# Is a 17 day vacation a lot in the US? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 6, 2017, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-17-day-vacation-a-lot-in-the-us/792957 "2017-08-06T23:50:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2017, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-17-day-vacation-a-lot-in-the-us/792957/1 "2017-08-06T23:50:17Z")
Just curious if all the chatter about the Trump vacation is because 17 days is a lot? Or because people don’t think he’s worked enough to take 17 days off? ---
**Author:** ![Evan\_Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@Evan\_Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evan_Drake)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2017, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-17-day-vacation-a-lot-in-the-us/792957/2 "2017-08-06T23:56:25Z")
Aside: as a Briton I don’t think 17 days is a lot, but it’s worth pointing out the old chap has finished one half of his first year; so unless, refreshed by his break he resolutely declines any further playtime for the rest of the year sturdily devoting himself to the betterment of the world, it’s not beyond possibility that if he elects the same for the _next_ 6 months that will be 34 days funtime yearly. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2017, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-17-day-vacation-a-lot-in-the-us/792957/3 "2017-08-06T23:59:14Z")
I’ve never had more than a week at any job that even offered vacation. And it was never “vacation” rather it was “personal time off” which could be used as needed for appointments or such but it meant you didn’t get a full week off unless you didn’t use any of it. And no, he hasn’t done enough to deserve 17 days after only 6 months. Let’s also mention the weekends he’s taken almost every week since he was sworn in. Sites that have the details. > **[Tracking the president's visits to Trump properties](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/how-much-time-trump-spending-trump-properties-n753366)** > > The president regularly visits his personal properties and golf courses in Virginia, Florida, and New Jersey. > **[Trump Golf Count](https://trumpgolfcount.com/displayoutings)** > > Trump Golf Count: Tracking President Trumps golfing so you don't have to! ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2017, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-17-day-vacation-a-lot-in-the-us/792957/4 "2017-08-07T00:04:07Z")
[Here’s a chart of the average vacation and sick leave amounts](https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ebs.t05.htm) for workers in the US. I work for myself, so I don’t really know, but growing up, my parents (both blue collar workers) got 15 days of vacation time per year after about 5-10 years on the job. So taking 17 days off in a row after being on a job for six months does strike me as excessive, but, who knows what people are pissed about. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2017, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-17-day-vacation-a-lot-in-the-us/792957/5 "2017-08-07T00:04:53Z")
It depends on the job. Teachers get off multiple months at a time, for instance. But the President, in some sense, can never go on vacation at all. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2017, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-17-day-vacation-a-lot-in-the-us/792957/6 "2017-08-07T00:24:35Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Just curious if all the chatter about the Trump vacation is because 17 days is a lot? > > Or because people don’t think he’s worked enough to take 17 days off? It’s also because he heavily, heavily(I mean, really heavily) criticized Obama for golf-trips and vacations, things he’s doing a ton more of in his first 6-8 months. I don’t personally mind or care about President’s vacations and golfing. It’s a crazy hard job. I mind more in the sense that once again, he was super critical of Obama and is now doing the same thing. Like the executive orders and so forth. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2017, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-17-day-vacation-a-lot-in-the-us/792957/7 "2017-08-07T00:30:40Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > I’ve never had more than a week at any job that even offered vacation. When I worked in corporate America (large, Silicon Valley company), I got 3 weeks vacation the first year. Since we’re offering anecdotes. > [@](#): > > And no, he hasn’t done enough to deserve 17 days after only 6 months. That’s an opinion, not a fact. But the OP did ask for opinions, so I guess yours is as good as mine. I’m OK with him taking 17 days “off”. It’s a working vacation, anyway. Also, it’s 17 days total, so that counts weekends. It’s basically 2 weeks off (plus a day). > [@](#): > > Let’s also mention the weekends he’s taken almost every week since he was sworn in. Why would we mention weekends? ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2017, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-17-day-vacation-a-lot-in-the-us/792957/8 "2017-08-07T00:32:28Z")
It’s not that huge, though I rarely take that many days off in a row. Before our company moved to a “personal time off” scheme, I got 20 vacation days off per year (since then I still use that as a target, but the number isn’t officially tracked). I could take two 16-day vacations per year if you count weekends; more if they align with other holidays. It’s more the hypocrisy that’s distasteful. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2017, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-17-day-vacation-a-lot-in-the-us/792957/9 "2017-08-07T00:34:38Z")
There’s no mandated vacation in the U.S. Many people who make the least amount at taxing jobs get no paid vacation or sick leave. Even for well-paid educated professionals who earn paid leave, there’s often social pressure to avoid taking long leaves. Two weeks is often considered the longest acceptable absence from a job, even if you are using earned leave. I was once told upon joining a company that I was entitled to four weeks of paid vacation a year and I didn’t need anyone’s permission to schedule it, but I was warned that no one takes more than two weeks at once—and rarely more than one week—with the tag line, “If you can be absent from work for a whole month, then we don’t really need you, do we?” ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2017, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-17-day-vacation-a-lot-in-the-us/792957/10 "2017-08-07T00:36:12Z")
