Why its only 12days paid leave in a year here, compare to other countries?

Question

Normally, people loves to go for longer vacation, but I dont understand why in America, workers are just getting 12days a year as leave,compared to other countries 30days is standard so workers can spend more time with distant relatives or travel around USA and abroad.

Answer 1

Actually, the law in the USA doesn't require any employer to give vacation time. Family medical leave is required, if you have a medical emergency in your family, but as far as actual vacations go/leave go, there's no law requiring any such thing.

I don't know why there isn't a law. God knows Congress likes to pass laws about everything else, I don't see why they can't give us mandatory paid vacation, and no, that wouldn't drive small businesses out of business, it would make them more competitive. If everyone has to face the same changes, then the status quo doesn't ultimately change, and you aren't affected any moreso than any other company. Other countries have thriving economies, and I don't see why we can't have paid vacation for all our workers as well as a good economy.

Answer 2

I have 25 days of paid holiday per year, but with all extras (like working 40 hours per week in actuality but 38 hours on contract, getting those 2 hours as days, and overtime) I manage to get 40 days a year.
I do not take all of them in one go, but like to leave work for 6 weeks every 5 years or so.
But whether I am away for 2 weeks or for 8, the company needs to replace me. (And they do.)
As long as the people go at different dates there is no real problem.
All people work better, more efficient, after having been away.

I have always pitied the average USA worker, with no more than 2 weeks to go somewhere, many do not even dare to take both weeks in one go, as their employers might think they are less than loyal.

We do not have sick-leave unless we are ill or paid leave when relatives are ill, but we can get un-paid leave if the situation is urgent, otherwise we would mostly take holiday days for leave like that.
And when we are ill, the days are not counted, you stay home as long as needed. (With health checks and surprise checks to make sure you are real ill!)

PS, by law the Dutch need to get 15 days, when working 40 hours per week. But if an employer is not giving more he will not get any people working for him.

Answer 3

I think it depends on the field you work in and maybe staffing and productivity. I know I get more than that per year but I prefer to take one to two weeks every couple of months instead of lumping it together. There are others at my job who take a month at a time, but it really makes a big difference when one person is gone for a long time. It can spread the rest of the workforce thin, everyone has to work harder to compensate for the loss of that one person.