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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 10 days is the average amount of paid time off for private sector employees who have completed one year of work. But that doesn’t mean that everyone is entitled to them.

The truth is, the country has no national policy guaranteeing workers paid annual leave as it all depends on the private employees. In fact, often 10 public holidays in the US come without pay, which stands as a stark contrast with more than 30 days allotted vacation time to workers in Europe.

Having that in mind, it should be only fair for workers to use their paid time off if they’re lucky enough to be entitled to some. But one Twitter user caused a heated debate with a very questionable “tip for younger folks in the workforce.” @privilegelog has stated that when you take PTO, you should minimize your impact on the team and make sure it won’t cause any disruption. The author went as far as claiming that you gotta face the fact that there are times “you shouldn’t take PTO.”

As you can imagine, the controversial statement caused quite a fair share of backlash on Twitter as many people joined to comment on what’s been dubbed “the worst advice ever.”

 

#1

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Jyri Hakola
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

6. Move to country where it's understood that healthy and well rested workforce is an asset.

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Tracey Hirt
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3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I spent way too many years working for an employer who expected me to work while I was deathly ill if I couldn’t cover my shift. I now work for an employer who has told me that my vacation hours were in danger of expiring, so maybe I should take a week off next month, or did I want to leave early every day for the next few weeks instead?

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As we’re rolling into the spring, workers across the US are starting to think of getting some well-earned time off. But only a handful of people are able to do so since the federal law does not provide for vacation pay. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) does not require payment for time not worked, such as vacations, sick time, or holidays. It leaves American employees without entitlement to paid time off from work, which would be unimaginable in the rest of the world.

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Hans
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

same in Scandinavia, where productivity is pretty much the highest in the world. Companies and colleagues will URGE you to take time off.

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According to Lonnie Golden, a labor economist at Penn State, American workers tend to say that making more money is a higher priority than having access to more paid time off, unlike in Europe, where workers rate having more time off work as more important than making more money. In general, he argues, “there’s true economic need for money to come first in America, and time second.”

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Hans
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is fascinating that paychecks still exist anywhere in the world. (Transfer directly to the account, anything else is a nuisance.)

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WoodenLion
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3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I agree with you zzabeth - (very clever of you) & I'm a boomer.

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Moreover, “We shy away from having a national paid vacation standard, while there are more and more low-wage jobs that aren’t covered by private employer policies. And, because of our bias toward work, the salaried people who do have paid vacation, but don’t feel at liberty to use it, wind up leaving it on the table.” This is something that he calls a “perfect storm.”

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Marcellus the Third
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"If you're indispensable, you're also un-promotable". Start looking for another job.

#12

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N G
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No, you're missing the point. It's not taking away resources like donuts, it's taking money out of the pockets of the Shareholders and CEO bonuses! Don't you understand how corporations work?! It's all about the owners, not the workers (/s but only partly)

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Meanwhile, an ever-growing body of research has continually shown that taking time off offers fundamental mental and physical benefits. Overall, it offers greater life satisfaction by improving work-life balance, decreasing time pressure, and allowing for better mental health. Experiences on vacation also have long-lasting effects and can even make us see past experiences, although unpleasant, in a different, more positive light.

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Linda Cowley, auntriarch
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not just America. Also applies to public services in UK which are so understaffed and underfunded that we find ourselves thinking like that

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Marilyn Ransberry
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So if you took what you deserve they would have to hire someone who can also do it if needed.

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Aliquid A
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3 years ago

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80% of the deaths are retirement age or older... so that would be 120,000 deaths of people who theoretically had coworkers.

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WilvanderHeijden
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's the first thing my dad told me when I started working!!! " Today you're indispensable because you are working unpaid overtime, tomorrow you're fired for taking your lunch break."

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E B
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also complaining about having a hard time hiring people for crap wages and no benefits!

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WilvanderHeijden
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some people can afford to work to live, other people need to live to work to live.

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WilvanderHeijden
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The team has proven that you're the key to their succes, which needs to be rewarded with a raise and a bonus. In reality you will be written down for a lack of loyalty and work ethos.

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WilvanderHeijden
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Has also to do with the fact that European governments actively fought exploitation by legislating strict labor laws and securing employees rights like pregnancy leave, no randomly firing people without a good reason, safety rules on the job and a maximum of hours someone is allowed to work per week.

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Karen Lyon
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He is absolutely right. No matter what your opinions on unions might be the historical fact is that people literally fought and died so that all of us had to right to have days off, and reasonable work week, among other things. We forget that to our peril.

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Carey Cole
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The absolute worse advice...ever. I have been in the IT industry since 1993. My wife has photos of our vacations, with me in the background either on my phone or on my laptop. We are a blended family and have six kids between the two of us. I have missed out on the vast majority of my kid's childhoods. I have missed out on precious time with my family because I was afraid of losing my job at the time. I worked for 4 days while on my honeymoon. Let me just tell everyone.... Your spouse WILL remember that and you will gain nothing from it. I worked for three different companies (one for big pharma) and I was expected to be available 24/7, 365 days a year. I am finally (at 48 years old), working for an awesome company. My manager will force us to take time off if we go too long without a break. In IT, there will always be after-hours work, but he recognizes it and plans for all of us to have our time given back to us. I cannot regain lost time, but I can live now.

#30

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Daniel B.
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've been told by multiple companies that I'm unhireable because of my autism. Good luck proving that in court tho.

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H Edwards
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not exactly intelligent discourse, but this one made me laugh

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WilvanderHeijden
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Employees do not have to plan coverage. That's the responsibility of the employer / manager. You are a fool when you take it upon you to find a substitute when you take PTO. What do you do when you can't find someone to cover for you? Not take your PTO? F.U.C.K, N.O!!!

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