We all know that Americans work long hours. But did you know that we take fewer vacation days than workers in almost every major nation on earth?
According to a report from the Union Bank of Switzerland, the average American gets 28 days off a year. That compares to an average of 47 days in Europe, or 2 1/2 more weeks than we get here. Workers get 41 vacation days in Amsterdam, 59 in Berlin, 65 days in Sydney, and 82 in Mexico City.
Virtually the only cities where workers take fewer vacation days than we do are in the Far East--only 20 days off in Tokyo, or 19 in Seoul.
The two lessons I draw from this are, first, that Americans work harder and enjoy life less; and second, it doesn't have to be this way.