[mhurron]

> a atmosphere of a very (very very, haha) competetive nature.

I would call it fear. There is very little actual competitiveness in the workforce, but it looks that way as people go about trying to look important as they fear the next guy who can and will do the same job for $1/h less. The fear of taking vacation is part of this, well, for the few that get vacation time.

American priorities are messed up, work yourself to death so you can retire and enjoy life when your too useless to work.