Vacation and sick leave in the USA?

Faram · Post by **Faram** » 2003-01-31 05:02pm

Just saw a TV show about the USA, a man named Michael Moore did a number about the difference of vacations in USA and Europe.

Just curious how is the vacation / sick leave for you?

Me I have 30 days paid vacation /year and if I am sick more than 5 days I must show a doctor’s certificate that I am sick. Btw sick days 2-15 pay 80% and the company have to foot the bill.

Day 15-300 is 80% of the salary and onwards the government pays the sick leave.

After 300 days it drops to 60%

/edit
The law says 25 days /year (paid) but I have a good deal and get 5 extra days.

Alex Moon · Post by **Alex Moon** » 2003-01-31 05:24pm

I think the standard in the states is two weeks unpaid vacation, plus however many sick days a year. I could be wrong though.

irishmick79 · Post by **irishmick79** » 2003-01-31 05:26pm

It depends on the employer. Some have paid vacation available, some don't, and some allow for more sick time than others. I'm not sure what the minimum guidelines are, but there can be a lot of variation.

Sonnenburg · Post by **Sonnenburg** » 2003-01-31 06:35pm

It's been my experience that paid vacation depends on your experience. Sick days vary way too much to even think about.

Dahak · Post by **Dahak** » 2003-01-31 07:42pm

Here in Germany, you generally have about 5 weeks of paid holidays (not including holidays, of course). And you'll get 100% of your wage in case you're ill.

Darth Fanboy · Post by **Darth Fanboy** » 2003-01-31 07:42pm

vacation depends on experience with the company but also senority. Americans work themselves fuckininsane over here but I guess that the reason we still have a powerful economy even in the weak times. Europen nations tend to have more socialist-style laws to benefit the workers. Its why i'd consider moving if it wasnt for the fact im cursed when learning foreign languages.

We gotta do something about these wealthy conglomerate fuckerz

Faram · Post by **Faram** » 2003-01-31 07:49pm

Darth Fanboy wrote:vacation depends on experience with the company but also senority. Americans work themselves fuckininsane over here but I guess that the reason we still have a powerful economy even in the weak times.

Perhaps but I work to live not live to work.

salm · Post by **salm** » 2003-01-31 08:15pm

Dahak wrote:Here in Germany, you generally have about 5 weeks of paid holidays (not including holidays, of course). And you'll get 100% of your wage in case you're ill.

i think it´s more like 30 days of vacation days. but that´s real vacation days. sick days are sick days not vacation days.

salm · Post by **salm** » 2003-01-31 08:19pm

Darth Fanboy wrote:vacation depends on experience with the company but also senority. Americans work themselves fuckininsane over here but I guess that the reason we still have a powerful economy even in the weak times. Europen nations tend to have more socialist-style laws to benefit the workers. Its why i'd consider moving if it wasnt for the fact im cursed when learning foreign languages.

We gotta do something about these wealthy conglomerate fuckerz

hell yeah! sleep less, work more!
it depends on what kind of job you´ve got. if you´re a worker who´s job is to cling to a conveyor belt and do one and the same move all day long you definately want and need a lot of vacation. if you´ve got a job that you actually like you dont need that much vacation.

TrailerParkJawa · Post by **TrailerParkJawa** » 2003-01-31 10:32pm

I believe there is no federal law in the US that decides vacation time. Im not even sure if there is a state law either. However, almost every decent full time job gives two weeks. Sick days vary wildly. Many companies here in Silicon Valley do someting called PTO ( personal time off ). They combine sick days and vacation together and leave it up to you how to use it. Usually PTO is 15 days.

Basically, the US system of vacation really stinks. At my last company we had 6 holidays and 13 days vacation. Sick days did not exist per se, it was sort of an honor system.

Darth Servo · Post by **Darth Servo** » 2003-01-31 10:38pm

I get about 3 hours and change of both vacation and sick time each for every two week pay period.

