My husband is a Czech and he said most Czechs start with three or four weeks vacation.

My hubby has lived in the US for about 30 years so isn't sure what maternity leave is like now in Czech Republic, but when my sister-in-law had her children, she got 3 years leave with full pay. Women who had children also had time shaved off of their minimum retirement age. The more kids one had, the earlier you could retire as a woman. He also said there was no limit on sick days, with a doctor's note. You'd still be paid while sick, though he forgets if it was full pay. In both cases, a job would be held, though perhaps not the same one. Again, he's not sure if this has changed, but believes if it has it hasn't changed significantly. Insurance is never an issue for anyone in Czech Republic. They have universal coverage, as does pretty much every other country in Europe, as well as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and some others. He believes that the only rich country in the world that doesn't provide universal health coverage for its citizens is the United States of America.

My husband and I are seriously considering moving to Europe. Not that we don't love the US, but it is not clear if we will have adequate health insurance in the future. He is a European citizen as well as an American citizen. That fact can provide us with more security than we have here. It's a shame, but true. My situation and the high cost of medical bills (with private insurance) has started to impoverish us. I shouldn't complain too much because I know others in the US have similar or even worse situations. I have no job to go back to. I was eventually terminated from my job for being sick too long. I'm fortunate that I was able to work long enough for SSDI. I wish I could work again, but my progress is not quite there yet and the risks of such a transition, if I could get a decent job again, are high.