Of the countries with advanced economies, the United States is the only one that does not guarantee workers paid vacation time, according to a review of international labor laws by the Center for Economic and Policy Research.
Because of this, nearly 25 percent of Americans lack any paid vacation or paid holidays, the review finds. European Union workers receive at least 20 paid vacation days per year by law. Some countries even mandate that workers receive 25, 30 or more days. In Canada and Japan, workers are guaranteed at least 10 days of paid vacation annually.
“The United States is the only advanced economy in the world that does not guarantee its workers paid vacation days and paid holidays,” said John Schmitt, senior economist and co-author of the report. “Relying on businesses to voluntarily provide paid leave just hasn’t worked.”
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