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66% of Americans say they want extended European-style vacation policies at work

(www.cnbc.com)
137 points pg_1234 | 25 comments | 26 Aug 23 08:47 UTC | HN request time: 1.861s | source | bottom
1. speedgoose ◴[26 Aug 23 09:54 UTC] No.37271204[source]▶
I’m concerned about the 21% who don’t want a better quality of life. What’s going on with them?
replies(6): >>37271271 #>>37271284 #>>37271288 #>>37271312 #>>37271316 #>>37271663 #
2. 0xDEF ◴[26 Aug 23 10:02 UTC] No.37271271[source]▶
If Americans want the same quality of life as we have here in Denmark they should tax the top 20% more so it doesn't surprise me that the top 20% come out against things like higher taxes and more worker rights.

I'm probably among the top 5% here in Denmark and I'm fine with paying high taxes.

replies(1): >>37271414 #
3. db48x ◴[26 Aug 23 10:03 UTC] No.37271284[source]▶
The survey didn’t ask about “quality of life”, it asked about paid days off. Many people would rather have more money to pay for the things that they want instead of more days off. It’s as simple as that; different people weigh the value of things differently.
replies(1): >>37271882 #
4. nxm ◴[26 Aug 23 10:03 UTC] No.37271288[source]▶
They realize there is no such thing as free lunch. It’s an additional cost incurred by the employers that will translate into lower pay.
replies(2): >>37271819 #>>37275224 #
5. mmmmmbop ◴[26 Aug 23 10:07 UTC] No.37271312[source]▶
It seems a bit disingenuous to frame it that way. Perhaps they are just mindful of the consequences, e.g. increased costs. There was a referendum in Switzerland on increasing the minimum annual leave from four weeks to six, and two thirds of voters rejected it. [0] The major argument against it was the anticipated cost to the economy.

[0] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-17335444

replies(1): >>37271890 #
6. k_kelly ◴[26 Aug 23 10:07 UTC] No.37271316[source]▶
Strangely enough if you asked Europeans if they wanted high American Salaries they would also say yes.

The question is loaded and I guess 21% can think it through (or their company already gives them better).

replies(1): >>37271844 #
7. memefrog ◴[26 Aug 23 10:21 UTC] No.37271414[source]▶
You can't tax your way to wealth. Taxing the rich more won't make the quality of life of the average person better. The rich already pay the OVERWHELMING majority of tax.
replies(1): >>37271915 #
8. maccard ◴[26 Aug 23 11:02 UTC] No.37271663[source]▶
Some number of them may already have an equivalent amount of PTO.
replies(1): >>37271815 #
9. speedgoose ◴[26 Aug 23 11:33 UTC] No.37271815[source]▶
That would be very selfish.
10. speedgoose ◴[26 Aug 23 11:33 UTC] No.37271819[source]▶
Can’t they afford holidays? They are the world first economy with a descent margin.
11. speedgoose ◴[26 Aug 23 11:37 UTC] No.37271844[source]▶
We are talking about a few weeks of holidays, it’s something they can afford. Europeans can. The people that already have better and don’t want the same for everyone are selfish and not thinking much about what could happen to them in the future.
12. speedgoose ◴[26 Aug 23 11:42 UTC] No.37271882[source]▶
I’m concerned about the life priorities of such people.
replies(1): >>37274159 #
13. speedgoose ◴[26 Aug 23 11:45 UTC] No.37271890[source]▶
Thanks, now I’m concerned about the Swiss population too. They are already collecting wealth so much in their OP position on the map and they are too cheap to take more holidays?
14. speedgoose ◴[26 Aug 23 11:48 UTC] No.37271915{3}[source]▶
The rich wouldn’t be rich without poorer people. Also I’m a bit dubious about your statement, it goes against what I can quickly search for but I would gladly be proven wrong.
replies(1): >>37277337 #
15. db48x ◴[26 Aug 23 16:18 UTC] No.37274159{3}[source]▶
You shouldn’t be. They’re different from you; get over it.
replies(2): >>37275765 #>>37275811 #
16. paulmd ◴[26 Aug 23 18:01 UTC] No.37275224[source]▶
efficient-market hypothesis is a joke, particularly right now of all times when profit margins are soaring for businesses.

it's the old "if we pay mcdonalds employees a living wage, the cost of your hamburger will double!" canard. no, it won't.

17. ◴[26 Aug 23 18:53 UTC] No.37275765{4}[source]▶
18. speedgoose ◴[26 Aug 23 18:58 UTC] No.37275811{4}[source]▶
Sometimes it can be beneficial to the society to understand why some people think the way they do. Everyone is different but not everyone is right. I’m often wrong on many things and people correct me. I’m concerned about their need to get a little bit more money if they don’t have time to profit from it. I guess they don’t know that life can be better with more free time. Or they don’t enjoy free time, but that doesn’t sound healthy.
replies(1): >>37280568 #
19. memefrog ◴[26 Aug 23 22:06 UTC] No.37277337{4}[source]▶
"High-Income Taxpayers Paid the Majority of Federal Income Taxes. In 2020, the bottom half of taxpayers earned 10.2 percent of total AGI and paid 2.3 percent of all federal individual income taxes. The top 1 percent earned 22.2 percent of total AGI and paid 42.3 percent of all federal income taxes."

https://taxfoundation.org/data/all/federal/summary-latest-fe...

In New Zealand, about 12% of individuals pay about 50% of personal income tax, and the top 3% pay about a quarter. That doesn't take into account the amount they are taxed indirectly through GST or through company tax on companies they own shares in.

replies(1): >>37280205 #
20. speedgoose ◴[27 Aug 23 07:18 UTC] No.37280205{5}[source]▶
But income tax is not all taxes at all.
replies(1): >>37280298 #
21. memefrog ◴[27 Aug 23 07:36 UTC] No.37280298{6}[source]▶
Income tax is by far the largest and most significant tax, and I gave examples of other taxes in which the rich pay far more.

Do you really think the poor pay the most company tax?

replies(1): >>37280555 #
22. speedgoose ◴[27 Aug 23 08:19 UTC] No.37280555{7}[source]▶
Alright. I’m not very aware of the taxes in USA. In France VAT and company taxes are more important.

Rich people don’t pay company taxes either. Companies pay companies taxes.

replies(1): >>37286967 #
23. db48x ◴[27 Aug 23 08:21 UTC] No.37280568{5}[source]▶
Are you seriously trying to argue that you know what is best for other people? That vacation time is objectively better than money? That the choice shouldn’t be left up to the individual, but they must take your own preferences over theirs? That is the most idiotic thing I have heard all month.
replies(2): >>37280629 #>>37280701 #
24. wizofaus ◴[27 Aug 23 08:31 UTC] No.37280629{6}[source]▶
Very few choices in life are truly entirely up to the individual. Virtually nobody votes for political candidates that offer the ability for individuals to have absolute control over the money they earn or contract terms of the jobs they hold.
25. speedgoose ◴[27 Aug 23 08:44 UTC] No.37280701{6}[source]▶
Yes, I do think that having slightly more money is not better than having more free time for most people. You will always have a few exceptions and some outliers, but 21% sounds like a lot.

Incomes correlate to happiness, but once you have enough to live happily, it’s perhaps time to enjoy your time left alive.

Of course, if you lack money to live happily, you may be forced to work a lot. But enforced paid vacations don’t sound like a bad deal anyway if you are in such a situation.

We unfortunately can’t let some workaholic ruin life for everyone else. Our societies need a minimal vacation amount because otherwise, there would be too much abuse and social injustice.