Why the US has one of the most overworked populations in the world.

[Inquire of God]

Has anyone noticed the erosion of the 40 hour work week, 8 hour day, and weekends off?

Its a disappearing commodity.




There's no doubt there are countries whose population works much harder and longer.

The article is referring to work among developed nations.

I think Mexico is the most overworked and arguably most tired on earth.

If I lived and worked in Mexico I would only accept a job that guaranteed the traditional siesta. The food being what it is I would of course otherwise be in dining heaven.

 

[epronovost]

Lack of social safety network, paid parental leave and very low wages amongst the poor are, in my opinion, a big drivers of this disparity between Americans and people in most other developped nations. I don't think the "the US is a materialistic and greedy culture" has any serious value and is, in my opinion, mostly a stereotype.

 

[sun rise]

Japan used to be worse even having people dying from karoshi (overwork). It still might be worse at least for "salarymen".

 

[PureX]

The U.S. is the Most Overworked Nation in the World

I think greed has a lot to do with it.

Less on people, more on profit.

Seems other nations have found a happy medium where profit and the human element have equilibrium.

How come the US dosent?

We are not a unified people. We are a nation born of speculators and interlopers come here from all over the world looking to exploit a new land (that wasn't new, and was actually someone else's) for our own gain. So we are easily turned against each other by those among us that are still seeking to exploit the place and it's people for their own profit. And many among us still see this ideal of selfish exploitation as a valid enterprise, and even as a virtue.

This is not the story we tell ourselves about our own nature, and about our history, but it is who we are, and who we have been all along. Slavery, child labor, the Robber Barons and industrialists, the war-mongers, and now the big banks and market manipulators and speculators, all exploiting everything and everyone for as much money as they can get. And billions are not enough. No amount of money will ever be enough for them. Because their greed cannot be satiated. It's a hole that cannot be filled. And here in the U.S. we view greed is a good thing. We admire anyone who piles up that much money and we don't care who they hurt doing it.

We say this isn't us, that that's someone else. But the truth is that there is plenty of this in all of us. This selfishness; this self-centered fear that if we don't grab it first, someone else will get it and we'll be left without. So screw the other guy! We grab and grab and grab as much as we can. We work more hours, and the prices go up. So we work more hours, still. And the prices keep going up. Because everyone is out to get as much as they can from us, while we're out to get as much as we can, too.

It's idiocy. And it's killing us. But we can't see our way through the greed, and the fear it generates, and that generates, it. We don't dare be the first one to share. We'll get eaten alive! So this is how we all live. Exhausted, and frightened, and at each other's throats for every crumb. While the 'real greedy and ruthless ones pile up their millions, and billions, and still can't get enough.

 

[SomeRandom]

Lack of social safety network, paid parental leave and very low wages amongst the poor are, in my opinion, a big drivers of this disparity between Americans and people in most other developped nations. I don't think the "the US is a materialistic and greedy culture" has any serious value and is, in my opinion, mostly a stereotype.

Whoa you guys don’t even have paid parental leave?

 

[epronovost]

Whoa you guys don’t even have paid parental leave?

I'm not American and it might have changed recently since it was an electoal promise in common between Democrats and Republicans, but no Americans didn't used to have a paid family leave. It was a patchwork system from State to State and depending on the employer.

 

[SomeRandom]

I'm not American and it might have changed recently since it was an electoal promise in common between Democrats and Republicans, but no Americans didn't used to have a paid family leave. It was a patchwork system from State to State and depending on the employer.

 

[JustGeorge]

Whoa you guys don’t even have paid parental leave?

Nope. Many low income new mothers have to ask their doctors to release them from their six week medical leave, because they can't afford six weeks off with no pay.

When I had my first child, the only reason I was able to take six weeks off was due to the charity of a relative...

 

[SomeRandom]

Nope. Many low income new mothers have to ask their doctors to release them from their six week medical leave, because they can't afford six weeks off with no pay.

When I had my first child, the only reason I was able to take six weeks off was due to the charity of a relative...

That’s.....insane! No wonder you guys lack productivity.
And the US has the audacity to call itself a developed nation.

 

[JustGeorge]

And the US has the audacity to call itself a developed nation.

Yeah, good point...

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

How come the US dosent?

- the US has pretty anti-union laws.
- the US isn't that democratic.

These two factors are linked, I think.

 

[Earthtank]

The U.S. is the Most Overworked Nation in the World

I think greed has a lot to do with it.

Less on people, more on profit.

Seems other nations have found a happy medium where profit and the human element have equilibrium.

