ADVERTISEMENT

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

People-Roasting-Twitter-User-Who-Said-Young-People-Should-Not-Take-Pto

belmikey Report

Add photo comments
POST
jyrihakola avatar
Jyri Hakola
Community Member
2 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.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#2

People-Roasting-Twitter-User-Who-Said-Young-People-Should-Not-Take-Pto

BekyBran Report

Add photo comments
POST
tracey_hirt avatar
Tracey Hirt
Community Member
2 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?

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

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.

#4

People-Roasting-Twitter-User-Who-Said-Young-People-Should-Not-Take-Pto

beautifulrobot Report

Add photo comments
POST
crabcrab avatar
Hans
Community Member
2 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.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#6

People-Roasting-Twitter-User-Who-Said-Young-People-Should-Not-Take-Pto

ambient_soup Report

Add photo comments
POST

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.”

ADVERTISEMENT
#7

People-Roasting-Twitter-User-Who-Said-Young-People-Should-Not-Take-Pto

mpdeejay1 Report

Add photo comments
POST
crabcrab avatar
Hans
Community Member
2 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.)

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#9

People-Roasting-Twitter-User-Who-Said-Young-People-Should-Not-Take-Pto

thebronzey Report

Add photo comments
POST
saamaas avatar
WoodenLion
Community Member
2 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.

View more commentsArrow down menu

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.”

#10

People-Roasting-Twitter-User-Who-Said-Young-People-Should-Not-Take-Pto

megreyes_ Report

Add photo comments
POST
#11

People-Roasting-Twitter-User-Who-Said-Young-People-Should-Not-Take-Pto

_uxp Report

Add photo comments
POST
michel_2 avatar
Marcellus the Third
Community Member
2 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

People-Roasting-Twitter-User-Who-Said-Young-People-Should-Not-Take-Pto

kfury Report

Add photo comments
POST
saragregory0508 avatar
N G
Community Member
2 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)

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

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.

ADVERTISEMENT
#13

People-Roasting-Twitter-User-Who-Said-Young-People-Should-Not-Take-Pto

will_thad Report

Add photo comments
POST
#14

People-Roasting-Twitter-User-Who-Said-Young-People-Should-Not-Take-Pto

spbeanses Report

Add photo comments
POST
lindacowley avatar
Linda Cowley, auntriarch
Community Member
2 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

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#15

People-Roasting-Twitter-User-Who-Said-Young-People-Should-Not-Take-Pto

conductress Report

Add photo comments
POST
marilynransberry avatar
Marilyn Ransberry
Community Member
2 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.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#16

People-Roasting-Twitter-User-Who-Said-Young-People-Should-Not-Take-Pto

tirriffany Report

Add photo comments
POST
aliquida avatar
Aliquid A
Community Member
2 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

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

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
See Also on Bored Panda
#17

People-Roasting-Twitter-User-Who-Said-Young-People-Should-Not-Take-Pto

CollinYourbs Report

Add photo comments
POST
bp_10 avatar
WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
2 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."

View more commentsArrow down menu
#18

People-Roasting-Twitter-User-Who-Said-Young-People-Should-Not-Take-Pto

ericriveracooks Report

Add photo comments
POST
eb_3 avatar
E B
Community Member
2 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!

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#19

People-Roasting-Twitter-User-Who-Said-Young-People-Should-Not-Take-Pto

SquidClaude Report

Add photo comments
POST
bp_10 avatar
WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
2 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.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#20

People-Roasting-Twitter-User-Who-Said-Young-People-Should-Not-Take-Pto

UrbanLegendJD Report

Add photo comments
POST
bp_10 avatar
WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
2 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.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#21

People-Roasting-Twitter-User-Who-Said-Young-People-Should-Not-Take-Pto

_nellerita_ Report

Add photo comments
POST
#22

People-Roasting-Twitter-User-Who-Said-Young-People-Should-Not-Take-Pto

theeyecollector Report

Add photo comments
POST
bp_10 avatar
WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
2 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.

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#23

People-Roasting-Twitter-User-Who-Said-Young-People-Should-Not-Take-Pto

NotNicoleTheRed Report

Add photo comments
POST
kjl01 avatar
Karen Lyon
Community Member
2 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.

#24

People-Roasting-Twitter-User-Who-Said-Young-People-Should-Not-Take-Pto

only_hens Report

Add photo comments
POST
#26

People-Roasting-Twitter-User-Who-Said-Young-People-Should-Not-Take-Pto

DWilliamsmh Report

Add photo comments
POST
#28

People-Roasting-Twitter-User-Who-Said-Young-People-Should-Not-Take-Pto

JennaSindle Report

Add photo comments
POST
#29

People-Roasting-Twitter-User-Who-Said-Young-People-Should-Not-Take-Pto

duketurbo Report

Add photo comments
POST
cascole avatar
Carey Cole
Community Member
2 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

People-Roasting-Twitter-User-Who-Said-Young-People-Should-Not-Take-Pto

katimcf Report

Add photo comments
POST
macstrat avatar
Daniel B.
Community Member
2 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.

View more commentsArrow down menu

Note: this post originally had 58 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda