Vacation Starvation

Article Tools

Print

E-mail

Comments

RSS

With the facts, fellow travelers, we can build a consensus in this country that 1) we're maxed out, 2) we don't have to live this way and, most importantly, 3) it's counterproductive for business to burn out employees-mistakes and hiring costs are high, retention low. One software company based in North Carolina, SAS Institute, has reportedly saved 'tens of millions' of dollars in turnover costs with an employee-friendly policy of no overtime and a 35-hour week, according to a study quoted in the New York Times. The common perception is that multiweek vacations could never happen in the U.S. Business would never go for Euro benefits. Well, they already do. Four-week vacation packages for management are commonplace at major U.S companies. We just need to spread the wealth. And here's how: I propose that every American who has worked at a job for at least a year get three weeks off, going to four weeks after three years-by federal law, as they do in Europe. Work to Live, will be pressing-with your help.

The time has never been more ripe to change the system. Nine years of unprecedented economic boom times have created a full-employment economy. Companies from McDonald's to dotcoms are scrambling to find employees. It's a seller's market. If we can't get this issue on the table now, when workers are feeling confident and employers generous, we may as well bronze those backpacks. And there's one more auspicious sign. It's a national political season. There are votes to be won, candidates to be grilled on the quality-of-life issue of vacation time.

I made some calls to the campaigns of the leading presidential contenders to see if any of them was brave enough, or smart enough, to address the issue. I found plenty of support-at the worker bee level. At George W. Bush headquarters, an aide answered my pitch for more vacation time with: 'That sounds great. We need that here.' But no support from George W.

'You've got my support,' laughed the spokesperson for John McCain. Would her ballyhooed 'maverick' boss be willing to stick his neck out on this issue? She called me back later and said, 'Senator McCain is a strong supporter of family vacations, but he would not support any legislative mandate for vacation time.'

None of the candidates had a position on vacation time, not surprisingly, since it had never come up before. Vice President Al Gore was too busy getting out the vote in New Hampshire for a comment. Bill Bradley's office said the senator had a detailed proposal for family leave but didn't have anything on vacations. Of course, even if the candidates were aware of the issue, supporting more time off would be seen as a colossally bad political move-anti-business, instant suicide.

RSS | Comments | E-mail | Print