The United States does not require private employers to give employees any vacation. That they do so is left entirely to each employers’ discretion. The European Union, on the other hand, mandates 4 weeks of vacation for employees. Spain and France take it even further and prescribe 30 days and 5 weeks of vacation, respectively. Even the Ukraine has a minimum vacation time of 24 days.

As baby boomers retire and younger workers take their place, I don’t think younger workers will be satisfied with the typical 10-14 days of vacation time per year. We have had the luxury of examining our purpose and place in the world, and corporate America is seldom the place we want to be. Employers will have to adjust, or they may soon find their young workforce leaving in droves to make their own way in the world. I, for one, would welcome a transition in the business world away from corporatism. To what, I don’t know. But I hope to be among the escapees when it happens.