US Holidays?

Halk · 01-24-2009, 08:13 AM

Decided not to derail a thread about Bookeen and being French, and holidays etc...

However, I picked up from a couple of Americans I was chatting to on a plane that they don't get a great deal of holidays.

I get somewhere in the region of 6 weeks paid holiday and 1 week unpaid per year in the UK.

How much do Americans generally get? There's no reason behind this apart from general interest.

vivaldirules · 01-24-2009, 08:44 AM

First, you'll probably know that the standard meaning for "holiday" here is the equivalent of your "bank holiday". My company observes 8 of those a year (Christmas and either Christmas Eve or the day after Christmas depending on what day of the week it is, New Years Day, Memorial Day in late May, Independence Day (July 4), Labor Day in early September, and two days at Thanksgiving in late November). Years ago, it was common for companies here to also have other days off on Columbus Day, Easter, or Presidents' Day. Instead, my company gives me two "floater" holidays which I can use to take off any two days of the year I wish and for any reason. I would be curious about the number of bank holidays in France and the U.K.

For vacation (what you would call holidays), it is common here to give about two weeks of vacation each year to full-time employees, at least after a year of employment. Many companies, like mine, increase that amount the longer you work with the company. I now get 5 weeks vacation annually because I have over 20 years with the company and when I reach 30 years with them I'll max out at 6 weeks per year.

I should say that business surveys here have discovered that we've been developing a rather nasty habit of not using the vacation we're granted because we're afraid of losing our jobs or getting behind. So of the two weeks of vacation granted to employees, some of that usually goes unused for the average worker here.

zelda_pinwheel · 01-24-2009, 08:46 AM

vr, you make me sad. i hope you are using your full 5 weeks.

vivaldirules · 01-24-2009, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

vr, you make me sad. i hope you are using your full 5 weeks.

Don't be sad for me, Zee. I almost always use all of my vacation each year. I may have let a couple of days slip over the years because the end of the year is always incredibly busy and I can't carry over vacation into the next year. This year, I have no plans yet but can't wait to blow those weeks doing something fun. How about you, Zee? Have you plans for some time away this year? Afterall, we must save Vera and a Save Vera group weekend in (where is she now?) might be just the trick.

zelda_pinwheel · 01-24-2009, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vivaldirules

Don't be sad for me, Zee. I almost always use all of my vacation each year. I may have let a couple of days slip over the years because the end of the year is always incredibly busy and I can't carry over vacation into the next year. This year, I have no plans yet but can't wait to blow those weeks doing something fun. How about you, Zee? Have you plans for some time away this year? Afterall, we must save Vera and a Save Vera group weekend in (where is she now?) might be just the trick.

i am glad to hear that.

it's only january, i haven't the slightest idea what kind of vacation plans i might have. talk to me in six months. a Save Vera weekend could be good, although on the other hand getting caught in the middle of bombs and espionage doesn't sound very restful... maybe we could schedule the Save Vera weekend to coincide with Vera's holidays as well ; if anybody needs a break, it's Vera.

lilac_jive · 01-24-2009, 09:03 AM

I get two weeks paid vacation, which at my job includes sick days. Then we have off for I think maybe five holidays, and then another two where the office is closed but we don't get paid.

I'm taking my Bahama vacation in March

zelda_pinwheel · 01-24-2009, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilac_jive

I get two weeks paid vacation, which at my job includes sick days. Then we have off for I think maybe five holidays, and then another two where the office is closed but we don't get paid.

I'm taking my Bahama vacation in March

i see your policy is to make the most of what you get !

send us a postcard okay ? i can tell you right now i won't be going anywhere that exotic...

lilac_jive · 01-24-2009, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

i see your policy is to make the most of what you get !

send us a postcard okay ? i can tell you right now i won't be going anywhere that exotic...

I normally wouldn't go down there (would much rather go to the UK for two weeks), but my cousin is getting married down there and I could use a vacation.

I'm basically paying a lot of money to sit and read in a more exotic location

Sweetpea · 01-24-2009, 09:31 AM

Let's see...

Bank holidays we've got a few.

The day after Easter, the day after Pentacoste, the Ascension of Jesus, the Queens birthday (which can happen on a weekend, which means no day off for those that only work during the day), every 5 years we are free for the celebration of the end of WWII (which usually happens in the weekend, Murphy at work there). And the day after Christmas and New Year's day (which can all be in a weekend).

So, we have 3 days that are free guaranteed, 3 days that can fall in a weekend and 1 that only happens once every 5 years (and can also fall in the weekend).

