A Federal Paid Vacation Mandate?
network June 3rd, 2009
Andrew Kang is a Graduate Policy Assistant for the Sloan Work and Family Research Network.
Anyone who works knows that the vacation is vanishing in America. Indeed, only 14% of Americans take two weeks of vacation each year. One recent poll revealed that 50% of all Americans take less than one week of vacation each year. In challenging economic times, the trend is even more pronounced.
The U.S. Congress recently announced the Paid Vacation Act of 2009, sponsored by Congressman Alan Grayson (D-FL). Under the Act, employers of 100 or more people will be required to provide at least one week of paid vacation time to every eligible employee. After three years, the Act will expand the requirement to companies employing 50 or more people, and increase the paid vacation to two weeks for employers of 100 or more. To be eligible, employees need to have worked for the company for one year. Part-time workers are also eligible for the paid vacation as long as they work at least 25 hours per week and 1250 hours per year.
This bill is the first ever proposal to federally mandate paid vacation in this country. Historically, the Federal Government has been reluctant to impose a paid vacation requirement on U.S. businesses. Unlike most industrialized countries, including all of Europe, which typically requires four weeks of paid vacation per year, U.S. workers are not guaranteed any paid vacation time. Around the globe, there are currently 147 countries that have some form of paid vacation law. In addition to the political implications, the bill directly addresses and supports the health (both physical and mental) of the American worker. Numerous medical studies have established that regular vacations can reduce the rates of heart disease and depression by nearly half.
The bill was introduced on Thursday, May 21, at the Cannon House Office Building Terrace in Washington, D.C. by Congressman Grayson together with John de Graaf, Executive Director of the public policy group Take Back Your Time. We will certainly keep you posted as the bill makes its way through Congress.
I’ll be emailing my representatives to vote yes on this bill. I think it will only increase employee productivity overall and maybe help slow the degradation of the family. People are working and stressed out about so many things these days.
Even if it was just a “stay-cation” or an extra vacation day that people can use for 3 day weekends, it would help.
I love to vacation, but I will take brief breaks, for example 7 days, thank you
This bill is 60 years too late, the mandate should be for at least 4 weeks paid and 6 even for a few years of service. Taking off 10% of the year really isn’t that big a deal. People would be much more productive and not be as miserable knowing they have to wait another 6 months to take off.
That is true, in Europe it is standard to have 4 weeks paid vacation. In fact it is almost encouraged to take time off. Furthermore, whatever days you dont take, roll over to the next year. Americans are hard working the problem is a lack of unions to represent the workforce. The United States of Corporations has consolidated too much power and are now squeezing out whatever they can out of the average american worker.
Peter Karwinski