Yeah, it's absolutely disgusting how desperate and beaten down the American proliteriat is. We have to ask permission to take vacation or sick days, and both are frowned upon. How long you are seen to be working is a very important statistic for workplace prestige, far eclipsing the actual amount or quality of work done. It's important to be seen working long hours, that way when the lay-offs come (and they will come) you aren't in the "slacker" pile like the people only working 9 to 6. Most people think this is the normal and right way to do things, and are fearful of "lazy" systems practiced by the effeminate Europeans. I'm not exaggerating. People actually think this.

I'm not sure there's anyone with a spine to make it change; when I've raised the issue of unionization to my co-workers I tend to get blank or vaguely fearful stares for bringing up something so untouchably controversial.