Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: MrRiplEy[H] on July 08, 2007, 01:02:20 PM
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According to a recent study. US folks on this board, how is your situation?
I guess unions are good for something.. :rolleyes:
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I use 8 weeks every year (4 weeks vacation, 2 weeks sick leave, whether I'm sick or not... and 2 weeks holiday pay)
Oh, and I'm salary. ;)
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Well unlike Europe, we actually DO stuff here:aok, so 35 hour work weeks and endless time off get in the way of making a profit ....That aside, what if folks prefer a skiing vacation instead of a hot, humid trip to the beach or Disney? I get nearly 4 weeks a year, really haven't the desire to be away from home that long.
This sums up France-type countries quite well: Celine Bureau, 17, a high school student, says, "The law will make us go from employed to unemployed very easily and very often. We want the government to prepare solutions for our future."
link (http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2006-03-19-french-protests_x.htm)
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I haven't been on a vacation in about 10 years.
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I don't usually take a "summer vacation". We take small vacations through the year, like a day or two vacation tacked onto a weekend for short trips. Sometimes a work trip is to a spot the wife wants to go along with me, so we do that. I almost always take the week of Christmas off, and a few days in conjunction with July 4th.
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I havent had a REAL vacation in years... culprits are unreal prices in real estate market (The same house that sold for 39K when i was in high School recently sold for 212K and the neighborhood sucks now), outrageous taxes (all taxes combined) Fuel prices and the increase in prices this causes down the line. Decreasing wages due to illegal immigration and job outsourcing. While they may not do my type of work, they drive down prices because they directly decrease the wages of part of my customer base. I live in an area that was HUGE in textiles as recently as 18 years ago. Everyone suddenly started buying inferior cloth from communist china. Now out of 17 textile mills that employed between 250 and 1,500 people at each plant and numerous cotton farms. (In a very small series of towns) We now have 2 left open that employ 210 people combined. These 2 are being closed due to corrosion caused by a train derailment and chlorine spill awhile back. That's a lot of skilled labor, now unemployed trying to compete with border jumpers to feed their families.
I can understand why many Americans cant take a vacation... they dont buy American products.
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Originally posted by bj229r
Well unlike Europe, we actually DO stuff here:aok, so 35 hour work weeks and endless time off get in the way of making a profit ....That aside, what if folks prefer a skiing vacation instead of a hot, humid trip to the beach or Disney? I get nearly 4 weeks a year, really haven't the desire to be away from home that long.
This sums up France-type countries quite well: link (http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2006-03-19-french-protests_x.htm)
The worse slacker I ever met where american so your comment about doing stuff is pretty funny.
Btw posting a one year old article not knowing content is either dishonnest or stupid (your take).
The CNE was a work contract like the american one but with the taxation system of our socialist paradise ( without the benefit).
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Longer hours does not translate into more productivity per hour.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/en/doc/2003-09/01/content_260191.htm
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20030901-2748.html
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Originally posted by straffo
The worse slacker I ever met where american so your comment about doing stuff is pretty funny.
Europeans dont even like the French. nuff said.
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Originally posted by cav58d
Europeans dont even like the French. nuff said.
Holly defence!
I'm speechless.
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The only problem with those sources, Nilsen, is that they don't break down by individual sectors of the economy's involved in their statistics. I mean, are they talking about farming? The Auto industry? Steel? Construction? Banking? Textiles?
It's really hard to quantify output per hour, or even make a truly good guess on the overall total, without a breakdown per industry.
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Plus there is not the part of our gigantic bureaucracy working very precisely 35:00 hours and often less
As Clémenceau said in the past the wife of a bureaucrat should be happy her husband always come back early and as already read the evening newspaper.
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I havent read the report, and you have a point. Im guessing tho that its average based on total productivity of the working population devided by number of hours they work or some such thing.
So if country A produces more labour demanding products than country B the numbers could be seen as misleading, yet they would still be correct.
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Originally posted by Nilsen
Longer hours does not translate into more productivity per hour.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/en/doc/2003-09/01/content_260191.htm
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20030901-2748.html
At least in the construction industry, 40 hours per week seems to be the optimum work week. Productivity doesn't go down if you overwork, but if you continually over work.
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Originally posted by lasersailor184
Productivity doesn't go down if you overwork, but if you continually over work.
