More for Less

What was interesting about working in the parliament, or Brussels was how multicultural it was. People from all around the world are working under one government, and they all bring along their own cultures, religions, ethnicities, and habits. That being said, expectations for work varied from office to office. My German office that has little small talk and breaks is entirely different from the Spanish office that takes two-hour breaks twice a day. There was no blueprint for how someone should work.

The United States is often criticized for its fast-paced, stressful lifestyle that is driven by work and success. Other countries find our short maternity leaves and limited vacation days absurd. Five day work weeks from nine to five is pretty standard across the country. It can generally be assumed that the same health, safety, and ethics apply to all companies for their employees. Breaks are not often and not long.

As I said before, some European offices align with an American style work ethic. But for the most part, the workers in Brussels had a lot more leniency and less stress. The standards in the United States are too high. Since we are young, we are encouraged to work hard so we can get into the right school, which will get us a good job and a lot of money. Money in America means success and happiness and “winning the game” of the American dream. Anyone that does not follow that life plan is deemed lazy and stupid.

People took life slower in Brussels. It seemed to me like most people were delighted with where they were in life, and believed that had purpose independently. I can see why they can leisurely enjoy life. They don't have to work extra to afford insurance because it is all universal. The distribution of wealth means that the quality of life is higher. They can easily provide an education, which means practically no debts have to be paid off.

Some people would assume that the European style of working would be less productive and slow, but I saw the exact opposite. People did not have as much financial stress, so work was generally done out of interest. Workers in the parliament wanted to be there and work for their countries, and they could work without the pressure of having to pay for insurance. They have a more collective mindset than in the States, and their collaborative work style was extremely productive.

In the United States, so much is expected of us. Our culture encourages us to be independent and "achieve our dreams," but the costs are high. We are so focused on our own achievements that we look down on collaboration, which in turn stifles our productivity.

I saw that by increasing the quality of life, you increased positive work. Having more breaks and vacation days gave workers something to look forward to, while also providing outlets from stress. By expecting less from the workers, European institutions are more successful. In America, people work until they burn out, and by then, most of their life has passed them by.

Kendall Gilcrease