In France, it’s required that workers take at least 31 days off every year, and nearly everyone has decided to take that time off during August. Shops are shuttered and tourists flood the streets while the French are off on holiday. Many view the tradition as lazy, but the French might be onto something. By taking the entire month off, many are preventing burnout. The amount of time a person works tends to match how productive that person is on a sliding scale; time spent working and quality of work, after a certain point, become inversely related. This means that after a certain point, the more work a person does, the less productive they will become. In America, overwork tends to be worn as a badge of pride, with some employees putting in long hours just for the sake of putting in long hours. This implies hard work, good character, and present or future wealth. The phrase “I can’t, I’m busy” signals importance. However, work-related stress takes a physical toll on employees, shortening life spans and decreasing quality of life. Instead of focusing on business, maybe American employees should rethink leisure.