In many parts of Europe, it’s common for workers to take off weeks at a time, especially during the summer. Envious Americans say it’s time for the U.S. to follow suit.

Some 66% of U.S. workers say companies should adopt extended vacation policies, like a month off in August, in their workplaces, according to a Morning Consult survey of 1,047 U.S. adults.

  • RegularGoose
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    1 year ago

    If you’re going for a whole month off, why August, the hottest, shittiest month of the year?

    • donuts@kbin.social
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      1 year ago

      So you can go somewhere that isn’t hot and shitty or so you don’t have to work while it’s hot and shitty (air conditioning is still very rare in Europe).

      • RegularGoose
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        1 year ago

        If you’re an American, no, you probably can’t afford to go somewhere nicer.

      • gazter@aussie.zone
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        1 year ago

        I don’t know where this concept of air conditioning being rare in Europe comes from.

        • Isthisreddit@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          Old buildings are hard to retrofit a modern central air AC system into, and Europe has a lot of old buildings. Also, from an American viewpoint, Europe is much higher in latitude that the USA, so it’s like Canadian weather which is usually believed to be cooler. The USA is more of in line with middle eastern latitude

          • vodka@lemm.ee
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            1 year ago

            While I don’t know for most of Europe, almost everywhere I’ve been in Northern Europe has had a decent chunk of home have Inverter Heat Pumps installed. Don’t really ever see buildings retrofit a central AC system when separate heat pumps per unit do the job.

            • Isthisreddit@lemmy.world
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              1 year ago

              I traveled through Europe this summer during the heatwave. The hostels were fucking saunas lol. As a traveler I was not staying at people’s houses where they might have a decent ac system

              • vodka@lemm.ee
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                1 year ago

                I’ve never been to a hostel, but I can see that type of cheap accommodation not having any sort of cooling yeah. Especially since it honestly hasn’t been much of a need for the one week above 25c a year… Too bad that’s now more like 3 months

    • lunarul@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      July and August are most common because they overlap with summer break from school, which means families can plan a trip together.

      • RegularGoose
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        1 year ago

        Everyone crowding all the public places with their shrieking banshees at the same time just makes the idea even less appealing. I’d almost rather be at work than have to spend my vacation time around that.

          • frickineh@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            I mean, I’d prefer to just have enough leave to actually take a month off when I want to take it off, rather than being told my office is closing for one specific month. Saying you don’t want to have a forced vacation time with a million kids doesn’t mean you buy in to the bullshit system in the US.

            • lunarul@lemmy.world
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              1 year ago

              Nobody is forcing people, it’s just the most common choice for the reason given above (also because a lot of people choose beach destinations for their vacations, and it’s the best time for that). Everyone is free to use their days off when they want to and not everyone chooses summer vacation.

    • doggle@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Going to the beach is nicer in a swimsuit than a heavy coat and mittens.

      I’d rather do pretty much anything in the heat of Summer than during any of the winter months.

      • RegularGoose
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        1 year ago

        There are more than two seasons, and the others are both far more tolerable than summer or winter.

          • RegularGoose
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            1 year ago

            Sure, but we’re talking specifically about the US. August is typically the hottest time of year in essentialy every part of the country, aside from maybe Hawaii and San Diego, where the weather barely changes.

    • vodka@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      I enjoy taking 4-6 weeks off when it is the hottest here in Europe, and going to the south of New Zealand for a nice holiday in cold temperatures. Flights are also surprisingly affordable when you plan it 6+ months in advance!

      • RegularGoose
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        1 year ago

        Most Americans can’t afford to vacation in another state, let alone another hemisphere.

        You know that stereotype you guys have about Americans being untravelled and ignorant of other cultures? Well, it’s accurate, but it’s not because we’re arrogant or don’t give a shit; it’s because 2/3 of us live paycheck to paycheck. The thought of vacationing overseas is absurd and fantastical when you’re too busy worrying about the fact that you can’t save enough to retire or afford to get your car fixed when it breaks down and gets you fired for missing work because you used both of your sick days last month when you were violently ill, which, by the way, you didn’t get treatment for because it costs too much and your insurance only partially covers it.

      • RegularGoose
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        1 year ago

        October by far. Still warm enough to do stuff, cool enough that the heat doesn’t make me want to kill myself, and the trees don’t look barren and depressing like they do for most of spring and later in the fall.