Nope, sorry. That might be part of it, but Americans also are very reluctant to take vacations even when we have plenty of time off to use. In my experience it comes down somewhere between "things will fall apart without me" and "this is what I do".
I'm a (regrettable) example of this. I get 22 days off a year, and maybe take off half of that. I've usually accrued the max vacation we are allowed, so it just goes to waste each pay period. It's ridiculous, but its not caused by anyone but me.
>>I've usually accrued the max vacation we are allowed, so it just goes to waste each pay period
Sorry to be annoying about this, but in EU if you don't use your vacation time you have to be paid for it, at full rate. So it never really goes to waste, even if you willingly decide not to use it.
I'm a (regrettable) example of this. I get 22 days off a year, and maybe take off half of that. I've usually accrued the max vacation we are allowed, so it just goes to waste each pay period. It's ridiculous, but its not caused by anyone but me.