Id say that would prolly be correct. I am guessin that in contruction here they have some weeks off overwork during busy seasons and then work less than normal in the slower seasons.
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I usually have a lot of discreationary time and we take many long weekends during the year but sadly the workload in my shop has been very high this year and has precluded us taking any real time off. I usually take the month of august off but this year that will not happen.
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I have six weeks now that started on friday. Now im posting over wifi in a marina not far from home. Waiting for the weather to improve so we can go further up the coast.
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I had the month of May off but it was no vacation.
Broke a rib at work.
I haven't had a real vacation since 1996.
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My wife goes on vacation every year.
Usually takes the kids down to the shore for a week.
I cant spend any more then 1 day at the shore and Im ready to leave.
Atually I can do all I really caere to do at the jersey shore in about 3 hours.
I walk from one end of the Boardwalk to the other.
I have myself a Hot Sausage Sandwich. 2 dozen raw Clams on the halfshell
2 slices of Pizza (Best pizza available outside of NY city)
And 3 draft beers.
OK Im ready to leave.
so needless to say I dont usually go for more then 1 night.
The wife loves it so she stays down there for the week with the kid/s
And I stay at home by myself and go to work
which in itself is like a vacation for me :)
We as a family were supposed to go on vacation this week but my business is simply too busy right now with 3 jobs all going on at the same time.
We were going to head up north to Boston to see the harbor and the USS Consitution. Maybe as far as Main depending on how long we took to get to Boston.
the plan was this.
Our ultimate destination was Boston. But we were going ot take out time getting there.
Instead of a set sceduale we were just going ot stop and check out anything that looked interesting along the way.
Went on a vacatrion like that once to Fla/ But took two weeks to get there.
Was the best Vacation I ever had. No plans other then the destination and anything that looked interesting inbetween.
Anyway. Thats out cause of business.
So instead when I get things more in order and can take a breather We are going ot take a long weekedn and head up to Niagra Falls.
We just dont know when yet.
I usually end up going on a vacation of sorts every other year or so.
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Last vacation I took was in 2001.
Never had an interest in them after that
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Just remembered my mother telling me that her and her brothers never went away for vacations when they were kids.
My grandparents however did at least once a year.
She told me my grandfather would say
"If you have to bring the kids along. Its not a vacation."
LOL if youve ever been on a long trip with kids you might be inclined to agree.
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Originally posted by Nilsen
Id say that would prolly be correct. I am guessin that in contruction here they have some weeks off overwork during busy seasons and then work less than normal in the slower seasons.
No, I don't believe that is the reason. I specifically said construction because that was the industry studied by the researcher.
And I've personally felt that most vacations are more stressful then any other day.
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Originally posted by straffo
The worse slacker I ever met where american so your comment about doing stuff is pretty funny.
Btw posting a one year old article not knowing content is either dishonnest or stupid (your take).
The CNE was a work contract like the american one but with the taxation system of our socialist paradise ( without the benefit).
How about a couple months ago? (Of course, it's a Brit paper:D )
As unemployment has a strong correlation with happiness levels, it is probably safe to conclude that jobless figures at close to 9% - the eurozone's highest - is the main reason. And unemployment remains particularly acute amongst the young, at over 20%. Small wonder, then, that so many young French people come to London to find work. This is a loss to France since many of them are highly educated.
In Britain they enjoy the flexibility and jobs that the UK labour market offers them. About 300,000 now live in Britain and France has suffered the biggest emigration since the Huguenots fled in the 16th and 17th centuries. Indeed, Mr Sarkozy came to London earlier this year appealing to these émigrés to return.
link (http://www.guardian.co.uk/france/story/0,,2074121,00.html)
That aside, annual GDP growth is around 2%, corporate taxation is 33% (corporations don't PAY taxes, the public absorbs that) and government spending is nearly 55% of GDP (2005 number) (Many in our country trying to drag it the same direction, including the alleged 'conservative' Bush) link (http://www.economist.com/surveys/displaystory.cfm?story_id=8048265)
What was the final outcome about the afore-mentioned fight to allow newer/younger workers to be fired? And does Sarkozy support it?
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lol how is it the french always get lambasted on this BBS?
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Originally posted by storch
lol how is it the french always get lambasted on this BBS?
