On social media, many viewers were stunned after a viral video showed a woman revealing the differences between American and British work cultures
A recent TikTok video by a London woman is going viral.
On Tiktok platform, a user who goes by @anndreacelleste shared a video showing the stark differences between American and British work cultures.
Andrea Celeste, a California native, created the video on January 24.
In it, she portrayed four different employees. One character, an American named Becky, appeared happy yet anxious after taking a quick two-day vacation.
Celeste also played a British woman who looked relaxed and refreshed after enjoying a two-week holiday.
In the footage, she compared the experiences of an American employee returning to work after a holiday with that of a British employee. Known on TikTok as @anndreacalleste, she creatively highlights the cultural differences through a humorous skit.
In her portrayal of the American employee, she appears nervous and shaky despite wearing a smile after her two-day vacation.
She mentions that she ‘got a lot of work done in the afternoon’ to ‘catch up’ before returning to the office.
In contrast, when she plays the British employee, she is completely relaxed and rejuvenated after her ‘two-week holiday.’ She even dismisses a meeting as ‘it was 5:48’ and heads off to the pub.”
The video quickly went viral
@anndreacelleste Oh Becky #work #wfh #usa #uk #humour #comedyskit #viral #fyp #trending
Since posting the video, Celeste’s video sparked debate on social media . Viewers have been asking questions about American work policies.
Viewers on TikTok have been vocal about their surprise. Many expressed sympathy for American workers.
One person said: “best two days ever” girl that’s a weekend.
A second wrote:Trading that time for half the pay though
While a third commented: American here and I take 7 weeks of vacay a year plus PTO and Stat holidays. I cant imagine any other way
Another added: American here and I take 7 weeks of vacay a year plus PTO and Stat holidays. I cant imagine any other way
Someone else said: I can’t even take one week off per year in the US, so burned out.
My boss gives me the silent treatment if I need to take 1/2 day sick leave for a medical appointment. “cries in American”. Someone added.
Vacation policies in the UK vs. the US
In the UK, employees are entitled to 5.6 weeks of paid holiday.
This is known as the Statutory Annual Leave Entitlement. Part-time workers also receive paid time off, but it is calculated based on their hours worked.
In contrast, the United States has no federally mandated right to paid time off.
While many American employers offer paid time off (PTO) as part of compensation packages, the amount varies widely.
Some workers receive no PTO, while others may have unlimited time off. Part-time and hourly workers often receive no paid vacation and are only compensated for hours worked.
Despite these differences, standard work hours in the US and the UK are quite similar. Both typically follow a 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM schedule from Monday to Friday, totaling 40 hours a week.
A Business Insider employee, who worked in both countries, noted differences in workplace culture. She observed that British employees work fewer hours and take more vacation time. They also use extra time to socialize with colleagues.
The differences in paid time off between the UK and the US have sparked significant discussion. Celeste’s video shines a light on the varying work cultures and emphasizes the importance of employee well-being.