like second rate workers. Maximum work for minimum pay. Come in at 9pm, stay for 2 hours, we need you for an emergency, 20 Yoyos in your pocket, yeah? That kind of thing. If not for the laws, we'd be treated like disposable trash.
cyphar 6y ago
The EU minimum does not include bank holidays. The UK in practice has 20 vacation days (matching the EU minimum) plus 8 public holidays. It's just that the law is written that 28 days is the minimum including the 8 public holidays. The net effect is the same. And by that metric, all Australian employees (excluding casual workers) get at least 32 days off a year (20 vacation days, plus 12 or more public holidays). The UK has 28, but that's because they have fewer public holidays. Seems like the US is still behind on time off, especially since none of your vacation time is actually guaranteed by law. I hope the situation improves over there. The "at will" work concept (where employees can be fired without notice or compensation) is also very strange to me. That's not legal here.