Not how they do it in PHILADELPHIA

[MikeH]

The best thing about America, is that they've persuaded you that all the most depressingly **** things about your country are things to be proud of.

Yeah, we have to work 24/7 every day until we die because we can't afford to see a doctor, but at least we're not doing something that might be considered "socialist"! God bless US!

[Kidlicious]

Most of us wouldn't post as much if we weren't at work so much.

[MikeH]

Exactly. Being @ work for longer doesn't mean you are doing more work.

[C0ckney]

The best thing about America, is that they've persuaded you that all the most depressingly **** things about your country are things to be proud of.

Yeah, we have to work 24/7 every day until we die because we can't afford to see a doctor, but at least we're not doing something that might be considered "socialist"! God bless US!

it's pretty funny but at the same time, pretty sad.

[BeBMan]

Re "the gov is forcing companies to give too much holiday": I have no idea how it is in the UK, but what we have in Krautland is a minimal standard required by law, while practically most people get more days off. I don't see how the gov is responsbile for that.

[Kidlicious]

Exactly. Being @ work for longer doesn't mean you are doing more work.

But the fact is that we do more work.

[MikeH]

Re "the gov is forcing companies to give too much holiday": I have no idea how it is in the UK, but what we have in Krautland is a minimal standard required by law, while practically most people get more days off. I don't see how the gov is responsbile for that.

Full time workers are required to be allowed 28 days, including national holidays. Which is ususally 20 days + 8 public holidays. Though we've had 9 public holidays the last two years.

I don't have the figures but I would say 25 days + public holidays is very common. I get 28 + 8 now.

28 + 9 this year and next.

[C0ckney]

here in brasil it's usual to take at least one month off per year (and generally people take it as a block). we also have an insane amount of public holidays.

in my job i can take as much time off as i like.

[BeBMan]

But the fact is that we do more work.

We accomplish more instead

[Kidlicious]

We accomplish more instead

Well you have to because of all the problems that come with your socialism

[MikeH]

Yeah. Curse our longer life expectancy.

[Kidlicious]

That's not because of socialism. It's because not many of you get shot by jealous husbands in your youth.

[MikeH]

We don't get shot because we don't have guns because of our fascist/communist/freedom hating laws.

[Kidlicious]

Oh I better not go there

[Traianvs]

Exactly. Being @ work for longer doesn't mean you are doing more work.

I have heard from a number of people, including some from the United States, that North-Americans do indeed work more hours, but that they work less efficiently.

That is, it's better to focus and finish work in a single block of time, instead of taking a long day with a lot of breaks and other interruptions. That's true for 'intellectually challenging' jobs anyway, as it's impossible to stay focused an entire day (so you need some distractions, chatting with colleagues or taking breaks etc). You need to give your brain some rest. I can imagine it's the same thing for physical work really.

It's anecdotal evidence, but it makes sense to me.