E4 Why Americans Don’t Use Their Vacation Days

📅There’s a stereotype that Americans are always working—but is it true? Do American workers really take vacations? And if not, why not?

In today’s episode of the Learn English Podcast, we explore an important part of American life: work culture and vacation days. Americans receive fewer vacation days than workers in many other developed countries. Even with less time off, many Americans still do not use all of their vacation days each year. So why do so many Americans skip vacations?

In this episode, we talk about U.S. work culture and explain why it can be difficult for Americans to take time off, even if they want to. We’ll also look at the idea of “living to work” versus “working to live,” and how this way of thinking shapes daily life. Whether you are learning English, curious about American culture, or want to understand workplace issues, this episode is for you! 🎧

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📝Vocabulary List:

1) stereotype: a simplified and often negative image or idea of a particular type of person or thing

2) work culture: the shared beliefs and practices of a company or industry related to work

3) paid time off: time away from work for which an employee is still paid

4) to live to work instead of working to live: to prioritize work over personal life

5) Contract worker: An employee hired for a specific task or period, usually without long-term employment benefits.

6) Promotion: the action of raising someone to a higher office or rank.

7) Falling behind: to fail to keep up with others or with what is expected.

8) Burnout: physical or emotional exhaustion, typically resulting from intense or prolonged stress or frustration.

9) Counterintuitive: Contrary to what one would intuitively expect; surprising.

10) Great Resignation: a term used to describe the large number of people who quit their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

📜SOURCES

BBC: https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20211209-why-its-so-hard-for-some-workers-to-ask-for-time-off

Bloomberg News: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-03-30/less-than-half-of-us-workers-use-all-their-vacation-days#xj4y7vzkg