American-born TikTok user Kayleigh Donahue (@kayshaynee) has experienced this difference firsthand.
And I have been bamboozled.
I was thinking, Hmmm, maybe I should go back to America.
You make more money there.
Yeah, Id get less time off, but Id still get time off and itd be okay.
I could save a lot more money.
And Id have a fatter bank account.
Plus, theres more job opportunities there.
Itd be great for my career, propel myself forward.
So I moved back.
But I still cant save.
The cost of living here is exponentially higher, its… no words.
And the job market sucks.
On top of that, yes, I do have way less time off.
I have less than half of what I was getting in Ireland.
I was getting 29 paid days off a year, plus holidays.
So about 40 days off a year.
And here Im getting like 10 days off a year.
But you know, making more money, thats enticing.
Good job, thats enticing.
It used to be, it definitely used to be.
You could come here and make a ton of money, make a great life for yourself.
But the younger generation today, in this country screwed.
Its literally all a lie that is sold to you.
So now Im doing a totally different job.
Let me tell you, I was living life lavishly over there compared to here.
Kayleigh is originally from Rhode Island in the US and first moved to Dublin for a semester in college.
The people there were so kind, and there was just a good vibe in the air.
Afterward, she stayed there for four years as a social worker.
Now, shes sharing this message with over 100k people on TikTok to encourage them to experience life abroad.
Her coworkers would ask, What are you doing?
you gotta leave the office.
At first, she didnt understand what they meant.
Indeed, buying into hustle culture and overworking can have negative effects on a workers mental and physical health.
In the post-pandemic era, many people are re-evaluating what they want out of work and life.
They are quitting toxic workplaces, setting boundaries, and devoting more time to their personal lives and hobbies.
Her boyfriend, who was able to come with her, also experienced a similar shock.
The European Commission also has a set of rules for what a workday should look like.
In America, the Fair Labor Standards Act doesnt call for meal or break periods.
And if lunch breaks are given, people arent paid during them.
So its no wonder why many people eat their meals at their desks.
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