'I can't seem to land a job here that offers any PTO': German man moves to America for his wife, is shocked by American work culture

It's no secret that Americans and Europeans have different attitudes about work. The stereotype that Americans hold about Europeans is perfectly encapsulated in the Kroll Show sketch, "Spotted Ox Hostel." Kroll plays an exaggerated European (unclear from which country), who explains he goes to work "for one-half hour, two half-hour…" and then breaks for lunch of "2-3 bottles of red wine and a bowl of heavy cream." This is the American vision of how Europeans structure their lives. But behind this stereotype is a deep jealousy for a life that doesn't revolve around work, but rather revolves around leisure, culture, and pleasure. I'm sure there are Europeans who don't agree that their lives are structured that way, but that's the dream. 

So what's the reverse? How do Europeans find our work culture? We're leaders in many industries, sure, and give higher salaries than most other places on the map, but what's the trade-off?

Author image for JR Atkinson JR Atkinson
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