Comments by "Helmuth Schultes" (@helmuthschultes9243) on "American Reacts to Why U.S. Vacation Policies Are HORRIBLE Compared to Europe" video.

  1. Australia has many public holidays, but also standard is 20 paid holidays, but not just paid days, but 17.5% loaded pay. Plus 8 days sick leave each year, originally not roling over but during my working time that carried over and half paidvout on leaving yhe job. Some companies even allow more holidays and sick allowance depending on job. In my case on annual contract pay, there was also an annual bonus paid on company and personal performance, with company being around 60% of the bonus and had even been 100% for sometime. I had a job that involved travel for car development testing, both within Australia and overseas duties. Typical were four to six local trips of upto 2 weeks, and many years one or two overseas trips typically a month. Most overseas trips one year was three test trips of almost a month, plus two sales/technical trips of two weeks. Longest overseas trip was 5 1/2 months, and over a decade several up to three months. Yes not typical job, rather envied by some/many at work. Even had 3 weeks away, and on arrival home, wanted to take a couple of days before going to the office. All paid workvtime, to get a late Friday phone call to go to the office on Saturday, book a flight to Swden, get technical info for a car electronics roject I had no direct involvement in, important was to be there in Swden by Monday morning, even authorised to book first class if nothing lower available, got business class. But booking had a problem, no valid account authorisation. I managed to get it booked to the just completed trip account number by the airline, and departed just on mid afternoon Saturday, on a 1 month trip to Sweden, to rescue the project from some real muckups. Due to timing of my various work travel needs, I often could not take normal holidays, as evident much of some years was spent on work travel, and I was not generally prepared to just squander holidays to use them up, and legally companies are restricted from just payout of untaken leave. I had over 130 days of accumulated leave at one time, and actually took two holidays one year a one month in March and 1 1/2month July into August. Have had several holidays of 1 to 2 months. On retiring I had near 50 days of leave paid out along with "Long Service " leave of just over half year, this leavecaccumulatescat 4 weeks per 5 years service, plus some retiring benefit of near 90 days from memory. So a large part of a year in wages a significant financial start into retiring. In some respects I miss all the international travel, that for a number of reasons I can not do right now, though nothing due to financial limitations. I have visited many countries due to work, Japan, Korea, China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Germany England, Spain, Austria, France, Sweden and US LA in transit for 1 1/2 days, plus a Hawaii visit on flight points personal break of near three weeks. Travel I have had plenty that provided more than most people get doing holidays, as many visits included touring of the place by local business providing touring/sightseeing suport and breaks. A very exceptional beneficial job that few have an opportunity of having. Some 40 1/2 years working, avoiding being pushed into management position, as that would not have provided the same side benefits of work travel that I had. Slight loss in income, yes. But at one time I by accident, the manager left his annual financial/tax overview on the lsser printer at night, and was actually glad I found it rather than other of our staff and returned to him in a envelope into his desk. From it I found out my annual contract was higher than my department manager, who while having a few short, few days, business trips, did not have some 4 months of the year on travelling that I had. Fully paid meals, travel, hotel etc, while my pay accumulated unused at home. I was well ahead by my measures. Preferred practicle work anyhow over just desk, meetings and planning that filled manager time, I got enough meetings anyway. Australia is good on leave entitlements. It is worth remembering the now common 8 hr workday was started by unions in Australia too.
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