"No Paid Vacation Days" By Greg Hernandez

Stuck in Hibernation Mode? America will not help you.

Would it not be nice to take a couple of weeks off and travel to the Bahamas? Imagine leaving all of this snow, ice, slush, and general hazardous mess that  New York City has become behind. Drop the shovel and pack your surfboard instead. You could do that if you had the money. But no, instead, you are working, taking the subway or metro north to your job. Your snow boots have become your best friend. The temperature fluctuates on a daily basis, yet their is one constant, that is day dreaming of a warmer climate. Your elbow slips off of your desk and you must regain focus. Its back to work for you. You take a sip of that coffee and brush those crazy thoughts of vacation aside as your fingers hit the keyboard. Meanwhile, in France, there are many people who are busy day dreaming on their day off.

A report from the "Center for Economic and Policy Research Graph summarizes the legal right to paid vacation for 21 of the richest countries in the world. From left to right, countries are ordered from most generous (France, 30 days) to the least generous (the United States, 0 days)."

-Belgium 20 days, Brazil 30 days, Chile 15 days, Denmark 25 + 9 public holidays, Germany 30 days, Iran 4 weeks, Lithuania 28 days, Netherlands 4 weeks, New Zealand 4 weeks, Panama, 30 consecutive days + 10 public holidays, Peru 30 days, Russia 28- 52 for those in the extreme North, United Kingdom 28 days.

Check out more statistics surrounding the discrepancy of the advances in employee relations from other industrialized countries versus America.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/tanyamohn/2013/08/13/paid-time-off-forget-about-it-a-report-looks-at-how-the-u-s-compares-to-other-countries/

 "Almost 1-in-4 Americans do not receive any paid vacation or paid holidays, trailing far behind most of the rest of the world’s rich nations, according to the report."

College students enjoy the accumulated snow days, while those of us who already graduated loathe them. The students have the right mind-set about Spring Break though. Off to Cancun for a fun time to blow off steam, get wild, have sex, and create unforgettable/forgettable experiences, memories, and regrets. 

Americans should not have to suffer year in and year out through the unnecessary grind of work. We deserve more time for leisure and exploration. It could in fact make us a more cultured nation. Why are citizens in other countries renowned for being more sophisticated than we are? They look better, healthier, sexier, are more desirable, more alive than us because they are well traveled. Traveling is easily auspicious.

We are stuck. Many Americans cannot afford to travel to places other than their homelands to visit relatives. This is not conducive for our well beings. It is unfortunate that America cognitively shackles its citizens and does not allow them to travel with economic ease.  The idea that electronics, television shows, movies, sports all year round, celebrity gossip/scandals, the gym, video games, naps, and most of all our quick weekends are enough is contrived. Everything is far from copacetic. The rich who can afford to travel annually to new places and discover new things are envied by the poor. Earth is a vast place. Earth is more than New York City.

"Exploring new environments releases dopamine, which drives learning and may slow aging." Nico Bunzeck Ph.d. a neuroscientist at the University of Hamburg Germany.

America should lead the world in paid vacation days. "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness," is an asinine phrase. Politicians rhetorically promote jobs and education, however part-time employment has risen and college tuition rises every year. Forget the minimum wage increase, let's increase the paid vacation days from 0 to 40. All employers should be mandated by law to give paid vacation days. America must make room within its budget to accommodate all who work.

If nothing else, I must ask one question: Where is this nation going?