There are fewer holidays in Russia than in other countries. How many holidays in different countries The largest number of days off in the world
Working holiday: 28 days
Public holidays: 12 days
Total rest days: 40
Such a long non-working period in 2013 was provided to the Russians by the government decree “On the postponement of days off in 2013”. According to the decree, January 5 and 6 as days off are transferred to the beginning of the May holidays, and Saturday February 23 can be taken on May 10. Back in February 2012, President Vladimir Putin proposed to increase the May holidays by reducing the New Year holidays, but so far this decision has not been formalized.
Losses: What are the economic losses from such long holidays? The Ministry of Labor estimated the decline in GDP for only one holiday at about 12-14 billion rubles. For comparison: in 2011, losses from the New Year holidays amounted to 600-700 billion rubles.
What are they celebrating: In total, there are eight public holidays in Russia, which are officially days off. In winter it is the New Year and Defender of the Fatherland Day, in summer it is Russia Day, in autumn it is National Unity Day. The richest season for holidays in Russia is spring. At this time, International Women's Day, Spring and Labor Day and Victory Day are celebrated. The widely celebrated religious holidays - Christmas and Easter - are not official days off, but the population has a rest these days: Christmas falls on the New Year holidays, and Easter on Sunday.
If Russia followed the example of European countries and made religious holidays official (Easter, Ascension or All Saints Day), then we would firmly settle in the first position in the ranking of the most “lazy” countries for several years to come.
Working holiday: 24 days
Public holidays: 12 days
Total rest days: 36
What are they celebrating: Over the past forty years, Italians have abandoned many religious holidays that used to be considered days off. But, despite this, today Italy more often than all other countries celebrates Catholic holidays with rest: out of 12 official holidays in Italy, seven are church holidays. These include January Epiphany and Monday after Easter, called the Day of the Angel. All Saints' Day (November 1) falls in autumn, Immaculate Conception Day, Christmas and St. Stephen's Day fall in winter. In addition, various regions of Italy celebrate the days of their own saints, which in this area are equivalent to an official public holiday. On such a day, all government agencies, banks and most shops are closed, and transport runs according to the Sunday schedule.
Working holiday: 25 days
Public holidays: 11 days
Total rest days: 36
What are they celebrating: Sweden is one of the countries with a 25-day working holiday (apart from Brazil and Russia, such a holiday is one of the longest). Here public holidays are almost equally divided into religious and state holidays. Locals celebrate June 6 as the National Day of Sweden (until 1983 it was called Swedish Flag Day). Moreover, this holiday became an official holiday only in 2005, for which it was necessary to make the working day of a religious holiday - the Day of the Holy Spirit. This action caused discontent among the population. Therefore, the government gave the Swedes an additional eight hours of rest, which they can use on any day at their discretion. It is curious that among the official dates in Sweden there is also an ancient pagan holiday of the summer solstice - Midsommar (June 26). From the point of view of tradition, it is similar to the Russian day of Ivan Kupala, although the latter has never been considered an official holiday.
4. Finland
Working holiday: 25 days
Public holidays: 10 days
Total rest days: 35
What are they celebrating: In Finland, all traditional dates fall into the number of public holidays: from winter it is New Year, Christmas, Epiphany, in spring - Easter, in autumn - All Saints' Day. May Day is also an official holiday, but due to the fact that it coincides with the local pre-Christian holiday Vappu. The pagan holiday was made Christian, dedicating it to the Catholic saint Walpurgis. This day is also considered the day of students: first-year students put on multi-colored overalls made of waterproof fabric - "halari" (traditional Finnish student uniform, has more than 30 colors depending on the institute and faculty), and freshmen still wear white caps.
5. France
Working holiday: 25 days
Public holidays: 10 days
Total rest days: 35
What are they celebrating: In France, the most important official holidays are Christmas, Assumption Day (August 15), Bastille Day (July 14), Easter. The French, like the Russians, celebrate the New Year, the eve of the holiday is called St. Sylvester. On this day, it is customary to gather with families and friends, but the festival itself, as a rule, takes place outside the walls of the house. On the first of November, All Saints' Day is also celebrated here, during which it is customary to remember all deceased relatives. This holiday is somewhat similar to the Russian Parent's Day, but we do not have it as an official holiday. On May 1, the French celebrate the Labor Day (during which it is customary to give each other lilies of the valley), May 8 is the Day of Liberation from the Nazis, Catholic Pentecost is also considered a public holiday, this year it falls on May 19.
