American Worker: Most Productive? But At What Cost?

I was discussing with one of my fellow co-workers regarding vacation/sick leave here in the US compared to other industrialized nations. Seems to me that Americans are one of the most stressed out individuals.

The New York Times article, Always on the Job, Employees Pay With Health stated that: "American workers are stressed out, and in an unforgiving economy, they are becoming more so every day.

Sixty-two percent say their workload has increased over the last six months; 53 percent say work leaves them "overtired and overwhelmed."

My dad...he worked on his feet 8 hours a day despite his weak heart and diabetic condition. He ended up having a major heart attack one evening after work. We all knew he was in ill health however dear ol' dad...months proceeding the event, he did not want to lose his job so he continued to work until the heart attack placed him on disability.

What is sad is that Americans tend to hit rock bottom when it comes to vacation days:

Average Number of Vacation Days Around the World Per Year

Italy
42 days
France
37 days
Germany
35 days
Brazil
34 days
United Kingdom
28 days
Canada
26 days
Korea
25 days
Japan
25 days
U.S.
13 days

Along with this surge is America's top notch place in global productivity:

A new study of productivity in different countries -- the most authoritative comparison to date -- shows that the United States commands a significant lead over Europe and Japan in output per worker.

In 1990, a full-time American worker produced $49,600 of goods and services a year. In dollars of equivalent purchasing power, a German worker produced $44,200, a Japanese worker $38,200 and a British worker only $37,100, according to the study by the McKinsey Global Institute, a Washington offshoot of the McKinsey consulting firm, together with three of the nation's top productivity experts, including the Nobel Laureate Robert Solow. Competition Is Cited.

At what cost to Americans does this so-called higher productivity mean? If we were to allot American workers more time off of work would this improve our nation overall (reduce the overall health care spending--create happier workers which translate into higher productivity????) or would this become the beginning of the end for our place within the global world market?

But can American workers mentally and physically afford to continue on WITH their current pace????