Living in Switzerland ruined me for America and its lousy work culture

https://getpocket.com/explore/item/living-in-switzerland-ruined-me-for-america-and-its-lousy-work-culture-987981365


Recommendations from Pocket Users

Jesse Hicks
Shared January 25, 2017
Before I moved to Switzerland for almost a decade, American Reality was all I knew. I was living in a two-bedroom apartment making $30,000 a year in a job where I worked almost seven days a week with no overtime pay and received 10 days of paid time off a year.

In other words, for the hours worked, I was making minimum wage, if that. The glamour of this job was supposed to make up for the hours, but in reality, working every weekend is a ticket to burnout — not success.

My husband and I were so accustomed to American Reality that when he was offered an opportunity to work in Switzerland, we both thought about travel and adventure — not about improving our quality of life. It hadn't occurred to us that we could improve our quality of life simply by moving.

But without realizing it, or even asking for it, a better life quality came to us. And this is why, now that I'm back, I'm angry that my own country isn't providing more for its people. I will never regret living abroad. It taught me to understand another culture. And it taught me to see my own. But it also taught me something else — to lose touch with the American version of reality.
Joe McCann
Shared January 2, 2017
For my American friends who have never lived in Europe, please read
Joe McCann
Shared January 4, 2017
After living in Amsterdam for less than a year, I'm convinced we're doing some things wrong here in the States, like maternity leave and unemployment benefits. This is a great article from an American who loved in Switzerland.
Boy Ettema
Shared January 11, 2018
The horrors of the nanny state in full detail.
JoAnna Haugen
Shared February 20, 2017
Having lived and worked overseas for only about six months now, this resonates with me.
Tiffany Sun
Shared May 14, 2017
This always made me wonder, is America really the place I want to be for the rest of my life? 

Won't know for sure until I travel more...

Where do you guys want to be?
Martin Humpolec
Shared February 3, 2017
Člověk si uvědomí, jak moc dobře se proti Americe máme i my.
Jesse Cooke
Shared January 25, 2017
Sounds nice
Awais Imran
Shared February 2, 2017
Ooo la la!
Nour Eldin
Shared March 27, 2017
read and weep :(
Saket Kulkarni
Shared January 2, 2017
No surprises for someone in Europe except, perhaps, how bad things are on the other side of the pond (although a lot of the differences were already known to me).

