In a discussion of why people sell their boats we were talking about all the boats that don't get used because the owners just don't have time. For those of you who still work, would you sacrifice a little pay for more time off? Given a choice between a raise and more time off which would you choose.
I had a survey done some time back as I was trying to see if my feelings about people feeling they have so little time was right and how that ranked on their list of priorities. I was also trying to make a change to increase vacation time. I found out people seldom make choices that give them more time, but say given a choice they'd choose it.
Normally when you ask people about the bad things of their job 2/3 always say they're underpaid. But that was outranked by "I don't have enough time to spend with my family."
This is a US phenomena although some other countries join in. But the average US worker works 400 more hours per year than the average German worker. 299 more than France. 119 more than the UK. And if you go to specific jobs some are worse than others.
So, I posed this question. If you were given the choice between a 10% raise of 5 more weeks per year of vacation, which would you choose? Now, it's easy to answer that in a hypothetical situation but differently than you would if truly given that choice. Often when one says it's not about the money, it is. A huge majority said they'd choose the vacation. However, they raised one huge caveat and that was if their spouse got more too.
Companies equate hours worked to productivity when all studies and science show it doesn't relate and can even decrease productivity when pushed beyond a point. The average middle to upper level manager is physically and mentally exhausted. We don't get enough sleep.
In our small businesses we employee some incredible people who could get higher paying jobs if they went out into the marketplace and pushed for it. But none of them could have the lifestyle we afford them. Yet, all we're really doing is copying what most of Europe does. Most of Europe has laws requiring a minimum of 20 to 28 days off per year. The US stands alone requiring no vacation. In France, if you work more than 35 hours a week you get extra compensation or more time off. 39 hours is the limit. We found one major company that gave up to 9.5 weeks vacation plus 10 holidays. Most German employees get 30 days (some 25) plus 9-14 bank holidays.
I cut my hours back when I fell in love. I'd already limited the hours of those working for me, but I was personally working 55 hours a week, 50-52 weeks a year. I quickly changed to 40 hours per week and took my 3 weeks of vacation, before renegotiating it to 4 weeks a year later. Someone knocked sense into my head. But I was lucky to be in position to change.
I just think a huge percentage of the boats that never move, don't move because the owner doesn't have the time or energy. Then later when he gets that, health becomes an issue.
So curious to hear from those of you still working and if you're not then look back and say what you would have given for more time off to spend with family.
I had a survey done some time back as I was trying to see if my feelings about people feeling they have so little time was right and how that ranked on their list of priorities. I was also trying to make a change to increase vacation time. I found out people seldom make choices that give them more time, but say given a choice they'd choose it.
Normally when you ask people about the bad things of their job 2/3 always say they're underpaid. But that was outranked by "I don't have enough time to spend with my family."
This is a US phenomena although some other countries join in. But the average US worker works 400 more hours per year than the average German worker. 299 more than France. 119 more than the UK. And if you go to specific jobs some are worse than others.
So, I posed this question. If you were given the choice between a 10% raise of 5 more weeks per year of vacation, which would you choose? Now, it's easy to answer that in a hypothetical situation but differently than you would if truly given that choice. Often when one says it's not about the money, it is. A huge majority said they'd choose the vacation. However, they raised one huge caveat and that was if their spouse got more too.
Companies equate hours worked to productivity when all studies and science show it doesn't relate and can even decrease productivity when pushed beyond a point. The average middle to upper level manager is physically and mentally exhausted. We don't get enough sleep.
In our small businesses we employee some incredible people who could get higher paying jobs if they went out into the marketplace and pushed for it. But none of them could have the lifestyle we afford them. Yet, all we're really doing is copying what most of Europe does. Most of Europe has laws requiring a minimum of 20 to 28 days off per year. The US stands alone requiring no vacation. In France, if you work more than 35 hours a week you get extra compensation or more time off. 39 hours is the limit. We found one major company that gave up to 9.5 weeks vacation plus 10 holidays. Most German employees get 30 days (some 25) plus 9-14 bank holidays.
I cut my hours back when I fell in love. I'd already limited the hours of those working for me, but I was personally working 55 hours a week, 50-52 weeks a year. I quickly changed to 40 hours per week and took my 3 weeks of vacation, before renegotiating it to 4 weeks a year later. Someone knocked sense into my head. But I was lucky to be in position to change.
I just think a huge percentage of the boats that never move, don't move because the owner doesn't have the time or energy. Then later when he gets that, health becomes an issue.
So curious to hear from those of you still working and if you're not then look back and say what you would have given for more time off to spend with family.