Help In These Times Survive the Recession and Reach Its 33rd Year! Please Donate Today.

All Work, No Play

Vacation time shouldn’t be the privilege of a few, but the right of all

By Silja J.A. Talvi

Jack Torrance, Jack Nicholson’s character in the 1980 film The Shining, should get credit for popularizing (and making terrifying) a proverb that dates as far back as the mid-1600s: “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” Nicholson’s character sure looked like he could have used a vacation before his psyche disintegrated and he went on a murderous… return to article

  • subscribe to print magazine

  • Zoom OutZoom In Reader Comments (3)

    Page 1 of 1 pages

    “Vacation time shouldn’t be the privilege of a few, but the right of all.”

    Funny thing…

    In my copy the fundamental rights list ends with,”...the pursuit of happiness.”

    Not everything people want should be considered a right. This is just plain stupid and why our country is falling behind. We are nearly becoming another Europe where “rights” to a cushy life (short work week, early retirement, etc.) have had them in double digit unemployment and high inflation prices for decades.

    I was self-employed beginning at age 19 and, with the exception of three years working for a corporation and my military service, spent my whole working life as such.

    If you had to pay for everything out of your own pocket instead of whining about what others have, realize nothing is free. Nothing is guaranteed. The rights expressed in the Constitution are goals not a given.

    If you want something more check out the story of The Little Red Hen.

    United States Posted by whattheheck on Oct 22, 2008 at 1:08 PM

    Hi, Y’all !

    Personally, I find it amazing what people will allow business to do to them in the name of profit. Corporations work Americans harder and harder to make that dollar and we allow them to push us to the very limit. In fact, if you’ve noticed, the “labor saving” devices have only enabled us to accomplish more and, consequently, increased expectations.
    Can’t get it all done at work? Do it at home! What? Leisure time? What, are you lazy or stupid? Improper attitude! Vacation time? We give you Saturday and Sunday off unless we need you to finish something to meet an arbitrary deadline.
    Until Americans stand up to their employers the way their grand-parents and great-grand- parents did, management will continue to treat them like robots.
    Oh, one more thing. People continue to bash Europe and socialism as defined by Fox News. This is ridiculous. There is a chance of having an easier life and you refuse it? Unbelievable! Then again, I’ve seen it before with domestic violence victims. Side with the abuser and they’ll love you. It doesn’t work there and it doesn’t work with corporations either. 
    Perhaps the rightwingers need to look at what could be gained for themselves and quit whining that somebody might, just might, get something, no matter how small, for nothing.

    Ta-ta!

    United States Posted by Aunty Rightwing on Nov 10, 2008 at 6:09 PM

    After having spent a good thirty years on my career I now get about 5 or so weeks of vacation plus a couple more for holidays. In general, I usually do not use all these vacation days. Why? I have created my own reality where I actually enjoy what I do and work becomes a form of rest and relaxation anyhow. If there is any tweaking of vacation regulations I would think that unused vacation could be banked and /or cashed out by employers. In my opinion, if we all worked in something that we enjoyed, work does become “play”.

    United States Posted by Derik on Nov 17, 2008 at 6:40 AM
    Page 1 of 1 pages

  • register a new account »Posting Security

    To participate in our forums, please register for a free account.
     

    Retreive lost password »

Article Appeared in this Issue

Full contents
Past issues

Also by Silja J.A. Talvi
Popular Discussions