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Should US workers be guaranteed more vacation time?

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Results so far:

Yes
75% 492 votes Total: 659 votes
No
25% 167 votes
Yes

Dear Reader, how would you like a one month vacation after your first year of employment? Well, if you lived and worked in Europe that is exactly what you would get. As a matter of fact, some Countries provide for a two month vacation. Wow! Yes, many people in Europe get a job after they finish their education and they keep that job for their entire working life.

Such is not the case for most employees within the United States of America. The main reason for that fact is that the Politicians, and the people who support those Politicians, clearly do more for Big Business, rather than serve the needs of the majority of the Citizens of our Country.

More often than not, these days, employers truly do take advantage of their employees in the cruelest of ways. That being, they work the daylights out of them and simply hire a new person after the current employee simply quits or suffers a nervous breakdown. You see, in the United States of America, the length of your vacation is determined by the number of years that you are employed by the same company. Sure, most people can earn a two week vacation after the first year of employment. So too, that also depends upon the rules of that company in which you work.

Some people get three weeks vacation after three to five years of continuous employment. Well, that isn't bad but, more often than not, that employee might not be able to take all three weeks vacation in a row. During my working years I was never able to do that because of the requirements of my job.

Then again, each and every person who works for an employer should be aware of the fact that your employer follows its own rules, in regard to employment policies. More often than not, those rules aren't printed in the employees' handbook.

The trend today is for your employer to increase your work load little by little, as time passes, so that you will eventually seek employment elsewhere before can can enjoy the benefits of long term service. I see that happen time and time again to good people who aren't protected by organized labor unions. Sooner or later that increased work causes the employees to do less of a job overall, in terms of that employee's performance rating. A decrease in performance can also mean lees of a raise or no raise in salary for that employee.

Believe it or not, most employers want to get as much productivity as they can out each and ever person that they hire. So too, the employer shares the rewards and profits by means of employer funded profit and pension plans with the hired help. Then again, after an employee leaves the company, that employee will forfit as much as 80% or more of the amount accrued in its retirement plan, because the employee is only vested to the extent of his or her length of service. The lost amount is then divided among of remaining members. Yes, only those at the top, more often than not, fully enjoy the entire benefits of such plans. So, due to increased work and other pressures put on the employee, as time passes, most people change jobs within five years of the date that they were hired.

That, Dear Reader, is how management keeps its employment costs as low as possible while, at the same time, gets rich from the company contributed pension and profit sharing plans that they themselves created for their employees.

Yes, no matter how you look at it, it's in the best interests of top management to replace each and every one of their employees before those employees reach their sixth year of employment. Well, how many years have you worked for your current employer? Yes, you too can be a victim of such behavior, and without proof of what is being done, there isn't a whole lot that you can do to protect yourself.

Yes, that's the way it is in the United States of America. You either play the game and go with the flow, or end up homeless to die on the streets of our once great Nation. Who will you vote for in 2008?

Learn more about this author, Joseph Malek.
Contact this writer Click here to send this author comments or questions.

No

Should US workers be guaranteed more vacation time?




Now that is a "million dollar" question. Why, would any company, "lowly" employee be guaranteed, least of all expect, more vacation time!




Come on, get real people! Why, would anyone want more time off? When we go to work, we are with family. Our jobs are our family. Don't believe the person who tells you, "You work to make the life you want." Your life is your job!




Please, you're insulting my intelligence here.




Most people relish the beginning of a new work week. It isn't called, "Glorious Monday" for nothing. By not allowing' yourself the opportunity to get yelled at by a boss, who will diminish your self esteem is just, selfish on your part. Bosses ups have a hard time finding respect in their lives out side of work. They are put down by their spouses and children. We need to be there, at that job, so, "we the people" can be the proverbial "whipping boys" of corporate America. We need to be at work so when the "sh*t hits the fan" we can take the blame. As it should be!




Now I ask that question again; Should US workers be guaranteed more vacation time?




To have extra time, to lounge around at home in front of the Television, or stroll leisurely through a park, or spend all that extra time chasing children under a sprinkle? Be realistic all that extra time off is intensely stressful!




Again, stop here! I can't take the audacity of the question posed. Least of all, think of what, would not' be accomplished during that vacation time?

Give up? Work, is the answer. We would give up our right to work ourselves to death. That is a God given right! And I, for one refuse to give that up!




We, as unflinching employees should never shirk our duty, which is to make money for our bosses and for the corporations. Those same CEOs would, with a snap of their mighty fingers, terminate our employment to save money on the company health insurance. Or, give themselves raises. Without us, the meager underlings, how could those "Rich Corporate Superiors" go to spas and fancy retreats?




We as over worked, underpaid employees should never give up our rights to work over time without pay!




We should never, never ask for more vacation time. Our family is our work. Our employer, out of the goodness of their incorporated hearts, they hand us a paycheck; granted a highly taxed paycheck. But still, who are we to complain! Who are we to ask for more vacation time?




Over working employees is environmentally friendly. Killing us off faster saves the planets resources.




Bah! Say no! To more vacation time and save the planet by killing off its inhabitants.




The American dream is to work until you retire. Then die three days later.

Learn more about this author, Gerardine Baugh.
Contact this writer Click here to send this author comments or questions.

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