Do we work too much?

Nov 9, 04 13:25

Post #1 of 25 (2660 views)

I was thinking about this today as I was spontaneously driving along the road in my truck with my 3 year old son sitting next to me singing to some country songs (I decided to take the day off work). It seems the North American mentality is "live to work" rather than many other parts of the world where it is "work to live" - and workers pack it in to spend time with family and friends when they have enough money to put bread on the table. I know this is a generalization, but I have observed this with my travels. I am wondering if other people on this forum observe the same thing. What gets me is that you can't take anything with you but memories at the end of the game of life - so what are we chasing after?

________________
Adrian in Vancouver

Last edited by: AJHull: Nov 9, 04 13:26

Re: Do we work too much? [AJHull] [ In reply to ]

Nov 9, 04 14:34

Post #2 of 25 (2645 views)

Unfortunately, it's a cultural thing where we believe that putting in 60 hr weeks and having only two weeks a year of holidays is somehow character building. Most people over here tend to define themselves by their jobs.

Studies have demonstrated the N.A. model is often less effecient than the European model.

Re: Do we work too much? [AJHull] [ In reply to ]

....

Nov 9, 04 14:47

Post #3 of 25 (2641 views)

check my answer in the 'why do australians are great swimmers' thread in the regular forum... ;-)

Re: Do we work too much? [AJHull] [ In reply to ]

Nov 9, 04 14:54

Post #4 of 25 (2639 views)

Yes. I think that is one of the reasons that families are falling apart.

Re: Do we work too much? [AJHull] [ In reply to ]

Nov 9, 04 15:01

Post #5 of 25 (2635 views)

Yes indeed. Our productivity numbers (from long hours) have kept the economy going for quite a while now.

It is my dream to be financially secure enough that I can work about 30 hrs/wk and my wife can stay home to raise kids.

Re: Do we work too much? [AJHull] [ In reply to ]

Nov 10, 04 6:24

Post #6 of 25 (2604 views)

Why do we work so much?

It's the stuff. The stuff is what we want, and even though we never tend to have time to enjoy the stuff, we want more stuff. Pretty soon, life is all about stuff and not about life.

Stuff sucks. I want a simpler life, but I am addicted to stuff.

Is there a 12 step program to get over stuff addiction?

Call me Big Dick

Re: Do we work too much? [huret5steel] [ In reply to ]

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Nov 10, 04 6:37

Post #7 of 25 (2601 views)

send me all your stuff, I will take care of it while you free yourself of this addiction ;-)

Re: Do we work too much? [huret5steel] [ In reply to ]

Nov 10, 04 6:55

Post #8 of 25 (2598 views)

Marry a rich girl and you can have your stuff and have the time to enjoy it also. Love will come later ;)

Life should be this simple.

________________
Adrian in Vancouver

Re: Do we work too much? [AJHull] [ In reply to ]

Nov 10, 04 7:26

Post #9 of 25 (2590 views)

In Reply To:

Marry a rich girl and you can have your stuff and have the time to enjoy it also. Love will come later ;)

Life should be this simple.

We'll call it the Kerry Method. :-)

Re: Do we work too much? [cerveloguy] [ In reply to ]

Nov 10, 04 7:28

Post #10 of 25 (2588 views)

"Studies have demonstrated the N.A. model is often less effecient than the European model."

Man, you need to get some Economics texts that were written more recently than the '60s. We are far, far more productive than the average Euro worker.

Re: Do we work too much? [tri_bri2] [ In reply to ]

Nov 10, 04 7:34

Post #11 of 25 (2585 views)

In Reply To:

"Studies have demonstrated the N.A. model is often less effecient than the European model."

Man, you need to get some Economics texts that were written more recently than the '60s. We are far, far more productive than the average Euro worker.

LOL. I missed that. You beat me to it. :-) Unproductive but...funny. :-)

Re: Do we work too much? [tri_bri2] [ In reply to ]

Nov 10, 04 7:47

Post #12 of 25 (2579 views)

" We are far, far more productive than the average Euro worker. "

I'm obviously no economist and you're right, it's been awhile since I've read that kind of stuff in any detail. It appears that the US has made huge gains on Europe since 1995 and now has surpassed them in worker productivity. But I'm sure a part of this fall in Euro productivity could be explained by the problems of integrating former soviet bloc countries. Germany is one of the best examples.

Still doesn't answer the original posters question dealing with our obsession with work.

Re: Do we work too much? [tri_bri2] [ In reply to ]

....

Nov 10, 04 7:49

Post #13 of 25 (2575 views)

and are you happier?

Re: Do we work too much? [Francois] [ In reply to ]

Nov 10, 04 7:54

Post #14 of 25 (2569 views)

In Reply To:

and are you happier?

No. That I would agree on. I would love to be able to take 6 weeks off in the summer to train. :-)

The only reason why I work is for my kids education and entrance fees. :-)

Re: Do we work too much? [cerveloguy] [ In reply to ]

Nov 10, 04 7:54

Post #15 of 25 (2568 views)

Protestant work ethic. Work has intrinsic value and we get pride and self-satisfaction from it.

Re: Do we work too much? [Francois] [ In reply to ]

Nov 10, 04 7:54

Post #16 of 25 (2568 views)

Happier than who?

Re: Do we work too much? [Trevor S] [ In reply to ]

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Nov 10, 04 7:56

Post #17 of 25 (2565 views)

let them take french at school, send them to a 'socialist government subsidized university' in France where they will get a free education and will come back to work in the US...or will stay in Europe ;-)

by the way, 6 weeks is dependent on the job you have and the country...things are more or less going the same direction the US is going...officially you have 5 weeks, but it's better to take just 3-4, in highly competitive companies etc...

soon there will be only Oz/NZ left with the lifestyle

Re: Do we work too much? [Francois] [ In reply to ]

Nov 10, 04 7:56

Post #18 of 25 (2563 views)

I honestly don't know if I am happi-er, but I must be happy, or I'd have done something to change it already (right?).

Re: Do we work too much? [Brian286] [ In reply to ]

....

Nov 10, 04 7:58

Post #19 of 25 (2561 views)

follow the thread...

Re: Do we work too much? [Francois] [ In reply to ]

Nov 10, 04 8:00

Post #20 of 25 (2560 views)

Happiness comes from within...no one else controls your happiness.

Re: Do we work too much? [Brian286] [ In reply to ]

....

Nov 10, 04 8:02

Post #21 of 25 (2557 views)

I have just entered the 5th dimension...what the F? are you talking about Brian...?

Re: Do we work too much? [Francois] [ In reply to ]

Nov 10, 04 8:04

Post #22 of 25 (2556 views)

Follow the thread.

Re: Do we work too much? [Francois] [ In reply to ]

Nov 10, 04 8:11

Post #23 of 25 (2550 views)

take just 3-4 weeks.

jeesh.

All the jobs I've had just offer 2 weeks vacation. I negotiated for 3 in my current job, on condition I wouldn't tell anybody else.

Re: Do we work too much? [rb5980] [ In reply to ]

Nov 10, 04 8:14

Post #24 of 25 (2544 views)

I get about 30 days a year, and If I don't take it it just keeps building up. Last I checked I had something like 78 days on the books. I wish I had the option of taking 3-4 weeks off.

Slowguy

(insert pithy phrase here...)

Re: Do we work too much? [slowguy] [ In reply to ]

Nov 10, 04 11:35

Post #25 of 25 (2514 views)

Bastard! Well, you are not really a basard but I mildly dislike you for having so many vacation days.

P.S. I love you.

________________
Adrian in Vancouver

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