6. Norway
Working holiday: 25 days
Public holidays: 10 days
Total rest days: 35
What are they celebrating: In Norway, there are 10 official public holidays, which include Christmas, Easter, Good Friday, May Day, New Year. The main national holiday here is Constitution Day, which is also called Independence Day (May 17). On this day, schoolchildren dressed in national costumes go to festive processions; in Oslo, the royal family goes out onto the balcony of the royal palace to greet the processions passing by.
7. Brazil
Working holiday: 30 days
Public holidays: 5 days
Total rest days: 35
What are they celebrating: Brazil holds the record for the longest working holiday. In this country it is 30 days. Along with other countries, Easter, Christmas, the Appearance of the Virgin (October 12), All Saints Day (November 1) are also official public holidays here. The hallmark of Brazil are carnivals, which are also among the official public holidays. They take place 40 days before Easter and open the beginning of Lent. Carnivals, associated with pagan traditions, in Christianity began to symbolize farewell to carnal pleasures.
Working holiday: 25 days
Public holidays: 9 days
Total rest days: 34
What are they celebrating: Despite the fact that the Danes celebrate all the same holidays as many other countries - Easter, Christmas, May Day, Constitution Day - they have acquired their own unique traditions. For example, on the Day of the Liberation of Denmark from German troops, which is celebrated annually on May 5, residents put lit candles on the windowsills of their houses. That is exactly what, without agreeing, the Danes did on May 5, 1945. The tradition of celebrating St. Martin's Day on November 11 is also unusual: on this day, a roast goose is served on the table. According to legend, the humble saint did not want to become a bishop, but his whereabouts were betrayed by the geese who sought him out. For this they are roasted every year.
9. Spain
Working holiday: 22 days
Public holidays: 12 days
Total rest days: 34
What are they celebrating: The Spaniards remain faithful to Catholicism and every year celebrate a series of religious holidays: from the winter it is the Epiphany, the Immaculate Conception and Christmas, from the spring and summer - Holy Week, the Day of St. Joseph and the Apostle James. There are also secular holidays: May Day, New Year and Constitution Day (December 6). Once a great maritime power, Spain owes its history to Columbus Day (also Spanish Civilization Day, or the Day of the Discovery of America), which is celebrated on October 12th.
10. Colombia
Working holiday: 15 days
Public holidays: 18 days
Total rest days: 33
What are they celebrating: Residents of the Republic of Colombia, named after the famous traveler, love to relax: they have as many as 18 public holidays (the second largest number of public holidays after Argentina). Most of them, 12 dates, are associated with Catholicism. Plus, the locals, just like the Spaniards, love Columbus and on November 12 they dedicate the holiday of the same name to him. Despite similar views with the Spaniards on the role of Columbus, the Colombians were glad to be freed from the patronage of the European crown and in honor of this every year on July 20, Independence Day is celebrated.
11. New Zealand
Working holiday: 20 days
Public holidays: 11 days
Total rest days: 31
What are they celebrating: The homeland of the Hobbit boasts not only beautiful natural views, but also non-standard holidays: for example, Christmas and New Year are held here among greenery and summer sun. Here, as in England and many other countries of the British Commonwealth, the birthday of the English Queen is celebrated. This date falls on the first Monday of June, from this day the ski season opens. New Zealand adopted from England not only the tradition of celebrating the Queen's Birthday, but every year on December 26 they celebrate the state Boxing day, or, in Russian, Boxing Day.
In addition, the birthplace of The Hobbit is also the birthplace of slippers, so every second of December, the locals celebrate the Day of Slippers. True, this funny holiday has not yet become official.
12. Australia
Working holiday: 20 days
Public holidays: 10 days
Total rest days: 30
What are they celebrating: Australia is another country of “inverted” holidays: New Year and Christmas are celebrated in the hot summer. But that's not all the features. Australian holidays, other than national holidays, are declared at the state and territory levels. National dates include the already named New Year and Christmas, as well as Australia Day (January 26), when Captain Arthur Philip founded the first colony here, Easter. Australians celebrate the Queen's birthday on the second Monday of June (the date is timed to coincide with the start of the ski season). In Western Australia, Her Majesty's birthday coincides with the founding of Western Australia itself, so locals calculate the date of the holiday in their own way (there is no fixed day). And just like the New Zealanders, Australians love to scatter boxes from under Christmas gifts, in honor of which December 26 is celebrated as National Boxing Day.