Cause they're..French :p
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Originally posted by Nilsen
Id say that would prolly be correct. I am guessin that in contruction here they have some weeks off overwork during busy seasons and then work less than normal in the slower seasons.
Thats not far from accurate. Spring, Summer, and Fall are usually my busiest seasons.
Then things tend to die out right around thanksgiving. I get a mini rush about a week before Christmas then it tends to drop off. (sometimes like a stone) untill easter. When it starts all over again.
In the busy months I am often too busy to go on vacation. and in the slow months I am often too broke to go on vacation.
But I do get time off.
Year before last was pretty bad.
Over the coarse of the winter months I was out of work a combined total of about 6 weeks. But fortunately not all at once.
Think about it. How many can afford to have 6 weeks off without pay
Im still digging myself out of that hole
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Originally posted by storch
lol how is it the french always get lambasted on this BBS?
Wasn't really my intent, but France IS Europe after all, and thus its model of labor/economics is the most representative. (They're SOOoo touchy:confused: )
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Originally posted by bj229r
Wasn't really my intent, but France IS Europe after all, and thus its model of labor/economics is the most representative. (They're SOOoo touchy:confused: )
That honor belongs to the Germans!:)
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Originally posted by straffo
The worse slacker I ever met where american so your comment about doing stuff is pretty funny.
Most white flags are held high by Frenchmen. I guess they aren't to lazy for that.
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I'd love to take vacations. Between my three rowdy boys getting sick or getting into trouble, my leave time hovers around zero hours. So we take lots of little weekend trips, which is nice.
Got a vacation planned with a girlfriend for next year (whether I have leave time or not) to diamond state park ~ just her & I for a few days away from our children. AND any diamonds we find...we keep.:D
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Originally posted by MrRiplEy[H]
According to a recent study. US folks on this board, how is your situation?
I guess unions are good for something.. :rolleyes:
48% never spend a "summer vacation" is what the study says? Not sure I understand.
I never spend a summer vacation. I generally use all my vacation in the winter.
So that puts me into the 48%?
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I haven't taken a vacation in over 3 years now. I can't say that I miss it.
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Like posted above, the problem iwth America is illegal immigrants and outsourcing. There aren't any steel factories, small farms, auto factories, textile mills, or large working factories hardly left in America. Most of the people here now consider work a 12 hours shift sitting at a desk. That isn't work, work is 14, 16, sometimes even 24 hours actually doing something, plowing, planting, hard labour things. I have often been up three days at a time, plowing during the day, fixing the tractor at night, fixing the car, actually working. When me papaw was younger, he started working at 9, and never stopped. Still hasn't. He used to work his auto shop, fixing engines, water pumps, fuel pumps, carburators, crank shafts, transmissions (automatic and manual), starters, altenators, distributors, welding up engine blocks, welding exhaust pipes back together, actually working. He was strong then, he could pick up a fully dressed engine off a table, carry it over and set it in a pick up bed, and he could also pick them up out of cars and carry them to the table. He often took apart an engine, fixed it, and put it back together twice a day. That is work. Quality work, too. Many of the engines he built won races. The auto "mechanics" today just take a piece off and put a new piece on and throw the old away. Me papaw actually fixed the pieces instead of buying new ones. We need to bring back actual work, we need to change this country back into the great country it once was.
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What was it Mr. Spock said on Star Trek, he found his meditation to be more relaxing and useful than our human vacations.
Les
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Originally posted by bj229r
What was the final outcome about the afore-mentioned fight to allow newer/younger workers to be fired? And does Sarkozy support it?
Recently the CNE was recognized as not legal.
Originally posted by storch
lol how is it the french always get lambasted on this BBS?
Ask the moderation, not me.
Originally posted by bj229r
Wasn't really my intent, but France IS Europe after all, and thus its model of labor/economics is the most representative. (They're SOOoo touchy:confused: )
It's not representative of the whole EU as I speak we have to invaded Europe :)
@McFarland do you really think our farmer work less than you ?
their job is the same as your and they are not part of the stats.