It's sad so few Americans realize how badly their country is lagging and it's probably going to get worse under the new administration. :(
Matin Firoozi
Shared May 2, 2017
خواندنی
Eric Mueller
Shared December 26, 2016
As an American who moved to Zürich, I can confirm it's all true.
Chris Surowiec
Shared April 15, 2017
In the early part of my career, I also worked in Switzerland and loved the daily rhythm. It's a precious aspect of their culture. I hope they fiercely protect it.
Jonathan Bates
Shared January 30, 2017
Truth.
Laszlo Vad
Shared February 27, 2017
She looked at me like I was speaking a foreign language and went right back to her pitch: long commute, full-time, no benefits. No way, I thought. Who would want to do that? And then it hit me: Either I had become a completely privileged jerk or my own country was not as amazing as I had once thought it to be. This wasn't an unusually bad offer: It was just American Reality.
Tim Metz
Shared March 29, 2017
Work-life #balance: the USA versus Switzerland.
Prerana Natarajan
Shared January 17, 2017
Makes you understand the difference between privilege and a high standard of living among two countries.
Anne R
Shared April 22, 2017
😭😭😭😭
Sahar Kamal
Shared October 16, 2017
insightful..new dream destination.. Switzerland 😂👌
Tzvika Barenholz
Shared January 25, 2017
This is important
Gergely Fügedi
Shared January 28, 2017
This is why I cherish the European way of life and work-life balance.
Erdogan Cesmeli
Shared December 19, 2016
She has even mentioned the chocolate or the cheese! That is even more upside :-)
Whitney Zimmerman
Shared August 1, 2017
Ditto for Germany. But, I sincerely believe American work culture improve with the right leadership.
Nathan Maharaj
Shared January 25, 2017
It's about a lot more than vacation time.
József Porohnavec
Shared January 3, 2017
Makes me think twice about aiming to work in the US, Europe will be just more than fine. (those lazy commies :D)
Addie Chernow
Shared December 24, 2016
Interesting.
Rahul Phatak
Shared January 30, 2017
USA lite, let's go to Switzerland
Tomasz
Shared April 4, 2017
civilization
Yasaman Esmaeili
Shared January 11, 2017
The American Dream Crusehd
Charles Wilson
Shared January 25, 2017
Amazing differences about living in Switzerland, versus the United States.
Abhishek Bhattacherjee
Shared December 28, 2016
A truly outstanding work culture
Sam Chan
Shared January 1, 2017
Either I had become a completely privileged jerk or my own country was not as amazing as I had once thought it to be. This wasn't an unusually bad offer: It was just American Reality.
Jorge
Shared July 20, 2017
Weekends in Switzerland encourage leisure time, too. On Sundays, you can't even shop — most stores are closed.
HHHHAAHHHH
Shared September 30, 2017
第五周阅读文章
HHHHAAHHHH
Shared September 30, 2017
第五周阅读文章
HHHHAAHHHH
Shared September 30, 2017
第五周阅读文章
L D
Shared January 23, 2017
This is amazing. Taxing investments and not wages = shrinking inequality.
dxb
Shared September 25, 2017
美国人对美国的看法
Pankaj Rupani
Shared November 16, 2017
And
Rodrigo Santos
Shared February 11, 2017
That made me reflect on what should be my future decisions.
John Calia
Shared January 24, 2017
The advantages of living in an exporting economy
Tony D'Ambra
Shared January 25, 2017
And Australia's sucks too!
Lizzie Sager
Shared February 7, 2017
returning to the United States made me realize who I've become: someone who can't believe companies aren't required to pay into a pension fund beyond Social Security. Someone who is offended that most women in America don't have the maternity benefits she had.

And someone who is mad that she must own a car for lack of efficient public transportation. Someone who, because of all of this, is still debating where she ultimately wants to call home
Helen V. Holmes
Shared January 8, 2017
Time to move.
For Americans like me, Swiss Reality was privilege.
John Cogdell
Shared June 9, 2017
the average Swiss worker earned the equivalent of $91,574 a year in 2013, while the average American worker earned only $55,708. But the real story is that the average American had to work 219 hours more per year for this lesser salary.
Curtis McHale
Shared June 3, 2018
Many countries could learn about balance from the Swiss.
RJ Valmadrid
Shared January 24, 2017
Considering Zurich now.
Joshua Sorosky
Shared January 25, 2017
In case you thought you had it made...
Daniel Schregenberger
Shared December 29, 2016
That's why almost everyone I know would have voted Sanders. For Swiss eyes the only one who is remotely trying to improve social systems in the US.
Katrina Morris
Shared January 1, 2017
Wow.
John Olson
Shared January 8, 2017
I'd like to spend some time back in the US working to improve Americans quality of life. This is a good article to keep around for ideas.
Maria Gotay
Shared January 20, 2017
Work goals...
David Rust
Shared March 10, 2017
Worth reading. Capitalism vs a system where you are supported by the govt. A good argument for the Swiss way :)
Erik Peterman
Shared May 29, 2017
American culture is awful, particularly with regards to working to live, rather than living to work, and treating people like decent human beings.
Htun Khaing Lynn
Shared December 9, 2017
I really saw and experienced similar situations while I was in Switzerland.
R. T. Hyder
Shared January 27, 2017
Amazing to see how much BS we deal with here at home in the US.
Chuck Berry
Shared September 8, 2018
This says a lot about America
Brandon Dorr
Shared January 25, 2017
interesting part time plans. unemployment and wealth tax and small federal income tax. transportation quick and painless. income and savings statistics are a bit misleading and don't really provide any valid conclusions to be made but interesting thought. also maternity leave + help coverage and time off legal 4 weeks
Dan Wilson
Shared February 3, 2017
Why would anyone want to move to the States? Sounds like the job culture is pretty rubbish, and on top of that you're far more likely to get shot! Ouch. 
🇪🇺
Ultimately everything there works for big business and not for people. It's good that in Europe things are usually not arranged that way. I hope it doesn't change for the worse, especially in the U.K. with new trade deals looming.
Joshua Wood
Shared February 2, 2017
Food for thought.

