Living in Switzerland ruined me for America and its lousy work culture
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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.
For my American friends who have never lived in Europe, please read
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.
The horrors of the nanny state in full detail.
Having lived and worked overseas for only about six months now, this resonates with me.
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?
Won't know for sure until I travel more...
Where do you guys want to be?
Člověk si uvědomí, jak moc dobře se proti Americe máme i my.
Sounds nice
Ooo la la!
read and weep :(
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. :(
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. :(
خواندنی
As an American who moved to Zürich, I can confirm it's all true.
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.
Truth.
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.
Work-life #balance: the USA versus Switzerland.
Makes you understand the difference between privilege and a high standard of living among two countries.
insightful..new dream destination.. Switzerland 😂👌
This is important
This is why I cherish the European way of life and work-life balance.
She has even mentioned the chocolate or the cheese! That is even more upside :-)
Ditto for Germany. But, I sincerely believe American work culture improve with the right leadership.
It's about a lot more than vacation time.
Makes me think twice about aiming to work in the US, Europe will be just more than fine. (those lazy commies :D)
Interesting.
USA lite, let's go to Switzerland
civilization
The American Dream Crusehd
Amazing differences about living in Switzerland, versus the United States.
A truly outstanding work culture
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.
Weekends in Switzerland encourage leisure time, too. On Sundays, you can't even shop — most stores are closed.
第五周阅读文章
第五周阅读文章
第五周阅读文章
This is amazing. Taxing investments and not wages = shrinking inequality.
美国人对美国的看法
That made me reflect on what should be my future decisions.
The advantages of living in an exporting economy
And Australia's sucks too!
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
Time to move.
For Americans like me, Swiss Reality was privilege.
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.
Many countries could learn about balance from the Swiss.
Considering Zurich now.
In case you thought you had it made...
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.
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.
Work goals...
Worth reading. Capitalism vs a system where you are supported by the govt. A good argument for the Swiss way :)
American culture is awful, particularly with regards to working to live, rather than living to work, and treating people like decent human beings.
I really saw and experienced similar situations while I was in Switzerland.
Amazing to see how much BS we deal with here at home in the US.
This says a lot about America
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
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.
🇪🇺
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.
Food for thought.
Investing in physical and social infrastructure is always beneficial.
Investing in physical and social infrastructure is always beneficial.
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.
Living abroad opens your eyes to your country's faults.
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.
I want to live in Switzerland!
The longer I work, the more I realize most of us are wage slaves.
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.
Work-life balance and much more
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 😂
Interesting contrast between the work culture in the US vs Switzerland when you have a government that empowers their people.
Interesting contract between Switzerland and the States on work culture, and what happens when a government empowers their citizens.
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!
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"
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.
A country that doesn't look at you like a moving wallet
How do I get there?
so many Americans are brain washed into the noble laborer belief
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
"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!
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.
daughter
girl has me ready to move to Switzerland
"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."
Fantastic read.
The struggle is real.
Interesting!
nice story
Certainly makes you think
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!
Bila baca entree menarik camni.. Sometimes terasa negara sendiri pun ada jugak sentimen US..sigh😞
Switzerland
..and lack of mobility options other than cars.. "Land of milk & honey"!
"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.
Bye, I'm moving to Switzerland.
Never Let Someone Skip Their Lunch Break!
I️ lived in Switzerland for a time as well - this article wish North America would follow suit.
If American work culture is bad, ambot na lang ang Pilipinas.
damn true also for Germany
thật tuyệt vời
Makes one think about living here...
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.
i love this
Fantastic!
living abroad.
Why living in #Europe, #Austria, is so much better for #Maternity and #Paternity Leave than #USA
#LivingStandard
#LivingStandard
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.
...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.
Interesting read!
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.
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.
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.
An interesting read
I had a friend who move back to Europe after living in Canada for this exact reason.
I had a friend who moved back to Europe after living in Canada for this exact reason.
Wanna Move to Europe :-)
Enjoying what you do is Job Satisfaction, and the best Job.
Work-life balance in America vs. Switzerland...
Moving to Switzerland!!
Notably for that beloved part of our family living in America (north of Trump country, fortunately) . ;-)
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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