Don't forget Churchill : "There are lies, damn lies, and Statistics"
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Originally posted by McFarland
Like posted above, the problem iwth America is illegal immigrants and outsourcing. There aren't any steel factories, small farms, auto factories, textile mills, or large working factories hardly left in America. Most of the people here now consider work a 12 hours shift sitting at a desk. That isn't work, work is 14, 16, sometimes even 24 hours actually doing something, plowing, planting, hard labour things. I have often been up three days at a time, plowing during the day, fixing the tractor at night, fixing the car, actually working. When me papaw was younger, he started working at 9, and never stopped. Still hasn't. He used to work his auto shop, fixing engines, water pumps, fuel pumps, carburators, crank shafts, transmissions (automatic and manual), starters, altenators, distributors, welding up engine blocks, welding exhaust pipes back together, actually working. He was strong then, he could pick up a fully dressed engine off a table, carry it over and set it in a pick up bed, and he could also pick them up out of cars and carry them to the table. He often took apart an engine, fixed it, and put it back together twice a day. That is work. Quality work, too. Many of the engines he built won races. The auto "mechanics" today just take a piece off and put a new piece on and throw the old away. Me papaw actually fixed the pieces instead of buying new ones. We need to bring back actual work, we need to change this country back into the great country it once was.
I can't decide which is funnier...your Bible weather forecasting, or this
dribble about what constitutes work. :D
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So, you think that isn't work? You think setting at a desk for 12 hours is work? What is this world coming to? Laziness. I have done work. I have done more work than some 40 year olds. And if you think sitting at a desk 12 hours a day hitting buttons is work, then I've done more work in a month than most do in their lives.
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Originally posted by Rino
I can't decide which is funnier...your Bible weather forecasting, or this
dribble about what constitutes work. :D
If you decide both are funny, that would that be a penalty - double dribble. Ahar... :) The word is "drivel."
I'm curious about the phrasing "summer" vacations in the topic. Is that just MrRiplEy[H]'s phrasing, since it seems most of Europe is closed during August, or is that from the article he's using?
And what's this stuff about needing to break down the segments to determine the whole of productivity? It's either per person or per hour, and the whole is based on all non-farm segments of labor. It's not hard at all, it's an elementary economics calculation.
And what's this stuff by lazysailor about the construction industry being studied by the researcher? What study? What researcher? Am I missing something here, or are you guys talking in code?
And what's this stuff about European companies not making profits? Okay, so let me see if i have this straight:
European workers produce more per hour, have more time off, and their companies make a profit - that's bad.
American workers produce less per hour, have less time off, and their companies make a profit - that's good.
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Originally posted by E25280
48% never spend a "summer vacation" is what the study says? Not sure I understand.
I never spend a summer vacation. I generally use all my vacation in the winter.
So that puts me into the 48%?
No it means that I believe the US is the only country in the western world that doesn't have nation wide standards on holidays. On average finns spend 5 weeks per year on paid holiday + another good 12 days of national holidays. Some special groups like teachers get even 2 month summer vacations and 1 week winter vacations.
I take longer than normal vacations too, but that's because I'm running the business and can make my own rules. Just as many Americans can for sure.
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In the U.S. we don't need any government telling us how much or when to take vacations.
Any person (who is not a union employee) is free to negotiate with prospective employers how much vacation they get as part of their compensation. Sorry union folks, most of you don't have this freedom.
Highly valued employees will be able to negotiate more vacation time (if that's what they desire) better than lower valued employees - just like with pay.
Let freedom ring.
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my name is john and for years i was a workaholic, what is a "vacation"?
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Originally posted by Samiam
In the U.S. we don't need any government telling us how much or when to take vacations.
Any person (who is not a union employee) is free to negotiate with prospective employers how much vacation they get as part of their compensation. Sorry union folks, most of you don't have this freedom.
Highly valued employees will be able to negotiate more vacation time (if that's what they desire) better than lower valued employees - just like with pay.
Let freedom ring.
What you mean in reality is that people need to have 2 or 3 jobs without vacation and still be underpaid.
Each to its own I guess.. :rolleyes:
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Originally posted by McFarland
So, you think that isn't work? You think setting at a desk for 12 hours is work? What is this world coming to? Laziness. I have done work. I have done more work than some 40 year olds. And if you think sitting at a desk 12 hours a day hitting buttons is work, then I've done more work in a month than most do in their lives.
A person like you believes that it's manual labor that runs the business world, and nothing else.