Investing in physical and social infrastructure is always beneficial.
Mohammad Al Azzouni
Shared March 16, 2017
A lot of truth is told here. Many of us think that North America is the best place to live in the world by default, but stop and think of what's important to you.
Jim Driscoll
Shared April 2, 2017
Living abroad opens your eyes to your country's faults.
study.mk
Shared September 11, 2017
Lunchtime is sacred time in Switzerland. When I was on maternity leave, my husband came home for lunch to help me care for our daughter. This strengthened our marriage. Many families still reunite during weekdays over the lunch hour.
Jackson Tyler
Shared December 5, 2017
I want to live in Switzerland!
Timothy Evans
Shared September 30, 2018
The longer I work, the more I realize most of us are wage slaves.
Eli Cochran
Shared February 14, 2016
Another article that shows that American exceptionalism is a myth. We can be so much better and we have so much to learn from the rest of the world.
Alex Titeu
Shared January 24, 2017
Work-life balance and much more
Geraint Wynne
Shared August 30, 2017
With all the seemingly bonkers political happenings at the minuite, it's glad to see at least somewhere in the world things are going well 😂
Drew Dulgar
Shared December 4, 2017
Interesting contrast between the work culture in the US vs Switzerland when you have a government that empowers their people.
Drew Dulgar
Shared December 4, 2017
Interesting contract between Switzerland and the States on work culture, and what happens when a government empowers their citizens.
Vehbi Tasar
Shared January 29, 2017
A friend of mine sent me this article. I only spent a short time in Switzerland but it was enough time to learn their lunch habits. I noticed the same in France. I think it is a country's work culture that makes that country great. One doesn't have to retire to enjoy a peaceful lunch with friends or alone. I still eat sandwiches for lunch in my makeshift office. It is a habit of a lifetime!
Anna K
Shared March 29, 2017
Some numbers that illustrate what is obvious on this side of the Atlantic ocean.
"81 percent of women in Switzerland are in the workforce, versus 69 percent in the US"
Martin Krchnak
Shared June 28, 2017
But without realizing it, or even asking for it, a better life quality came to us. And this is why, now that I'm back, I'm angry that my own country isn't providing more for its people. I will never regret living abroad. It taught me to understand another culture. And it taught me to see my own. But it also taught me something else — to lose touch with the American version of reality.
Mohsen Nowruzi
Shared December 20, 2016
A country that doesn't look at you like a moving wallet
Brad Burnett
Shared December 21, 2016
How do I get there?
David Kobb
Shared December 31, 2016
so many Americans are brain washed into the noble laborer belief
Pallavi Shetty Shetty
Shared January 19, 2017
orked, I was making minimum wage, if that. The glamour of this job was supposed to make up for the hours, but in reality, working every weekend is a ticket to burnout — not success
Tommy Johns
Shared January 20, 2017
"This wasn't an unusually bad offer: It was just American Reality."

Excellent read on the insanity of the intellectual Stockholm Syndrome that is America's employment culture. Workers of the world, relax!
This wasn't an unusually bad offer: It was just American Reality.
Ivan Lara
Shared February 20, 2017
He
Jeremy Robinson
Shared February 23, 2017
daughter
marc walker
Shared February 27, 2017
girl has me ready to move to Switzerland
Mustafa Ozdemir
Shared March 15, 2017
"will never regret living abroad. It taught me to understand another culture. And it taught me to see my own. But it also taught me something else — to lose touch with the American version of reality."
Marcina null
Shared March 17, 2017
Fantastic read.
S Wotton
Shared March 15, 2017
The struggle is real.
K D
Shared April 25, 2017
Interesting!
Mupamhanga Tafadzwa
Shared April 26, 2017
nice story
Katrina Harris
Shared May 11, 2017
Certainly makes you think
mariah julsrud
Shared August 4, 2017
I've always wanted to go to Switzerland ever since I did a project about the country during school. This article really interested me, I loved it!
Jeffrein Ahmad
Shared August 11, 2017
Bila baca entree menarik camni.. Sometimes terasa negara sendiri pun ada jugak sentimen US..sigh😞
Applyb21@rnjmgmt.com Burger21
Shared August 24, 2017
Switzerland
Vikaash Mahabir
Shared September 10, 2017
..and lack of mobility options other than cars.. "Land of milk & honey"!
Nurizzati Rohim
Shared September 26, 2017
"in Switzerland, my husband's company gave employees six weeks of vacation a year. Most of the Swiss companies I worked for gave four — the legal minimum is four. "