13. Argentina
Working holiday: 10 days
Public holidays: 19 days
Total rest days: 29
What are they celebrating: In its love for the holidays, Argentina overtook Colombia and became the record holder of this list in terms of the number of public holidays: Argentines celebrate and, accordingly, rest for 19 days. The local list is similar to the list of holidays in Spain, the former mistress of South America: October 12, Columbus Day, also Christmas, Easter, New Year, May Day. Every year on June 20, Argentines celebrate National Flag Day: on this day in 1820, the author of the blue-and-white canvas, Manuel Belgrano, died. Another national holiday - August 17 - the anniversary of the memory of the hero of the struggle for independence from the Spanish colonizers, General San Martin. In Argentina, he is revered almost like a saint: the general is buried in the main cathedral of Buenos Aires, grenadiers are on duty near the grave.
14. Germany
Working holiday: 20 days
Public holidays: 9 days
Total rest days: 29
What are they celebrating: Official holidays in Germany are not much different from the holidays of their neighbors: in winter they celebrate the New Year, Epiphany, in the spring - Easter, in the fall - All Saints' Day. Unofficial holidays are much more curious: various festivals have gained immense popularity. This is the autumn Oktoberfest (starts this year on September 21) - a holiday of beer, and with it sausages and cabbage, in which about 6 million people took part last year; the spring festival of lights and fireworks "Lights of the Rhine", which will be held on May 4; July 14 - summer technoparade "Parade of Love".
15. Ireland
Working holiday: 20 days
Public holidays: 9 days
Total rest days: 29
What are they celebrating: Ireland has infected the whole world with faith in green clover and forced everyone to celebrate their national holiday on March 17 - St. Patrick's Day. On this day, it is customary to walk in green clothes, and the mythical leprechauns, the Irish flag and the three-leaf clover (a symbol of the church trinity) are considered symbols of the holiday, although now the four-leaf clover is most often depicted. Irish holidays are a mixture of Christianity and paganism: February 2 is the day of St. Brigid, or Imbolc, May 1 is the Beltane holiday (the same Walpurgis night), and October 31 is the night of Samhain, the Celtic holiday of the end of the harvest.
16. Switzerland
Working holiday: 20 days
Public holidays: 9 days
Total rest days: 29
What are they celebrating: The Swiss are an independent and independent people, therefore each of its cantons in the country determines its own holidays. Only four dates have won the right to become federal holidays common to all cantons: the Swiss national holiday on August 1, Christmas, Ascension and New Year. On August 1, during the National Day of Switzerland, residents decorate their homes with federal and municipal flags, and in the evening everyone goes outside with lanterns and fireworks. Many cantons also celebrate Easter, Boxing Day (December 26), Good Friday (March 29) and Holy Trinity Day (50th day of Easter).
17. UK
Working holiday: 20 days
Public holidays: 8 days
Total rest days: 28
What are they celebrating: Great Britain, like all other countries, celebrates Christmas, New Year, Boxing Day (December 26) and May Day. In addition to traditional holidays, the British have a rest on the Spring Festival - the last Monday of May. On this day, the streets are decorated with garlands of flowers, folk festivals are held. Another unusual public holiday is August Day of Rest, which is celebrated on the last Monday in August. As a rule, many people leave the city at this time for picnics or go to seaside towns.
18. South Korea
Working holiday: 15 days
Public holidays: 12 days
Total rest days: 27
What are they celebrating: In South Korea, there is no practice of transferring holidays that fall on a day off to weekdays. Therefore, the holidays here are treated with reverence and attention. September 3 is Chuseok, the full moon festival. On All Saints' Day (November 1), Koreans visit the graves of their loved ones. The celebration itself takes place in the house of the oldest relatives. Another unusual public holiday on April 5 is Tree Planting Day. On this day, many residents work in their garden.
19. Netherlands
Working holiday: 20 days
Public holidays: 7 days
Total rest days: 27
What are they celebrating: Residents of the Netherlands do not prepare in advance for holidays, but for funerals: every year in this country, one day off is set aside for the funeral of members of the royal family; if no one died, then this day is simply added to the vacation, and the scheduled school classes are canceled. Otherwise, the local population is no different from the rest: they celebrate the New Year, Easter, Christmas and the Ascension of the Lord.
Working holiday: 21 days
Public holidays: 5 days
Total rest days: 26
What are they celebrating: The number of holidays in India is huge. Religious, state and folk holidays in this country are "mixed" with each other. The dates of the holidays change every year, as many of them are based on the lunar or religious calendars. Plus, the mixing of different religions contributes to the dates of the festivities. Despite this abundance, there are only three official national holidays in the country: Indian Independence Day (August 15), Republic Day (January 26, associated with the adoption of the Constitution) and Gandhi's Birthday (October 2). Gandhi's birthday is also proclaimed by the UN General Assembly as the International Day of Non-Violence.
12.01.2017 102 538 41 Reading time: 15 min.
