Twenty-four hours 'til blast off!

As of tomorrow (Friday, July 20th), I will be on VACATION! I have to admit to feeling some guilt being paid to ride my bike, visit with friends, sit on a beach and go to rock shows in Chicago. Then I looked at some statistics. May I share? Minimum Vacation Time Around the World, mandated by labor laws of each country: Australia 4 weeks, Austria 5 weeks, Belgium 20 days, Brazil 30 days, China not required, Croatia 18 days, Denmark 6 weeks, Finland 35 days, France 5 weeks, Germany 4 weeks, shall I go on? Ireland 20 days, India 60 days, Italy 20-30 days, Latvia 4 weeks, Netherlands 4 weeks, New Zealand 4 weeks, Russia 28 days, Spain 30 days, Sweden 25 to 32 days (depending on age), Tunisia 30 days off...a year...minimum...vacation days.

The US? Not required, but 7 to 21 days is standard for most employers. Do you know the US is the only advanced economy that does not guarantee its workers any paid vacation or holidays? As a result, 1 in 4 US workers do not receive any paid vacation or paid holidays, mostly affecting lower wage and part time workers and employees of small businesses.* (*taken from CEPR)

Well, no, I didn't know that until I recently read it...making me all the more grateful I work for a company that allows for vacation time because we really do deserve to have time to spend with family and friends; to reconnect with who we really are without all of the titles...so we can bring those good feelings back into the workplace and be even more productive and happy! I remember what it felt like when I was employed doing something I didn't enjoy with little to no vacation time. Now I look forward to my time off AND I look forward to coming back to work...a win/win. Twenty-four hours 'til blast off! WOOOO HOOOO!!!