Do all Americans (or American Companies offer) only get 2 weeks vacation!? (employee, alternative)

[destroycreate]

So I'm half American half Danish, I hold 2 passports, but I'm planning on moving back to the States for job reason soon. When I was 15 I moved to Denmark and have remained there into my early 20's. The area I want to work in (advertisement/marketing/PR) is limited in Denmark and I have some job opportunities set up back in the US.

But one thing terrible I've learned about America is that the majority of Americans get just a paltry 2 weeks off!!! In Denmark, by law, it is required that all citizens receive 5-6 weeks paid vacation (4 weeks off by the law in the EU). The law is so that workers are insured quality of time with their family and that companies are not exploiting the hell out of them, as well as making sure the whole rat race mentality doesn't allow that bc one person takes vacation and another doesn't, they should loose their job.

People have been telling me that in the US it's looked down upon to take vacation and you're considered "lazy" by doing so. I still can't grasp the idea of just 2 weeks...it seems so little, what are you supposed to do with that?

The thing is, travel has ALWAYS been my passion. I love visiting new cultures and exploring the world. By just 2 weeks I can't do any of that...and it's depressing to me that the whole of EU gets so much time off and to enjoy life but in America everyone is a slave to the corporation.

So my question is, how true is this point? Are there major companies that are more generous? Or is 2 weeks the rule? Is there no other alternative? What about UNpaid time off, can an employee ask for such thing?

This is a major deterrent for wanting to move back to the US, my quality of life is vital!

[Racelady88]

Many companies offer 1 week of vacation after 1 year, 2 weeks after 2 years. Some offer no more than 2 weeks but some will offer a 3rd.

[North Beach Person]

Depends on the company and it's policies. There is no, as far as I know, legislatively mandated vacation requirement by any state.


Many companies scale their vacation plan to length of service-the longer you work there the more vacation time you accumulate. At one time senior USW (United Steel Workers) employees would be eligible for 13 weeks of vacation every, I think, 6 years. The other years they would have 3 or 4 weeks. Most government employees accrue x amount of annual leave for every x hours they work. Many of those people are then in a "use it or lose it" situation.

[annerk]

My husband gets five weeks a year PTO, I get two weeks PTO but just started, at the three year mark I'll get three, at five I get four, and at 10 I get five.

[marylee54]

Welcome to America!

[tabbcat]

My current job offered 3 weeks to start... usually I'm offered 2 and can negotiate to 3. My husband started his job with 5 weeks.

It's all negotiable though

[AtlanticHomeland]

Originally Posted by destroycreate

In Denmark, by law, it is required that all citizens receive 5-6 weeks paid vacation (4 weeks off by the law in the EU). The law is so that workers are insured quality of time with their family and that companies are not exploiting the hell out of them, as well as making sure the whole rat race mentality doesn't allow that bc one person takes vacation and another doesn't, they should loose their job.

People have been telling me that in the US it's looked down upon to take vacation and you're considered "lazy" by doing so. I still can't grasp the idea of just 2 weeks...it seems so little, what are you supposed to do with that?

I'd love just to get 4 weeks off a year with no pay let alone 4 weeks with pay! Unfortunately, employers are all in sync here to keep employees showing up even if the man-hours are a waste. Of course, showing up for the job is a good part of all you have to do for some jobs here.

I have read that we may have a jobless recovery here in the USA. No new jobs will open up but hours will be added to those already with a job. Do not think there will be much time to allow for vacations then.

[JetJockey]

I'm offered 1 week a year, but we also have a large allotment of flex days and sick days that we're allowed to use, so it ends up being about 3 weeks total. And my company is one of the more generous ones that I'm familiar with... I know many who get zero vacation time, some companies go by hours worked. It really depends.

[e_cuyler]

The most I ever got was a month, and that was a union job that I had been at for a few years.

Last corporate type job I had offered 3 weeks for entry level, which I thought was pretty good. Some places are offering furloughs/sabbaticals where you get 20% of your base pay until you return, but few are willing to take advantage of it because they don't want to risk damage to their careers.

[Braunwyn]

Originally Posted by destroycreate

So my question is, how true is this point? Are there major companies that are more generous? Or is 2 weeks the rule? Is there no other alternative? What about UNpaid time off, can an employee ask for such thing?

This is a major deterrent for wanting to move back to the US, my quality of life is vital!

As others have stated, it can vary greatly. At my co, new hires are offered 3 weeks vacation, 5 personal days, and a week or two during christmas (the co closes down during the holidays). Sick days are unlimited. That adds up to 5-6 weeks. But! We are Swiss owned lol. Go figure. My advice would be for you to try to hook up with an international company.