Americans can’t use their vacation days. Vacations have to be approved months ahead of time by your employer, and they hold the final decision whether or not to approve or deny your request.
There's nothing wrong with taking your PTO to just stay home, but it really sucks when that's your only option because even a relatively local vacation is too expensive.
Sometimes I think that's why I don't use as much PTO I should. What's the point, is it to just drive home the fact that my life sucks and I can't afford anything despite spending little on things that I want? I know the point, it's just a rhetorical question and I'm salty that I can have a well established career, deep technical knowledge, and a wealth of other experience and still struggle to make ends meet. My rent is over 40% of my income and I'm lucky compared to others!
Fuck do I hate the US. The purpose of my life is not to produce profits! Why must so much of my life wasted on bullshit?
One does not simply waste PTO on vacation. How would I pay my mortgage if I ever became too sick to work? Or what happens if my kids get sick and I need to stay home to take care of them?
Damn, Americans are abused. Vacations are literally a human right because of their importance to physical and mental health.
Yea, thats another problem in the US.
In Austria you get 25 days vacation.
Sick leave is paid, 6 weeks by the employer, after that the insurance takes over gradually. But it's rarely that long. If you are sick longer than 2 or 3 days you should get a checked by a doctor (which is also free most of the time).
You need to stay home because of sick kids? There's carer's leave too. If you work 40h per week, you get that amount per year.
In communist Belgium I am forced to take my vacation days throughout the year 😔
Cant use a thing if you can't get permission to use the thing while also not often being allowed to cash in the vacation hours for pay to get a fat bonus.
19 vacation days a year for Japan seems high. Most companies start at around 10-12 and scale up to about 20ish. I have been with my company a long time in a higher position, I think I get about 19/year (can roll over one year). We don't get distinct sick days either. It feels like they are factoring in national holidays or something.
I admit I am terrible about using my PTO though, I think I took 5 days last year which is the legally required minimum. Don't be me, take your days off.
