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How Do You Europeans Do It ?

I keep hearing on the "Internets" how Europeans take up to 5 weeks of vacation every year.  As an independent business person (read "One-Man'Band")") in North America that would simply never be possible and I am totally envious.

I can tell you that I have been on vacation since Monday this week and have worked every day (effectively a full day) and expect to do the same for the rest of the week and part of next week.  Thankfully we are at a friend's place in Florida and my wife has other people to do things with, but I am not included. Next week it's kids and Grandkids so I hope to have more time.

Thanks to email and Broadband Internet I am basically as available as I am back home, and since certain clients know that fact, they simply don't care whether I am on vacation.  Their line is "my business still goes on."  Tragically they are right but it does rankle that these guys ALWAYS take long vacations and are able to give it up because of the nature of their jobs - they're managers ;-).

As much as I love being independent, for 20+ years I have only had a REAL vacation once (when I went on a cruise - which I hear they've fixed now so the Internet can follow you there).  I'd love to hear how others handle this.  I am just used to hearing a lot of "Don't bother Grandpa - he's working." when in sunny climes and getting joy out of being able to at least provide them with a great vacation (and maybe some kind of inheritance when it kills me ;-)....

Just some thoughts.

 

Published Thursday, January 24, 2008 11:31 AM by dmoffat

Comments

# re: How Do You Europeans Do It ?

Friday, January 25, 2008 9:27 AM by bsandeman

Hi Dick,

Just saw your post and thought of some ideas that could help you.....  They may not be feasible but you never know...

1. Make sure that any contracts that are written contain holiday and sick leave allowances.

2. Ensure that when you go on holiday that your clients know that you are ON HOLIDAY and as such cannot be contacted except in an absolute emergency and even then all they can do is call and leave a message which you will agree to check at regular intervals but again you will only respond in an emergency situation.  i.e. major system down type situation

3. Let your wife answer the phone and they have to go through her to get to you... I think this one might work rather well ;)

4. Do not check any emails or go online for the whole holiday

hope this helps

Bruce

# re: How Do You Europeans Do It ?

Friday, January 25, 2008 11:14 AM by dmoffat

Hey Bruce ....

Thanx for the thoughts. I would love to be able to apply all these things (once a friend's wife answered the phone and said "He's on vacation !!!"  Didn't help.

The fact is that, as I said, compaies don't wait for anyone and in today's business-world the speed is getting faster and faster.  If I were to put a clause like you mentioned I do not think a VP or President or CIO or CEO would give a darn ;-) .... so to me it's a pipe-dream.

Bottom-line is at least I would like others out there to realize they're not alone (unless they have the "nads" to apply your rules).

Thanx a lot.

Dick

# re: How Do You Europeans Do It ?

Saturday, January 26, 2008 9:48 AM by Simon

Dick

Self employed people are not allowed holidays. Full stop.

I throw a sickie instead, or have a technical problem (machine corruption, power line failure etc etc) (dont tell my clients) (ok client then!)

cheers

Simon

# re: How Do You Europeans Do It ?

Sunday, February 03, 2008 4:34 PM by maarten

It's easy... if you work -hard- you -earn- twenty-five days <g> !

But, you are right at least in theory. Real life however shows that the higher you get on the job level they manage to force 'overtime is included' into your contract and 'pooffhh' your holiday is gone... (Same thing if you are self employed.)

See you next week after two days of 'doing nothing' in San Francisco. (I bet my boss already has some plans worked out to spoil my sight seeing moments...)

-= Maarten =-

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