Bye, I'm moving to Switzerland.
Rawdha Alfalasi
Shared October 1, 2017
Never Let Someone Skip Their Lunch Break!
William Cronister
Shared October 3, 2017
D
Levi Normandeau
Shared December 17, 2017
I️ lived in Switzerland for a time as well - this article wish North America would follow suit.
J-za Omoso
Shared December 18, 2017
If American work culture is bad, ambot na lang ang Pilipinas.
Kristian Myrseth
Shared January 9, 2018
Test
Celine G
Shared January 12, 2018
damn true also for Germany
Cửa giá rẻ tự cuốn cửa cố định dạng xếp
Shared January 12, 2018
thật tuyệt vời
Eugene Darron
Shared February 7, 2018
Makes one think about living here...
Scott Thrall
Shared February 8, 2018
I've definitely though about a bigger move like this and this article kind of makes it harder not to. I think I might end up moving out there after a few more years here.
Shivam Tripathi
Shared March 15, 2018
i love this
sudeep joshi
Shared July 15, 2018
Fantastic!
Poker Poker
Shared August 24, 2018
😍
Corina Hillan
Shared September 3, 2018
living abroad.
Ivanka Mitrovic
Shared September 7, 2018
Why living in #Europe, #Austria, is so much better for #Maternity and #Paternity Leave than #USA 
#LivingStandard
Femi Judah
Shared September 17, 2018
Real eye-opening truth on expat life outside the USA. I agree that d US is no longer first in so many areas of life.
Murray Gudesblat
Shared January 12, 2017
...fuck everything. I know Switzerland is tiny, but come on. If we as a country could do half as much as they do for their citizens, we'd be so much better off.
Ligia Habel
Shared January 18, 2017
The
Shawn Taylor
Shared January 24, 2017
Interesting read!
Devon Hernandez
Shared February 2, 2017
Let me know your thoughts, I really enjoyed this read and have a better understanding of how much catching up the US needs to do in places such as healthcare/work life balance.
Paul Van Geel
Shared December 8, 2017
If we in America really want to be Great we best take a look at how other countries do things. This is a must read.
Amanda Youngs
Shared January 12, 2018
According to data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the average Swiss worker earned the equivalent of $91,574 a year in 2013, while the average American worker earned only $55,708. But the real story is that the average American had to work 219 hours more per year for this lesser salary.
Anna Sheikh
Shared April 15, 2018
An interesting read
Michelle
Shared June 6, 2018
I had a friend who move back to Europe after living in Canada for this exact reason.
Michelle
Shared June 6, 2018
I had a friend who moved back to Europe after living in Canada for this exact reason.
MacyLoue Corio
Shared June 22, 2018
Wanna Move to Europe :-)
arun satsangi
Shared September 6, 2018
Enjoying what you do is Job Satisfaction, and the best Job.
Alicia Kamm
Shared September 9, 2018
Work-life balance in America vs. Switzerland...
Gene Proch
Shared September 28, 2018
Moving to Switzerland!!
Martin Maechler
Shared January 25, 2017
Notably for that beloved part of our family living in America (north of Trump country, fortunately) . ;-)
Bob Szekely
Shared March 5, 2017
Correlated (in greater detail) in "Viking Economics' by George Lakey (2016: Melviille House, Brooklyn; NY). Some may argue it won't scale to a country the size of the United States, but so far, those arguments appear to be anecdotal, not data-driven.

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