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2003-01-31 10:48pm

Two weeks paid vacation is the usual rule of thumb. Sick days greatly vary depending on where you work.

There have been studies done - Americans work more hours than most in the industrialized world (not all, but most). The British work similar hours/week, but have more vacation time.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2003-01-31 10:51pm

phongn wrote:Two weeks paid vacation is the usual rule of thumb. Sick days greatly vary depending on where you work.

There have been studies done - Americans work more hours than most in the industrialized world (not all, but most). The British work similar hours/week, but have more vacation time.

Thought we Brits had the least holiday time (vacation sounds camp

).

I know we work like zee dogz!

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2003-01-31 11:34pm

Admiral Valdemar wrote:
phongn wrote:Two weeks paid vacation is the usual rule of thumb. Sick days greatly vary depending on where you work.

There have been studies done - Americans work more hours than most in the industrialized world (not all, but most). The British work similar hours/week, but have more vacation time.
Thought we Brits had the least holiday time (vacation sounds camp ).

I know we work like zee dogz!

On the average the UK has more time off than Americans. Awhile ago on SB there was a similar thread and I checked out the data: Hours/week was similar but hours/year was not.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2003-02-01 12:19am

phongn wrote:
Admiral Valdemar wrote:
phongn wrote:Two weeks paid vacation is the usual rule of thumb. Sick days greatly vary depending on where you work.

There have been studies done - Americans work more hours than most in the industrialized world (not all, but most). The British work similar hours/week, but have more vacation time.
Thought we Brits had the least holiday time (vacation sounds camp ).

I know we work like zee dogz!
On the average the UK has more time off than Americans. Awhile ago on SB there was a similar thread and I checked out the data: Hours/week was similar but hours/year was not.

Don't seem like it.

*Says the uni student not employed and getting up at 1300 tomorrow*

Sebastin · Post by **Sebastin** » 2003-02-01 01:43am

How much vacation do you get in the military in america?

In germany it´s 24 days/year paid vacation.
(And ca 10 holidays, 4 quartal days and time off as compensation for doing overtime (guard duty, exercises etc.))

Tsyroc · Post by **Tsyroc** » 2003-02-01 06:03am

Sebastin wrote:How much vacation do you get in the military in america?

In germany it´s 24 days/year paid vacation.
(And ca 10 holidays, 4 quartal days and time off as compensation for doing overtime (guard duty, exercises etc.))

The military gives you 30days a year and unused leave carries over to the next year up to a certain upper limit. You are also able to sell back unused leave. Basically a day's leave is worth a day's pay. If you take more than 30days leave at a time you won't earn more leave during that time you are gone.

As for my current vacation/sick days they are one and the same. I earn a little over 7 hours of Paid Time Off for each 80 hours I work. The acrural rate increases the longer I stay here. If I am sick I can call in for 3 days and then I need to have a note from a physician. Since 1987 I've only missed a half of day of work/school because of illness (I'm not wasting any of my vacation time on being sick.

My hospital pays time & a half for working Christmas, New Years, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Memorial Day and Labor Day. Since I don't work Mondays I never work the last two but unless I put in to have it off I always work Thanksgiving because it's on a Thursday.

My hospital will also will grant 3 paid days off in the case of the death in the immediate family (no grandparents although they used to) and these won't be taken out of a person's PTO. These days can be used in addition to the person's own PTO if they have any.

Robert Treder · Post by **Robert Treder** » 2003-02-01 07:18am

It definitely depends on your experience in the company. I make $7.40 an hour, barely over CA minimum wage, and I'm a cashier at Hollywood Video.
I have to show a doctor's note for any absence, before the absence occurs. I do not get paid for absences.
Gotta love it.

Dahak · Post by **Dahak** » 2003-02-01 07:29am

salm wrote:
Dahak wrote:Here in Germany, you generally have about 5 weeks of paid holidays (not including holidays, of course). And you'll get 100% of your wage in case you're ill.
i think it´s more like 30 days of vacation days. but that´s real vacation days. sick days are sick days not vacation days.