How come the US dosent?

its called capitalism, you commie

 

[Flankerl]

- no sick days
6 weeks of 100% of the wages by the employer
after the 6 weeks 70% of the wages by the health insurance for an maximum of 78 weeks

- 24 vacation days per law
25-30 is the standard
obviously fully paid

- after the end of the working day, there must be an uninterrupted rest period of a minimum of 11 hours

- maternity leave from 6 weeks prior to birth to 8 weeks afterwards
fully paid
24 months of parental leave



There are Americans who think that we want to live in their country.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Lack of social safety network, paid parental leave and very low wages amongst the poor are, in my opinion, a big drivers of this disparity between Americans and people in most other developped nations. I don't think the "the US is a materialistic and greedy culture" has any serious value and is, in my opinion, mostly a stereotype.

Which is weird considering how strong the supposedly anti-abortion movement is in the US.

If they actually cared about reducing the number of abortions, they'd look at the stats on why people seek abortions, realize just how huge the groups are who say "I can't afford another child right now" or "I can't balance a child and work" and demand a year or two of paid, job-protected pregnancy and parental leave ASAP.

... though this would only be if they really wanted to do reduce abortions, which their behaviour tells us they don't.

 

[sun rise]

That’s.....insane! No wonder you guys lack productivity.
And the US has the audacity to call itself a developed nation.

In some respects we're the lowest of the low. We put money ahead of just about everything else praying to the "almighty dollar" and, explicitly not so long ago chanting "greed is good".

 

[SomeRandom]

In some respects we're the lowest of the low. We put money ahead of just about everything else praying to the "almighty dollar" and, explicitly not so long ago chanting "greed is good".

And I thought our government was bad. Yeesh!
At least we have some semblance of maternal leave and Paternal leave of course.
I think in light of COVID they introduced an additional Paid Parental leave scheme so people can use it for a little flexibility.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Greed no. To me that's like saying Americans are greedy because we work in a profit based nation. To tell you honestly, since everyone works, who actually profits and have the time to be greedy.

If we weren't set up profit based, we may have a work/life balance.

I'm sure there other countries that have issues too. Why is the US singled out all the time

A lot of countries have higher production rates with lesser manhours, less days, and better rested and happier employees.

 

[Kenny]

The U.S. is the Most Overworked Nation in the World

I think greed has a lot to do with it.

Less on people, more on profit.

Seems other nations have found a happy medium where profit and the human element have equilibrium.

How come the US dosent?

Certainly, for some it has to do with greed.

But I think, overall, it has to do with opportunity offered. People who know that can get a just recompense by opening their own business will put more effort in it. Not only can they help their immediate family, but the love helping others.

 

[SomeRandom]

A lot of countries have higher production rates with lesser manhours, less days, and better rested and happier employees.

Well what’s the old adage? Work smarter not harder.
Happy employees make productive employees. Sure we will grumble but I recall working for a company known as Woolworths. It’s pretty minimum wage after school stuff.
They would be like a sort of Walmart for you Americans. Very big grocery conglomerate. Whilst they are super greedy, they have begrudgingly been made to make certain accomodations for even the kids in their employ.
Under 16s are not permitted to work more than 10 hours a week (for study purposes and you know, child labour laws.)
Under 18s are usually are capped at 15-20. Though this is increased during school holidays.
Maximum 38 hours a week for casual employees. Usually those will be the uni student variety.
45 hours per week for full timers. No split shifts allowed (that used to be a thing.) And a shift can not be above 11 hours for a day. Managers usually break those rules themselves in exchange for a decent salary. So it’s sort of a trade off for those climbing the ladder.
Part time and full timers get all the leave benefits. Sick pay, holiday, maternity/paternity and long service for those loyal after a certain amount of years. Leave hours accrue as you work until a max is reached for each.

Whilst this is not always seen as a particularly skilled job socially speaking, I think most folks would prefer to keep the employees safe and healthy regardless.

Contrast this to what I hear from supermarket employees making ends meat in America and I suddenly feel like praising the Retail Union.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

We are not a unified people. We are a nation born of speculators and interlopers come here from all over the world looking to exploit a new land (that wasn't new, and was actually someone else's) for our own gain. So we are easily turned against each other by those among us that are still seeking to exploit the place and it's people for their own profit. And many among us still see this ideal of selfish exploitation as a valid enterprise, and even as a virtue.

Some were forced here as slaves. Some were shipped of as criminals. Some were brought with no say in the matter as children by their parents. Some of us got here because of massive crop failures and famine where our family come from, where our ancestors just joined the crowd of immigrants coming here in an attempt to make for a better life.
It turns people against each other to be denied our heritage and pigeonholed as someone we aren't.