Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live Saturday
Learning From Rest of World to Take Time Off
Aired August 30, 2003 - 14:47 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: When it comes to taking time off from work, Americans it seems have a lot to learn form the rest of the world. You see, other countries have learned the fine art of vacation. CNN's Maggie Lake crunches the holiday numbers for us.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MAGGIE LAKE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. It's a well-known expression, but one Americans are not heeding.
Compared to other industrialized countries, Americans get almost no vacation. While German and Italian workers average 30 days off a year and the British 25, the average U.S. worker gets only 10. Even China ranks higher, with an average of 15 days off a year.
Experts say the lack of holiday can be traced to corporate America's desire to excel. The common thinking among many executives is that the more hours worked, the more profit made. Another theory is that to be a leading company in this time of globalization, you have to be able to serve customers 24/7.
That work ethic has made many businesses and a few of their employees rich. Out of the global Fortune 500, 38 percent are American. But advocates of more vacation time say the long work hours are taking a seriously toll on the wider population.
JOE ROBINSON, WORK TO LIVE: All of this overwork has a tremendous impact on people's health, on their family lives, and on society. We have rampant stress burnout and depression in the workplace.
LAKE: In addition to cutting down on health bills, lobbyists say that giving Americans more time off would allow them to pursue more leisure activities, and in turn boost tourism and entertainment spending. It's a scenario that the Chinese government has tried with some success. But economists say the costs associated with proposals to increase American holiday time far outweigh the benefits.
STUART HOFFMAN, PNC FINANCIAL SERVICES: To mandate a number of paid vacation days across the country I think would be counterproductive. It would cause costs to rise for business, and that would get passed along to consumers. So what might seem like a good idea on the face of it would cost everybody more money.
LAKE (on camera): For now, it seems unlikely that Americans will change their hardworking ways. That may disappoint many craving more rest and relaxation, but at least there's still the weekend.
Maggie Lake, CNN New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired August 30, 2003 - 14:47 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: When it comes to taking time off from work, Americans it seems have a lot to learn form the rest of the world. You see, other countries have learned the fine art of vacation. CNN's Maggie Lake crunches the holiday numbers for us.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MAGGIE LAKE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. It's a well-known expression, but one Americans are not heeding.
Compared to other industrialized countries, Americans get almost no vacation. While German and Italian workers average 30 days off a year and the British 25, the average U.S. worker gets only 10. Even China ranks higher, with an average of 15 days off a year.
Experts say the lack of holiday can be traced to corporate America's desire to excel. The common thinking among many executives is that the more hours worked, the more profit made. Another theory is that to be a leading company in this time of globalization, you have to be able to serve customers 24/7.
That work ethic has made many businesses and a few of their employees rich. Out of the global Fortune 500, 38 percent are American. But advocates of more vacation time say the long work hours are taking a seriously toll on the wider population.
JOE ROBINSON, WORK TO LIVE: All of this overwork has a tremendous impact on people's health, on their family lives, and on society. We have rampant stress burnout and depression in the workplace.
LAKE: In addition to cutting down on health bills, lobbyists say that giving Americans more time off would allow them to pursue more leisure activities, and in turn boost tourism and entertainment spending. It's a scenario that the Chinese government has tried with some success. But economists say the costs associated with proposals to increase American holiday time far outweigh the benefits.
STUART HOFFMAN, PNC FINANCIAL SERVICES: To mandate a number of paid vacation days across the country I think would be counterproductive. It would cause costs to rise for business, and that would get passed along to consumers. So what might seem like a good idea on the face of it would cost everybody more money.
LAKE (on camera): For now, it seems unlikely that Americans will change their hardworking ways. That may disappoint many craving more rest and relaxation, but at least there's still the weekend.
Maggie Lake, CNN New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