Beside that, we have the right to 20 days paid holidays a year (based on a 40 hour work week). I work 90% (36 hours a week), so I only have 18 days.

Sparrow · 01-24-2009, 09:34 AM

There are no atheists when it comes to booking holydays.

zelda_pinwheel · 01-24-2009, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilac_jive

I normally wouldn't go down there (would much rather go to the UK for two weeks), but my cousin is getting married down there and I could use a vacation.

I'm basically paying a lot of money to sit and read in a more exotic location

i can think of worse places to sit and read.

enjoy it !

lilac_jive · 01-24-2009, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

i can think of worse places to sit and read.

enjoy it !

Oh you bet I will

It's all inclusive too, so I get to drink all day long for free

zelda_pinwheel · 01-24-2009, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilac_jive

Oh you bet I will

It's all inclusive too, so I get to drink all day long for free

nice !! i'm jealous now.

Seabound · 01-24-2009, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilac_jive

Oh you bet I will

It's all inclusive too, so I get to drink all day long for free

Drink what?

lilac_jive · 01-24-2009, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

nice !! i'm jealous now.

I will drink a margarita for you then

01-24-2009, 08:13 AM	#1
Halk Fanatic Posts: 534 Karma: 469999 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Scotland Device: Sony PRS-650 (PRS+ alpha - thanks Kartu!)	US Holidays? Decided not to derail a thread about Bookeen and being French, and holidays etc... However, I picked up from a couple of Americans I was chatting to on a plane that they don't get a great deal of holidays. I get somewhere in the region of 6 weeks paid holiday and 1 week unpaid per year in the UK. How much do Americans generally get? There's no reason behind this apart from general interest.

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01-24-2009, 08:44 AM	#2
vivaldirules When's Doughnut Day? Posts: 10,059 Karma: 13675475 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Houston, TX, US Device: Sony PRS-505, iPad	First, you'll probably know that the standard meaning for "holiday" here is the equivalent of your "bank holiday". My company observes 8 of those a year (Christmas and either Christmas Eve or the day after Christmas depending on what day of the week it is, New Years Day, Memorial Day in late May, Independence Day (July 4), Labor Day in early September, and two days at Thanksgiving in late November). Years ago, it was common for companies here to also have other days off on Columbus Day, Easter, or Presidents' Day. Instead, my company gives me two "floater" holidays which I can use to take off any two days of the year I wish and for any reason. I would be curious about the number of bank holidays in France and the U.K. For vacation (what you would call holidays), it is common here to give about two weeks of vacation each year to full-time employees, at least after a year of employment. Many companies, like mine, increase that amount the longer you work with the company. I now get 5 weeks vacation annually because I have over 20 years with the company and when I reach 30 years with them I'll max out at 6 weeks per year. I should say that business surveys here have discovered that we've been developing a rather nasty habit of not using the vacation we're granted because we're afraid of losing our jobs or getting behind. So of the two weeks of vacation granted to employees, some of that usually goes unused for the average worker here.

01-24-2009, 08:46 AM	#3
zelda_pinwheel zeldinha zippy zeldissima Posts: 27,827 Karma: 921169 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Paris, France Device: eb1150 & is that a nook in her pocket, or she just happy to see you?	vr, you make me sad. i hope you are using your full 5 weeks.

01-24-2009, 09:03 AM	#6
lilac_jive Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,870 Karma: 27376 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Device: PRS-505	I get two weeks paid vacation, which at my job includes sick days. Then we have off for I think maybe five holidays, and then another two where the office is closed but we don't get paid. I'm taking my Bahama vacation in March

01-24-2009, 09:31 AM	#9
Sweetpea Grand Sorcerer Posts: 9,707 Karma: 32763414 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Krewerd Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 4 Color; Samsung Galaxy Tab S6	Let's see... Bank holidays we've got a few. The day after Easter, the day after Pentacoste, the Ascension of Jesus, the Queens birthday (which can happen on a weekend, which means no day off for those that only work during the day), every 5 years we are free for the celebration of the end of WWII (which usually happens in the weekend, Murphy at work there). And the day after Christmas and New Year's day (which can all be in a weekend). So, we have 3 days that are free guaranteed, 3 days that can fall in a weekend and 1 that only happens once every 5 years (and can also fall in the weekend). Beside that, we have the right to 20 days paid holidays a year (based on a 40 hour work week). I work 90% (36 hours a week), so I only have 18 days.

01-24-2009, 09:34 AM	#10
Sparrow Wizard Posts: 4,395 Karma: 1358132 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: UK Device: Palm TX, CyBook Gen3	There are no atheists when it comes to booking holydays.

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