Living to Work

Americans may be the most overworked, vacation-deprived people on Earth. On average, we get 14 vacation days a year—less than other Western countries—and the typical U.S. employee only uses 10 of them. And 37% of workers take less than seven consecutive days off a year.

"Overwork in America,” a study by the Families and Work Institute, found that one in three employees experiences feeling overworked as a chronic condition. “The very skills that are fundamental to succeeding in this global economy—moving quickly from task to task with little time for recovery in between, facing many interruptions and working outside normal work hours, including vacations—can become detrimental,” the study reported.

E-mails, computers and beepers have blurred the line between work and home. In addition, many firms tie raises to performance. In service businesses that have no clear-cut way to measure performance, this means rewards sometimes go to those who work the longest hours.

The respondents to PARADE’s annual survey emphasize that having some control over their hours is a major plus. “The flexibility is the beauty of my job,” says Linda Lutich, a flight attendant who earned $48,400 last year. “My hourly wage is $50.65, and it’s my choice as to how many hours I fly each month.”

Niedja Fedrigo, who earned $34,500 teaching at the University of Michigan, also prizes the flexibility she has. After “the inspiration I get from my students,” she says control over her schedule is the No. 1 reason she enjoys her job. Fedrigo has Fridays off and four months free to do research and travel.

Few workers are that lucky. Some companies have made changes, but many haven’t responded to employees’ desire for flexible schedules that make it easier to balance work and family life.

Source: Parade

Allowing employees to work on flexible schedule (when possible) would be a good boost for their morale and is good for the environment. It boosts morale because we can schedule our work around our personal life, rather than the other way around. It is good for the environment because roads will be less congested as everyone wouldn't leave to work at the same time. This way, we spend less time on the road, spend less gas, less emissions, and hence better environment. Of course, if everyone car pools, then the rigid work schedule might make sense. Most of us live for working than working for a living. And hence I like Homer Simpson for his words with infinite wisdom "To alcohol, the cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems."