LIVING TO WORK IS NO WAY TO LIVE

LIVING TO WORK IS NO WAY TO LIVE: CONTRASTING WORKPLACE CULTURE IN AMERICA VS. EUROPE

Words by Mallory Pace

The American workplace is a concept seemingly out of a dystopian novel — one where humans turn into robots that only exist to climb their way up the corporate ladder, taking out anyone in their path to success. Since times well before the Industrial Revolution, working in America has revolved around productivity, efficiency and sacrifice, all with a sewn shut smile on your face.

Unlike other countries in the world, working in America is unique in the sense that it never stops — it’s typically at the forefront of everyone’s lives and minds, leaving little room for nearly anything else. It might not necessarily be that Americans are simply more motivated to work and value this busybody lifestyle than other countries, but perhaps instead it’s a result of a long-standing and systematic standard placed on workplace culture that we have been forced to adapt to. But does that make it an acceptable or healthy way to live? Or are we driving ourselves to strokes at age 50 for what?

There’s a common saying that eloquently contrasts our country’s attitude toward work-life balance to others: In America, we live to work. In European countries, they work to live. Our lives are seemingly more heavily revolved around working for money and success than fulfilling other passions in life or finding deeper meanings to it. There’s no room for a sense of identity in the American workplace; we eat, breathe and sleep to work. In other countries, it appears as if their society sees a job as only a part of their overall life and more so as a means to support their livelihood and other passions outside of work.

In order to dissect the distinctions between American and European work culture, we must define what the underlying goal is: work-life balance. By definition, it means the minimization of work-related stress and the establishing of a stable and sustainable way of working while maintaining health and general well-being. This balance means compartmentalizing your tasks and responsibilities at work against other parts of your life like family, friends, hobbies, passions, health, etc. It’s a matter of finding both the time and energy to do your job and be your own person outside of it. Employers can’t necessarily provide this balance, and employees can’t fully establish it on their own, but rather it’s an integrated relationship between the two. It requires an employer to recognize and support the needs of their workers by harnessing positive and productive policies that help their staff efficiently balance work and life. It’s also up to the individual whether this balance is utilized by making conscious decisions to separate work from their personal life, which isn’t always easy, especially in a society that prioritizes hard work and dedication over happiness.

This balance is often difficult to find because the American workplace culture is rooted in the idea that overachieving and taking on as much as possible leads to more success. It’s also because corporations don’t often emphasize the value of a work-life balance because their goal isn’t bettering your health, but rather increasing productivity. The factors and consequences of such are unique to each country, but America’s lifestyle is most easily comparable (or contrastable) to that of Europe, so we’ll start there.

“Work-life balance differences between America and Europe are definitely recognized; I actually find this stereotype to be one that is accurate,” said 22-year-old Morganne Percevault, a U.S. native who has spent a considerable amount of time working, studying and living abroad.

Her journey first began as a high school senior when she traveled to Lithuania as an exchange student, calling the experience “transformative.” Percevault explained that living with a host family and attending a local high school broadened her global perspective significantly, and taught her a lot about who she is as a person. Having had a taste of living abroad, she moved on to spend the last three semesters in an exchange program in Marseille, France, studying international business. In the most recent semester, she completed an internship in Paris with a startup company called Toucan Toco, where she will be returning back after this summer to work while pursuing a master’s degree through an “alterance program,” she explained. That program allows Percevault to work for three weeks a month while attending university the remaining week — all fully supported by the company plus salary.

A stark contrast she found living in France was the accessibility to affordable and healthy grocery options that are less common in the U.S., which supports the lifestyle she aims to maintain, Percevault said. There’s also an appreciation for leisurely dining culture in Europe, allowing patrons to spend at least two hours at fine dining restaurants to fully savor the meal and time with loved ones. In the U.S. the approach to restaurant dining is more ‘get in, get out’ before you tick off the staff eager to seat another table. That brings up another polarity: waiters are actually paid decent wages in Europe. The rush you may find with eating out in America comes from the waiters needing to constantly cycle through tables because their income depends on tips — another supporting idea that Americans are forced to work hard and work fast.

As a disadvantage, the most significant culture shock she experienced was grasping the communication styles of the French: “In France, there’s a distinct indirectness that requires constantly reading between the lines,” she said. “Unlike the direct instructions common in American schools and workplaces, French directions tend to be less explicit, leaving room for interpretation regarding what professors or bosses expect.”

While this challenge can prove frustrating at times, it also allows for more autonomy in her work approach, she said. In the U.S., Percevault interned at Dun & Bradstreet in their Human Resources department where she received clear instructions on her responsibilities, making expectations relatively straightforward. However, with Toucan Toco, she experienced more independence and autonomy in her job role as an international business development representative. For example, each month she’s required to meet a set quota of meetings with prospective clients that she must complete through certain forms of communication like cold calls, emails, LinkedIn messages, etc. A lot of business development representatives are required to reach a certain number in each sector of communication, but at Toucan, Percevault is given the opportunity to decide how much of each channel she’d prefer to use as long as she’s meeting the quota. This allows her to explore the different ways of reaching out to prospects by determining what works best for her as an individual in terms of productivity and efficiency, she said.

“Living in France has taught me to work to live, not live to work, which I am so grateful for,” Percevault said. “I admire the flexibility employers offer here and hope for the chance to continue working in France to maintain this lifestyle.”

An article by Davis Staffing writes that this work-to-live attitude is sometimes seen as a lack of commitment and devotion because in a way it is: “it’s a choice to devote time to what matters to them rather than to a company,” the article wrote. In corporate America, that doesn’t typically fly. Loyalty and devotion to success is a top priority, and everything else is fluff. While these differences in attitudes can also apply to individuals themselves, a key factor in the effectiveness of a work-life balance is how each country supports and allows for it. In America, someone might face their job with a European attitude, but in reality, the fundamental core and aggressive approach of corporate America doesn’t support this lifestyle in its entirety. We’re made and encouraged to hustle and bustle, keep on keeping on and jump over obstacles until we’ve reached the finish line. This works for some people, but for the majority, it’s neither sustainable nor healthy.

Another distinctive contrast in how each country supports a positive workplace culture is found in how much or how little is offered to employees. In Europe, the number of vacation days is regulated by local law and differs slightly in each country, but the European Union has a mandated 20 day minimum paid vacation period across all EU countries. Percevault said that most of her colleagues enjoy six weeks of vacation annually; Places like France, Norway and Luxembourg offer a minimum of 25 paid days off, according to an article by the Berkeley Economic Review. That makes the U.S. the only developed country that does not oblige employers to give employees paid vacation days or holidays.

“There are also no limits on sick days, which surprises many Americans accustomed to specific allowances,” Percevault said. “When I tell the French that we do have a limit on sick days, they look at me like I’m nuts!”

Nearly a third of American workers do not have access to paid time off, but even for those that do, roughly 52% of employees report they continue working to some extent during their time off, according to a Forbes Advisor article. It also states that in 2018, Americans used an average of 17 days of PTO a year, while employees that are allowed unlimited PTO (that only 4% of companies currently offer) only take about 10 days off per year. This suggests that employees may value the flexibility and opportunity for time off more than the actual time off itself.

According to the International Labour Organization, the U.S. ranks 13th on highest labor productivity when comparing gross domestic product per hour worked. However, there is little evidence to suggest that more PTO equates to higher productivity in both the individual and overall country.

As for the differences of life inside work, we see even more disparity. The average American typically works approximately 47 hours per week, with nearly 40% reaching 60 hours, according to research from the U.S. analytical group, Gallup. Americans also tend to work on the weekends, during lunch breaks and after working hours. In Europe, depending on the country, an average workweek is around 35 hours or even as low as 29 in places like the Netherlands. Plus, it’s not common practice to check emails after hours — in fact, in 2017 the French government instituted a nationwide law that requires companies with more than 50 employees to negotiate a system that ensures work emails do not infringe upon employees’ days off, evenings and weekends. Furthermore, some European countries take lunch breaks very seriously. In Spain, most companies and businesses have implemented a three hour break between 2-5 p.m. and then return back to work for another three hours or so. France uses about two hours for lunch where the country seemingly shuts down between 2-4 p.m. to motivate workers to rest. The pace at which each country works is apparent; America is rapid, constant, and aggressive, while Europe seems to value a slower, more relaxed way of daily living.

Percevault works a 35-hour week, with a two-hour daily lunch break. At first, she wasn’t a huge fan of the extended break but grew to appreciate it as it gave her time to run errands and focus on other personal matters. During breaks and outside of working hours, she’s not expected to answer emails or attend meetings, allowing her to stay refreshed and productive throughout the week.

“French culture places a strong emphasis on breaks compared to the US,” she said. “While Americans often prefer finishing work quickly and eating at their desks, the French prioritize a later finish time to enjoy a relaxing lunch break.”

But where do these differences stem from? Is it a matter of societal preference or something more deeply instilled in our foundations? Percevault believes it’s primarily the cultural differences that shape attitudes towards work-life balance rather than the economic systems themselves, she said. Similarly, other scholars suggest that a stark difference comes from how each society perceives self-worth. A podcast episode from the Wharton School of Pennsylvania dives into the subject of why Americans seem to work more and relax less than Europeans. Mauro Guillen, Wharton management and sociology professor and a native of Spain said: “It is a sign of social status in Europe to take a long vacation away from home. Money is not everything in Europe; status is not only conferred by money. Having fun, or being able to have fun, also is a sign of success and a source of social esteem.”

The “workaholism” of Americans can appear admirable at times, particularly in the quest to innovate and stay ahead, as Percevault put it. But when it comes to the needs of employees in the U.S., they sometimes fall short. There are certain advantages and luxuries afforded to each country that make them appealing in their own way, but I’d be lying if I said I’m satisfied with working like a dog for the rest of my life all for the sake of a paycheck. In the grand scheme of things, money means nothing. Luxury cars and designer clothes are momentarily fulfilling, but there’s more to a happy life than living in abundance.

Of course, that doesn’t mean life is any easier or better without money, because it’s not. And that’s America: money-hungry savages with dollar-signfilled eyes, a heart full of greed, and a loaded bank account with no one to share it with. If you’re not satisfied with that lifestyle, you feel the consequences of it. We revolve around materials, and the rest is just background noise. To me, that’s hardly a way to live, but that is, unfortunately, how to survive in the competitive jungle of America.

If you live to work, are you really living? A fulfilling life is about experiencing, laughing, loving, relaxing, and sharing. Sure, depending on what it is you do for work, it can be fulfilling, but even still, there’s more to life than your job. I believe life is too short to hold out on living; why wait until you’re dead to finally live how you’ve always wanted? If you’re constantly saving and waiting until the time is right, you might find yourself awfully disappointed because what’s money when you’re gone? With only so many precious years on this planet, it doesn’t matter how much you have at the end of it — what matters is how you spent it.