Building an Economy that Works for Everyone

Americans want more time for the pursuit of happiness

There is more to life than work, as Thomas Jefferson well knew that when he wrote the Declaration of Independence. But really – how easy is it to really pursue happiness when you can’t get a day off of work?

For example, in Washington State, 1 in 4 businesses do not offer paid vacation to their full-time employees. Most part-time workers get no paid leave at all. (Source: Washington State Employment Security Department)

Not surprisingly, a new poll finds that most Americans don’t have or don’t feel they can take time for “the Pursuit of Happiness,” and more than two-thirds support a law that would guarantee paid vacations for American workers.

The scientific telephone sample of 1,002 Americans was conducted by The Opinion Research Corporation, a leading professional pollster, during the week of June 23, 2008.

The poll found 69% of Americans saying they would support a paid vacation law, with the largest percentage of respondents favoring a law guaranteeing three weeks vacation or more.

Americans under 35 (83%), African-Americans (89%), Hispanic-Americans (82%), and low-income Americans (82%) were the strongest supporters of such a law, as were residents of the Northeast (75%) and the South (72%). 75% of women and 63% of men support a paid vacation law. 74% of families with children support such a law. Every demographic showed majority support for a law. Overall, only 27% of those polled were opposed to a paid vacation law.

Life, liberty, and a few weeks off of work a year – with pay – to recharge and spend time with loved ones. Now that’s a recipe for happiness.

Visit Take Back Your Time to learn more about the new national campaign to guarantee every American three weeks of paid vacation per year.

  • Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

More To Read

March 20, 2024

I-2111: The Income Tax Ban Is A Spectacle, but One We Can’t Ignore

A way to waste time, energy, and money, I-2111 is costing more than just taxes

March 20, 2024

Let’s Go Washington: Three initiatives threatening to roll back years of progress

Here’s what you need to know about the initiatives on your November ballot

March 12, 2024

Washington’s Women Are More Protected This Equal Pay Day

Thanks to an update to the state's wage discrimination protections, Washington woman are closer to closing the wage gap