An American who spent 17 years living overseas offers advice on work-life balance. You won't succeed if you don't use PTO.
Workplaces in Europe are renowned for their generous paid time off laws, some of which even encourage employees to take extended summer vacations.
For 36-year-old Alex Ingrim, who was born and raised in the United States but has lived and worked in France, the United Kingdom, Malta, and now Italy for the past 17 years, adopting that perspective was a significant shift.
I was raised in the United States, where people value careers highly," Ingrim says to CNBC Make It. "After that, I've worked for European businesses where the culture is to prioritize time for the family.
Don't squander holidays to prove that you're a diligent worker instead, make the most of them. That won't help you in this situation.
He continues, "It is not respected or valued" to leave several vacation days unfilled. "You simply have the appearance of someone who doesn't take enough time off." Ingrim has worked for financial services firms all around Europe, where benefits included 25 vacation days year in addition to roughly ten public holidays.
Currently residing in Florence, he serves as the head of state and co-founder of Chase Buchanan USA, where he counsels over seventy of his clients on financial matters related to relocating from the United States to Europe.
Assisting customers in acclimating to a new work environment is inevitable. Ingrim frequently informs customers that it is less typical to discuss work in social contexts.
According to Ingrim, one of the first things people do at a party in the United States is ask one other what they do for a living. "I have spent the last three hours at parties in Europe, and I have no idea what people do for a living," Our neighbors are there, but I'm not sure what their jobs entail.
As Ingrim puts it, "You talk about something else at parties that are generally a little bit more fascinating like cuisine or holidays or activities, whatever it may be but you discuss about what you enjoy individually, not what you're accomplishing at work." Work is a minor part of your life and identity, according to Ingrim.
The social norm is a reflection of a culture that values life outside of work more than the average American viewpoint. According to Ingrim, "putting your professional life ahead of your loved ones and other priorities in life"—such as hobbies, travel, and other pastimes—is not as socially acceptable.
He claims he is generally happier in Italy than in the United States. His foreign life began when he met his wife, Louisa, while studying abroad in France for his undergraduate education.
He adds that choosing to live in Europe in order to be together "was a great choice."
