this post was submitted on 31 Dec 2024
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Late Stage Capitalism
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Yes, I definitely used your words against you unfairly to prove how silly your original premise is. You have struggled like anyone else to get where you are although, let's be frank, you are clearly privileged.
I don't mean that in a rude way either, just that you probably have marketable skills with a good job history and perhaps even an education to boot.
Think about it this way. If the government guaranteed us all a good amount of vacation time you would be free to seek other better compensating employers without fear of losing that benefit.
I know healthcare in the US is also a big factor. I personally know many people who chose not to leave their job for fear of losing their coverage. I know people who had cancer but would not stop working because they could not afford to lose their coverage.
There are problems and they are very bad. So I guess I agree with you now. We shouldn't be shitting on things pointlessly. We should be having real conversations about the issues we face.
For sure, I recognize I have some privileges. This includes the paid-time-off allotted to me by my US employer. However, just like the majority of people, the level of privilege is a mixed bag. With heart complications this year, I managed to max out my health insurance deductible a few months before the end of the year. Unfortunately, instead of covering the full cost of the remaining procedures my doctor requested, the insurance provider decided to reject all of my claims after the deductible. Surely, this is not privilege.
As you said, we should have real conversations about the issues we face. My original comment was to reject the unfair premise of the OP, which purposely chose an above-average vacation paid for by a European company and compared it to a significantly below average US vacation, that coincidentally needed to be fully spent on medical recovery. By providing an opposite and personal US-based example, instead of a biased generalization, I hoped these flaws will be more evident.
Furthermore, I do appreciate your willingness to engage in honest conversation. Your responses did lead me to do some research on actual attempts to make progress with paid-time-off minimums. For the lurkers, the most recent attempt is The Protected Time Off Act, introduced to congress in March of 2024. This would provide a two-week minimum paid leave, accruing after 60 days of employment. Please write to your representatives if you want to see this become law.
Also, for those looking for a solid career without an overpriced college degree, look in into local manufacturing. Stuff is made everywhere, and smaller manufacturers are more likely to value internal experience and, in my opinion, treat their employees well. At my employer it's not unusual for machine operators to get promotions into technician positions (because they know the machines and processes). For the same reason, it's not unusual for technicians to enter engineering roles (we design most of our machines in-house).