It is sort of a lot in the US. Many employers won’t give you more than 10 days’ vacation, or sometimes not even more than five, until you’ve worked maybe five years or more. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2017, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-17-day-vacation-a-lot-in-the-us/792957/11 "2017-08-07T00:36:48Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > It’s not that huge, though I rarely take that many days off in a row. Before our company moved to a “personal time off” scheme, I got 20 vacation days off per year (since then I still use that as a target, but the number isn’t officially tracked). I could take two 16-day vacations per year if you count weekends; more if they align with other holidays. It’s more the hypocrisy that’s distasteful. Yeah, it’s mostly partisan sniping. I didn’t hear complaints from Democrats when Obama took 15 days off. Hard to imagine that 2 days makes a difference. But yeah, he said he wouldn’t take vacation as president when he campaigned. He’s a hypocrite. But it’s not like the sniping wouldn’t be there without the hypocrisy. Of course comparing the president to the average American worker is an odd thing to do. Nothing of any significance about the job is comparable to “the average American worker”, starting with the pay. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2017, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-17-day-vacation-a-lot-in-the-us/792957/12 "2017-08-07T00:50:16Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > But it’s not like the sniping wouldn’t be there without the hypocrisy. Sure, but it wouldn’t involve vacation days. A huge swath of Trump’s criticism of Obama involved vacation, golfing, and so on. Not to mention claims that you shouldn’t take vacations if you don’t like your job. Of course, Trump is already claiming that his trip isn’t a vacation at all. ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2017, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-17-day-vacation-a-lot-in-the-us/792957/13 "2017-08-07T00:51:36Z")
Indeed the presidency is oft regarded as a 24/7/365 position. A typical entry level professional position work schedule would be Monday through Friday 8-5, with weekends off. Public Holiday benefits vary a bit more but 7 to 10 public holidays off would be typical. And then vacation would likely start at 10 working days off per year, with an additional 5 days of vacation after a few years of service. Sick leave, bereavement leave, and such vary a bit but are often available in a professional position. So one single 17 day vacation might be atypical for an entry level professional position, but easily attainable for a professional with a few years service so long as they schedule over a public holiday. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2017, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-17-day-vacation-a-lot-in-the-us/792957/14 "2017-08-07T01:03:37Z")
The issue of course is not just this one 17-day vacation, but also the massive amounts of total vacation and golfing time taken within just the first six months of office. This really is unprecedented in modern times, and we have plenty of jobs piling up, not to mention so many vacancies for which the administration has not even named nominees. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2017, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-17-day-vacation-a-lot-in-the-us/792957/15 "2017-08-07T01:05:06Z")
> [@Iggy](#): > > So one single 17 day vacation might be atypical for an entry level professional position… I’ve heard that the presidency is not an entry level position, but I’m not sure the people saying that were talking about the same thing you are there. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2017, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-17-day-vacation-a-lot-in-the-us/792957/16 "2017-08-07T01:07:59Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > The issue of course is not just this one 17-day vacation, but also the massive amounts of total vacation and golfing time taken within just the first six months of office. Exactly how much was that? Please specify what was vacation and which golf outings were during normal working hours. > [@](#): > > This really is unprecedented in modern times Do you have a cite for that? ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2017, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-17-day-vacation-a-lot-in-the-us/792957/17 "2017-08-07T01:29:17Z")
Aside from all the political comments, it is very unusual for Americans to take 17 vacation days in a row. It certainly does happen, but if you surveyed 100 Americans if they have ever taken that much vacation time not around Christmas, I would think you’re looking at certainly single digit responses for how many have ever taken that long a vacation during their careers. I would also bet that a substantial majority of Americans don’t take 17 vacation days during a year, like split up on different trips or whatever. ---
**Author:** ![Desert\_Nomad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desert_nomad/32/177_2.png) [@Desert\_Nomad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desert_Nomad)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2017, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-17-day-vacation-a-lot-in-the-us/792957/18 "2017-08-07T01:42:35Z")
I have never gotten more than two weeks per year, and it took 4 or 5 years at the company to earn that much. I work for myself now and can take as much time off as I can afford. 17 days is not excessive. I didn’t vote for Trump. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2017, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-17-day-vacation-a-lot-in-the-us/792957/19 "2017-08-07T01:47:40Z")
I’d maybe compare it to what is typical for large company CEOs. But I don’t see any stats. My purely annecdotal IME is of them not taking much time off at all, but I don’t know that many CEOs. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2017, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-17-day-vacation-a-lot-in-the-us/792957/20 "2017-08-07T02:03:46Z")
Interesting. We have a statutory entitlement to three weeks of after each year worked. After ten years with the same employer, it goes up to four weeks per year. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-17-day-vacation-a-lot-in-the-us/792957.md?page=2)