A day off in my dreams...

Europe is starting to be become extremely effective in maximizing more time off for the average European worker. Many nations in Europe are decreasing the amount of hours someone can work by legislation. However in America we are working more than ever before. European nations are able to still maintain strong economies while giving workers more time off. In Sweden a parent can take fifteen months (job protected) off and still earn up eighty percent of their income. This is unheard of in the United States; maternity leave is normally six weeks and paternity leave is even shorter.
More flexible working hours would help the United States, but is it even possible for the United States to attempt to adopt this working system? It would be possible if a combination of two things would change. First companies and corporations have to agree to cut hours and provide more leave/vacation time. Companies will most likely be hesitant to do this because it would cost potential profit. America is so money driven that companies will be extremely resistant to offer shorter work hours. It would force employers to hire more people, which in return could help unemployment decrease. Legislation would help enforce employers to decrease shifts and increase leave/vacation hours.
Another area that needs to be concentrated on to help implement this plan is the actual American worker. Americans are focused on work and making money so they are working extremely long hours and taking less vacations. Americans need to be willing to work less. American values have been compromised in order to make money. Families spend less time with each other; parents are spending the majority of their waking hours at work instead of being with their family. The drive of materialism is a driving force in this. Americans must have long exhausting workweek, because they have to pay for their expensive houses, cars, and pay for their eight year olds cell phone.
There has to be a balance between corporations, legislation, and the American people to make this possible. Better work hours would make employees happier which could allow them to produce better products. The European system could also help bring back more American values, such as the importance of spending time with family. It is a hard shift to make between people working more hours to less, but with unity between people and corporations it could possible.