>So basically, 6 work weeks of leave beyond sick leave. Most Americans would be thrilled to have that.
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>Remember that U.S. business owners are "Americans" too. <s>

>>Remember that U.S. business owners are "Americans" too
You seem to be juxtaposing generous vacations and holiday policies against business success.
It's pretty safe to say the Fortune 500 companies offer more liberal policies than the typical pizza joint that opens for a year and closes.
It would be as foolish to say that Exxon makes zillions because of its liberal vacation policies as it would be to say that the pizza guy failed because he had no vacation.
In fact, many of our "vacation" policies are tied to historical work cycles.
Farmers traditionally took the winter off.
Teachers and office and factory workers traditionally took the hot summer months off before A/C came along.
One of my clients in South Carolina closes his plant in July and everyone takes that month as vacation.