Most workers get some amount of paid days off. But Congress takes the cake when it comes to how many days elected officials get off.
By the end of this year, the House of Representatives will have had 239 days off, as Think Progress’ Bryce Covert points out. Between now and the holidays, Congress only has to work for eight more days.
The situation is vastly different for other American workers. Most of the developed world mandates paid vacations and holidays, but not the U.S. American workers also don’t have paid sick days.
While it’s true many bosses give employees time off, the number of workers who have no vacation days has increased. About 23 percent of workers don’t have access to vacation days, up from 20 percent in 20 years ago. On Thanksgiving, for example, millions of workers had to show up. It’s true they got extra compensation, but some employees say they were denied requests to skip out for the holiday.