Well, I spoke of "working" weeks, which happen to be usually 5 days here in Germany

So it comes down to 5 to 6 weeks of holidays.

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2003-02-02 11:20pm

Admiral Valdemar wrote:
phongn wrote: On the average the UK has more time off than Americans. Awhile ago on SB there was a similar thread and I checked out the data: Hours/week was similar but hours/year was not.
Don't seem like it.

*Says the uni student not employed and getting up at 1300 tomorrow*

I hate you.

::has to leave @ 0730 Eastern Time::

Glocksman · Post by **Glocksman** » 2003-02-02 11:59pm

I get 3 weeks of paid vacation, 6 paid sick days, 13 paid holidays, and up to 18 unpaid days off before I'm fired for attendance.

Did I mention that I'm Union?

Of course, the tradeoff is that the pay system is seniority based. I make $5/hr less than the guy across from me doing the same work just because he's been there longer.

I'd gladly trade in some of that time off for more money.

Knife · Post by **Knife** » 2003-02-03 01:27am

Two weeks does seem to be the standard, but experience and senority not to mention the type of work you do, does factor into it.

My work gives me 6 holiday's and 3 weeks 4 days of vacation a year. Sick leave is based off of X amount per payperiod but can carry over and over and over. I have over 200 hours of sick leave (just incase) but I can use it for emergencies with the wife and/or kids (I hope not) and not just my medical shit.

Andras · Post by **Andras** » 2003-02-03 04:27pm

As a US Govt employee, I'm currently getting 4 hrs annual leave and 4 hrs sick leave each 2 weeks. Thats a total of 13 days each /yr. Eventually I'll get 8 hrs each per 2 weeks, and total 52 days/year. We can carry up to 240 hours on the books, leave accumulated over that will be lost.

Col. Crackpot · Post by **Col. Crackpot** » 2003-02-03 05:15pm

Faram wrote:Just saw a TV show about the USA, a man named Michael Moore did a number about the difference of vacations in USA and Europe.

Just curious how is the vacation / sick leave for you?

Me I have 30 days paid vacation /year and if I am sick more than 5 days I must show a doctor’s certificate that I am sick. Btw sick days 2-15 pay 80% and the company have to foot the bill.

Day 15-300 is 80% of the salary and onwards the government pays the sick leave.

After 300 days it drops to 60%

/edit
The law says 25 days /year (paid) but I have a good deal and get 5 extra days.

most states have what is called TDI -Temporary Disability Insurance. after you are sick for two weeks you collect 70% of your pay from the state through a system you pay into each week through payroll deduction. if you are ill/disabled for longer than the TDI system supports you for you are eligible to collect federal Social Security. As far as individual sick days, it varies. some firms , as well as the government pay a certain number of days a year. others don't.

as for vacation, there are no laws mandating it.the company i work for starts you with 2 weeks paid vacation to start and then an extra week every five years with the company. you also get 2 days berevement pay if you lose a family member.

TrailerParkJawa · Post by **TrailerParkJawa** » 2003-02-03 05:16pm

Robert Treder wrote:It definitely depends on your experience in the company. I make $7.40 an hour, barely over CA minimum wage, and I'm a cashier at Hollywood Video.
I have to show a doctor's note for any absence, before the absence occurs. I do not get paid for absences.
Gotta love it.

I remember doing that once when I was a kid, my mom spent 50 bucks at the local clinic to get a note so I could be "excused" from a shift that paid 25 bucks or so ( this was when min wage was $3.35 )

You cant do jack where you live on $7.40/hour, I would tell them to fuck off if I call in sick and they ask me to bring a doctors note. I believe in CA they only have the right to ask after 3 consecutive days.

--edit:

It makes me really mad when companies have stupid ass policies like that. Do they even offer medical?

StarDestroyer.Net BBS

Vacation and sick leave in the USA?

Vacation and sick leave in the USA?

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