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Comments

• [1] tf from 10075 August 31, 2009 - 10:51AM

  enough!

  don't americans get enough freebies and perks. get back to work!

  we don't want to live longer like those pinko euros

  
  
• [2] Camille from Slovenia August 31, 2009 - 10:52AM

  I am an American living in Slovenia (central Europe), and I just wanna say people should becareful what they wish for. Here in Europe, vacations are a cause of a LOT of stress. Where to go, when to go, how to go -- I can't believe how much agony it causes people.

  
  
• [3] Jade August 31, 2009 - 10:53AM

  Brian-

  Can you ask if the same reduction in heart attack risk accrues to people who are unemployed and take a vacation from their stress?

  Thanks.

  
  
• [4] Andy from Brooklyn August 31, 2009 - 10:54AM

  Who is gonna call in _against_ more vacation time, aside from Montgomery Burns?

  
  
• [5] Jennifer Hickey from Bayside, Queens August 31, 2009 - 10:54AM

  My husband works in retail for a Verizon products distributor in Roslyn, NY (a very wealthy aream ind you). Not only does he not get paid for anytime he takes off, be he works close to 6 days a week, 10 hr days and does not get paid any overtime. He is exhausted, stressed and sometimes does not even get the chance to grab lunch (since he's usually the only person in the store). All his boss cares about is getting another Mercedes for his spoiled wife.

  
  
• [6] john from office August 31, 2009 - 10:55AM

  Another expert who never ran his own business. This will be the death of the small business world in this country or the mom and pop operation that employs alot of people in this country.

  
  
• [7] Kate from Brooklyn August 31, 2009 - 10:55AM

  I think this is a great idea. But what about those of us who work for tips? We can't take a break because we are dependent on the actual work hours we work.

  
  
• [8] Daniel from Munich August 31, 2009 - 10:56AM

  Camille--- that's just silly. If only all workers had your problem.

  
  
• [9] Mark from Qns. August 31, 2009 - 10:56AM

  I like the idea, but feel that it should be at least 3 or 4 weeks paid vacation. 2 weeks is not enough over a year. Along with health care, this is another area where we can learn from other nations.

  
  
• [10] the truth from bkny August 31, 2009 - 10:56AM

  Annual Paid vacation should be mandatory for health reasons.

  
  
• [11] Sara from Brooklyn August 31, 2009 - 10:57AM

  As Americans we don't get enough vacation days. My friends who live in Australia and the UK get 5-6 week, PAID time off, and that doesn't include sick days. Why do we have to work so hard, and not get time off to relax and refresh? I would rather take unpaid time off to have a real vacation two to three times per year than save all of my days for one getaway a year, which is what I currently have to do.

  
  
• [12] Andy from Brooklyn August 31, 2009 - 10:58AM

  "This will be the death of the small business world in this country or the mom and pop operation that employs alot of people in this country." -- john

  This bill applies only to businesses that employ at least 100 people. It will then later be extended to companies that employ at least 50 people. How many Mom and Pop shops do you know with more than 50 employees?

  
  
• [13] hjs from 11211 August 31, 2009 - 10:58AM

  i'm not sure why one would take a job without health benefits, paid vacation time or paid lunch hours as part of their compensation package?

  
  
• [14] Steve (the other one) from Manhattan August 31, 2009 - 11:01AM

  Let the marketplace sort it out? Yeah, that worked so well with the mortgage market, the banks, and on and on. All the marketplace would do is what it's done to this point - deny paid vacations to most everyone.

  
  
• [15] peter August 31, 2009 - 11:01AM

  @john, labour laws in most civilized countries mandate paid vacation for all workers including small businesses (normally much more than 2 weeks per annum), yet small businesses manage to exist in those countries. what is your evidence that paid vacations would be the 'death of small business'?

  
  
• [16] Jennifer Hickey from Bayside, Queens August 31, 2009 - 11:02AM

  Ok, all these "Small" business owner calling in have lost sight of their humanity. Not long ago their ancestors worked in sweat shops. Have they lost sight of all the strides that have been made for workers. Shame on them!

  
  
• [17] Andy from Brooklyn August 31, 2009 - 11:02AM

  HJS, that you use the phrase "compensation package" shows why you wouldn't understand the reason for one taking a less than desirable job. The answer is: need.

  
  
• [18] hjs from 11211 August 31, 2009 - 11:17AM

  Camille

  i agree. i find traveling very tiring. i need a rest after i get back

  
  
• [19] Jenny from Brooklyn, NY August 31, 2009 - 11:20AM

  The law is perverse on two levels.

  First, it is not the government, but the employer who provides the jobs, and this law punishes him for the service - at no explicit cost to the government.

  Second, the law only helps those "exploited" employees who have jobs. But, by raising the cost of each employee, it decreases the number of jobs that an employer can or is willing to afford - unless another law controls his hiring decisions.

  Finally, the law reinforces the principle that government can rightfully meddle in private affairs so long as it can claim some supposedly socially beneficial motive - an attitude that puts the safety individual rights in danger.

  
  
• [20] chris from newark nj August 31, 2009 - 11:28AM

  I am a government employee ,and in all my previous employments I have had to pay for all my vactions threw time off or accredited leave . It is said there's a time and. To sow the seed a time to till and you'll know when its time to harvest... I believe. Why should american employees have to pay themselves to take. Vacation this is why we have schedualling for leave time via the employeer . In a another civil agency like an airline or such they pay the employee to take off then your alotted to take off another week of time when ever you choose or is open depends on senority and what you choose... listen a vacation releaves stress and some heart fatigue.. planning them suck but who says you got to go anywere to have a good time.. a real vacation is doing what you love.

  A few questions I have are;

  How will this effect those like government employees and those that pay them selves to take leave via accruded time ?

  Will this mean I. You'd be able to take a week off and still get paid for your normal shift while working a different shift on over time..?

  
  
• [21] hjs from 11211 August 31, 2009 - 11:31AM

  andy

  i'll race u to the bottom any day.

  we all have "compensation packages."

  what is happening to the middle class?

  don't assume my ilk, i was making a point, that what we need is to ask for more, than just 'NEED.'

  
  
• [22] Tammy Cross from Morris Plains, NJ August 31, 2009 - 01:16PM

  I had not heard of Mr. Robinson's book before and missed much of the converation today. However, having lived in Munich for over two years, I often used the phrase in his title! Americans essentially live to work - but the Europeans work to live. Work is just part of your life, a tool you use to be able to spend leisure time in enjoyment and enrichment. Americans spend almost all their time working, with leisure time almost an after-thought.

  
  
• [23] hjs from 11211 August 31, 2009 - 03:17PM

  tammy

  one reason they live longer?

  oh, plus better helth care!

  
  
• [24] Serge Lescouarnec from Montclair, NJ September 03, 2009 - 11:37AM

  Missed your show on Monday

  I actually offered a panel on the same topic for South by Southwest Interactive' titled 'No Vacation Nation, Is Vagabonding the Right Medicine'

  Here is the link for more details.

  http://panelpicker.sxsw.com/ideas/view/2893

  Panels are partially selected via popular vote.

  Voting ends on September 4 at midnight.

  Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

  Serge

  'The French Guy from New Jersey'