Europeans get 4 weeks or more of paid vacation each year, by law. Why do Americans have to work so hard?

Answer 1

It is called explotation. We have less labor laws to protect our working class than any other western nation.

Answer 2

The reason that Europeans have this is that it's been shown to increase productivity. American employers are more interested in working an employee until he/she quits so they can bring in new people who can be paid less and offered fewer benefits as they think this is the way to increase the bottom line.
More vacation time would be a smarter way to increase the bottom line, but try telling that to someone who is getting a four million dollar bonus to keep operating expenses down.

Answer 3

We don't "have" to. The idea of a paid vacation is only about a century old -- before that it was one of those radical notions put about by unions, socialists, and other anti-American Reds. We gradually gained lots of workers' rights, paid vacation among them, and so did the Europeans. They're a little more extreme, is all. And from the way their economies are performing, they are probably overdoing it.

Answer 4

Europe has a much more civilised approach to all social issues.

If the USA is so successful as per some of the answers here then why is there such a massive discrepency between the haves and the have-nots?

I Europe we do have higher taxes but the general standard of living across ALL socio-economic groups is higher.

Answer 5

Vacation is a cost to business (through lost worker productivity). With more vacation comes higher unemployment and lower wages. Thus, we could have a mandate for 4 weeks of vacation, but there would be consequences.

Answer 6

We don't "have" to do anything. You can choose to work for any company that offers you a vacation package you like.

Government mandated employment benefits are wrong, and they create stagnant growth and high unemployment.

Taxes? What does that mean? Our taxes are lower than most(all?) European countries?

Answer 7

Because you are slaves to big business.
We have higher taxes but the rich pay them.
Workers are far better protected.
No one has to work two jobs and than still can not afford food,housing or health care.
But your politicians consider this socialism and that's a big no no.
Where in fact it's just about sharing and caring about all citizens

Answer 8

Taxes.

Answer 9

Because we carry the economy of the whole world on our backs.

Answer 10

Because Americans are just workaholics.