Why are American workers given such paltry time off? The question briefly rears its head at this time of year since summers are synonymous with taking vacations.

It’s an issue that should be given serious consideration, but other than the token article and the odd superficial feature, it seems this topic is widely ignored, especially among policy makers.

The United States is the only ‘advanced economy’ in the world that does not mandate paid time off – vacation and sick time. While Europeans enjoy a minimum of 20 vacation days

a year and are basking in the Mediterranean sun, Americans are cooped up indoors, bent over their computers slogging away, and are lucky if they can snag a measly one week off.

Canada offers two weeks or more, while Australia and New Zealand require employers to grant workers at least 20 annual vacations days. Even the hard working Japanese fare a little better!

So with no government standards in the USA it’s up to each company to decide how much paid time off their employees will receive – if any. According to the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) almost one in four Americans, receive no paid vacation and no paid holidays.

This is outrageous when you think about it, yet where are the protesters? Why are Americans not demanding better? How do people live their lives properly if there is no opportunity to unwind for an extended period of time? After all on our death beds will we reminisce about our jobs? Or will we lament over missing out on personal and family life?

There are many arguments defending the current system. Some say it’s by choice, people don’t mind working hard. Others remind us that this is a competitive world and to guarantee a healthy gross domestic product and labor productivity, you have to work a lot. Many believe they have to put in long hours and forego time off when they’re young so they can make a lot of money and retire early. That is, if they live that long. Some are afraid to take off in case they’re ‘replaced’ while away from their posts.

To offer a generalization, most people won't speak up for fear of losing their jobs and are often made to feel guilty for taking their time off, despite putting in long hours.

Thanks to the European Union (which requires members to set a minimum standard of four weeks vacation) as an investigative journalist for a British television station I enjoyed five weeks annual leave, in addition to paid Holidays – including two days at Christmas and two days at Easter and all the rest. I did not have to work five years to gain this luxury; it was effective immediately. We worked hard and we were rewarded with a paycheck and almost as important - time. I did not witness the collapse of the British television industry while I and my fellow employees relaxed on the beach. And just to sweeten the deal some more – in my workplace if a person was unable to take all their time off they were paid for it!

Jack (not his real name) is a friend of mine. He occupies a position that very rarely grants him two consecutive days off, and he is denied most national holidays. He does get Christmas Day, Thanksgiving and July 4Th, but even Scrooge would give Bob Cratchit that much for sure! He has to work a full year to earn one week’s paid vacation. It will take him two years to earn ten days off, and that’s it. He could work thirty more years and will only have two weeks out of 52 in which to live his life.

Being European and spoiled by generous annual leave and lingering lunch hours, I flinch at the thought that so many Americans have so little time off. It’s a wonder the tourism industry here stays afloat. Workers have to cram everything into one, or if they’re very lucky, two weeks a year.

The hardest hit are couples who both work full time and have kids, people taking care of sick and invalid elderly parents and those who live a great distance from their families. Some of those precious days off will inevitably be eaten up by child illnesses, car trouble, doctor’s visits, family emergencies (including, but not limited to a death of a loved one), and so on. After all in everybody’s life there’s always something.

So after slogging away for 50 or more weeks, that special five days off finally comes around. What should you do? Spend it with family? Do some much needed yard work? Take a road trip? Have a ‘real’ vacation? Be careful now, you only have one week and it’ll be a year before it comes around again. No pressure of course, but don’t waste it!

If you are lucky enough to go on vacation, after finding a cat sitter, packing, getting to the airport and finally reaching the destination, you’re exhausted. Three days later you may finally start to unwind and relax, after all it’s been a busy year. Then the inevitable little thought creeps in: ‘I only have two full days left’, and before you know it you’re back at your desk wondering if it was all some crazy dream.

No wonder people in our society are always rushing. There’s never enough time to do everything. Even having a lunch hour has become a luxury for some.

There is nothing wrong with working long, hard hours if that’s what it takes and you’re happy with it. But there should be a standard, and a choice. Time off should be a civil liberty enjoyed by every worker and not just the filthy rich, celebrities and politicians.

The productivity would naturally improve if employees saw a light at the end of the tunnel. There’s only so much you can do. Burn out and stress are rampant and it has a lot do with lack of time off. It doesn’t take an expert to work that one out. If employers were a little more generous they’d see a significant decrease in sick days taken and a better attitude among employees.

People would not be forced to choose between spending quality time with family and taking care of necessities. There would be ample time for both.

We hear the slogan ‘change’ tossed around a lot lately. Our presidential candidates are promising a lot of things. Yet they never mention this issue. I guess it would upset businesses to encourage people that they deserve more time off. But if change is indeed on the agenda, let’s put this on top of the list, so ordinary Americans can reap some real benefits. After all you can’t buy back your time.

Alison Hill is a featured writer for Xomba.com. Read the rest of her work here .