What an unusual thread by mostly US citizens owning $100000+ vehicles.

Perhaps it should be continued here for those most interested in the nuances and details of the conversation:


https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/...play.php?f=129

 

I think the days off isn't the big issue as well. Having vacation lets people actually unwind and come back fresh instead of the idiotic treadmill approach favored by many companies in the US.

That certainly doesn't mean there aren't other issues - as you bring one up here, and there are many more* - but trying to make everyone live the life of a workaholic while always worrying that if they actually use their vacation that it will reflect badly on them isn't exactly an ideal to strive for either.

Somewhere there's a middle ground, and I don't think letting corporations dictate everything is that middle either...

* The maternity leave policies are amazingly expensive too!

 

Yep, and as a consultant (in the US) I typically take 6 or 7 weeks (much unpaid, but some hours worked overtime in other periods) because I don't have a corporate policy to deal with and think there's more to life than an office. Never been an issue.

But for straight-up employees, I think the issue is that a lot of people get 2 weeks, increasing to 3 (and eventually 4/5 max) after years of service with the chance to lose some of that if ever changing jobs. 2 weeks - so 25 weeks straight, then a whole WEEK off, and then repeat... Or do you opt for 50 weeks with a nice 2 week vacation at the end of it? Terrible. (Not to mention if you need days for dealing with kids, family emergencies, etc. - for many, that's 'vacation' then too...)

The starting point is much higher in Europe, and then you have more state holidays to boot. It's nice for living life, anyway, and if it's expensive for businesses, it can probably be argued that much of that saved money would end up far away from the workers anyway, if the US is anything to judge by. It's definitely a shades of gray thing - what kind of life do people actually want?

Very happy not to be part of a generous 2 week policy here in the States in any case...

 

Well said RNL.

Folks, is it too much to ask the following;

Please keep your political opinions to yourselves. This forum is clearly not the place.

Please remember that this is a global forum, so euro-bashing and the crass statements that are made towards any given country are offensive.

Please keep the political commentary to yourselves. Because quite frankly no one gives a damn about any of our political views, or how many cars you own, or how much money you make. It's vulgar and obscene.

I don't think a lot of folks here would appreciate if a European based member came on this board and made an ill-informed statement about Detroit being bankrupt due to lazy Americans blah blah blah.

There is a time and place for everything, and how hard can it be to stay on topic and keep a car forum about cars?

This forum is an invaluable resource to most, so we should give its owners and members the respect it deserves...

 

Thanks for the voice of reason! This is definitely NOT the forum to air political views and I was very offended by some that were gratuitously thrown in by certain insensitive and very biased members. To reiterate what DUX said, "quite frankly no one gives a damn about any of our political views"

 

With all due respect you don't have to participate. Maybe you skimmed over the posts of those that have experience working here and abroad. Many of those posts were thoughtful, substantive and well informed. Perhaps you don't like the direction of the discussion, but don't try and marginalize those who have thoughtfully contributed with this drivel: " I don't think a lot of folks here would appreciate if a European based member came on this board and made an ill-informed statement about Detroit being bankrupt due to lazy Americans blah blah blah."

 

 

Handfull.
Let me assist you with your assumptions and also clarify my drivel.

You are correct that I have no real experience living abroad, because having lived and worked in London, Germany, Singapore, Venezuela, the US and West Africa (to mention just a few) counts for nothing.

You are also correct in stating that I do not have to participate in the discussion with my drivel.

The point to my drivel, which you so clearly missed in my hypothetical statement, was that the plight facing Detroit was through no fault of the people. Hence, if a statement to that effect had been made, it would also have been inappropriate and inaccurate, just like "the EU is bankrupt due to their vacation policy".

This is not about being offended by a certain political view, and I certainly don't care in "which direction" a discussion is going. Because regardless of its direction, it is still not the appropriate forum for pointless political views.

I don't care if anyone is Republican, Democrat, Socialist, Communist, Separatist or Maoist - my point was that this is an automotive forum and I fail to see the automotive relevance.

The OP was merely stating his disappointment that his car was delayed for a month due to the factory shutting down, and next thing you read is that "the Union must consider splitting up". Seriously??

What do individual EU Country labor laws have to do with our 991's breaking down, squealing, rattling or seizing PDK transmissions?

But rest assured that I will take my narrow-minded, politically intimidated, unexposed, unfounded drivel concerning this topic to where RNL so eloquently suggested these discussions be held.

@Speedsanibel - It was never going to turn ugly. I just didn't want the facts to get in the way of a good argument.

 

It is fairly standard practice in Germany for people to get 6 weeks of paid vacation a year. At Porsche, it is 8.

 

ummm, interesting and LOL. It must of been all the cats and dogs eating into the City's budget.

 

DUX you're just going to have to go with the flow. These threads can and will go in directions that you may deem inappropriate. If you don't like the direction of the thread, then move on. There are hundreds of other threads discussing colors, seat choices etc...

If you don't think there's any corolation between the entitlement culture, and what is currently facing p.i.g.s. then I can certainly understand your statement regarding "the plight facing Detroit was through no fault of the people."

 

Dux, your argument is very well-reasoned and eloquent and I totally agree that this is not the forum for Obama-bashing, insulting Europeans, affixing blame for financial difficulties. Everyone is entitled to their religious, political, nihilist, atheist, socialist, communist, evangelical beliefs but please don't air them in this forum.

To Handfull who counsels, "Don't read it. Move on and read something else" you don't understand that it's like someone dropped a turd in the punchbowl and you want those of us offended by their boorishness to simply party on but don't drink the punch.

We shouldn't have to be offended and move on. Anyone who can't keep from crossing the line should be warned by the mods. Otherwise, I believe this forum allows us to block from our personal view all posts by members we find offensive so maybe that's what some of us need to do so as to avoid the vitriol.

 

I haven't witnessed any Obama bashing. What a shame that you have chosen to bring him into the discussion. I am offended that you would use the term boorishness to describe folks who have participated in this discussion whose view point differs from yours. It seems a nerve has been struck on many levels. As a native European I am not offended by any of the comments in this thread.

By the way, is your car a manual or pdk?

 

Handfull, you haven't been paying attention then:
To answer your question: It is a PDK.

 

If this constitutes Obama bashing " Don't you guys worry. Here in the US, we are down the same path with Obama." then you are very, very sensitive.

Now let's discuss your choice of transmissions......just kidding. Is this more to your liking. >>>>levity.