Today I decided to collect and publish data on how long working day, working week and working hours around the world, as well as to analyze how these indicators affect the level of economic development of countries. This idea prompted me to end recently in Russia, the so-called. "New Year holidays", during which many employees rested. There are many other holidays that are not celebrated in other countries, and I have heard opinions more than once that Russians have too much rest, but they need to work, they say. After digging into the statistics, I came to the conclusion that all this is an absolute delusion: in fact, Russians are among the people who work the most in the world! Well, residents of neighboring CIS countries are also not far away. And now more…
There is such an international Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), which is engaged in the calculation and comparison of statistical data in various fields. So, among other things, she counts the hours actually worked (including official part-time jobs and overtime).
According to the OECD, in 2015 the average Russian resident spent at work, attention, 1978 hours! This means that he worked 247 8-hour working days, that is, he worked all the working days of the year according to the norm, without reduced days and no vacation at all. And this is only according to official data! Is it worth mentioning how much people recycle unofficially?
According to this indicator, Russia in 2015 ranked 6th in the world. The top five countries where workers worked the most hours looked like this:
- Mexico.
- Costa Rica.
- South Korea.
- Greece.
- Chile.
Please note: these are predominantly “middle” and “below middle” countries, not the most developed, but not the most backward either. In general, it is not entirely clear why many Asian countries did not get into this TOP, where it is considered good form to work hard, people basically do not rest and do not take vacations. However, this is the report. Do you know which countries, according to the OECD, had the least hours of work?
- Germany.
- Netherlands.
- Norway.
- Denmark.
- France.
In general, the entire top ten is occupied by European countries. For example, the working time of an average German resident in 2015 was 1371 hours, which is one third less than in Russia! In fact, all European countries included in the top 10 countries with the minimum hours worked are at a very high level of development.
Where did such a difference between the hours worked by Russians and residents of Western Europe come from? There are 3 main reasons:
- Shorter working day and working week.
- Longer holidays.
- A more rigorous approach to processing, working after hours.
Moreover, interestingly, the length of the working day and the working week does not have the strongest influence on the actual hours worked per year. Because according to the results of the OECD study, it is clear that countries with approximately the same length of the working day and the working week can take diametrically opposite positions in terms of the average worker's actual working hours.
Let's look at the length of the working day and the working week in different countries of the world:
- Netherlands the minimum working week in the world. The working day is on average 7.5 hours, the working week is 27 hours.
- France, Ireland- Working week 35 hours.
- Denmark- working day 7.3 hours, working week - 37.5 hours. It is noteworthy that at the same time, the average hourly wage in Denmark is 30% higher than in the EU as a whole - 37.6 euros per hour.
- Germany- Working week 38 hours. Despite the fact that the Germans are traditionally considered workaholics, the annual working hours are the lowest in the world!
- Russia Ukraine- working day 8 hours, working week - 40 hours. However, due to overtime (even official!) and short, often non-observed holidays, these countries are among the top ten countries with the longest hours worked per year.
- USA- maximum working week - 40 hours. In fact, in the private sector, workers work an average of 34.6 hours per week.
- Japan- 40 hour work week. Everyone has heard about the workaholism of the Japanese, however, the official working week there is no different from the Russian one. In this country, it is customary to unofficially stay at work to move up the career ladder; this does not fall into official statistics. In fact, the work week often lasts up to 50 hours.
- Great Britain— working week — 43.7 hours.
- Greece- working week - 43.7 hours, actual hours worked - the maximum in Europe.
- Mexico, Thailand, India- working week up to 48 hours, six days.
- China— the average working day is 10 hours, the average working week is 60 hours. Lunch time in China is 20 minutes, and the average vacation time is 10 days.
In addition to the length of the working day and extracurricular work, the duration of the vacation also affects the total hours worked; in European countries, things are also better with this than in Russia, Ukraine and other countries of the post-Soviet space.
So, for example, the average duration of paid vacation in different countries of the world is:
- Austria- 6 weeks vacation (from 25 years old);
- Finland- vacation up to 8 weeks (including "bonuses" up to 18 days for a long service at one enterprise);
- France- up to 9.5 weeks of vacation;
- UK, Germany- 4 weeks vacation;
- European average— 25 working days of vacation (5 weeks);
- Russia– 4 weeks vacation (28 days);
- Ukraine— 24 days of vacation;
- USA- there are no legislative norms for the duration of vacation - at the discretion of the employer;
- Japan- 18 days a year, taking a vacation is considered bad form, on average, the Japanese rest 8 days a year;
- India- 12 days a year;
- China- 11 days a year;
- Mexico- 6 days a year;
- Philippines- 5 days a year (minimum).
As for the "stretched" New Year holidays, in Western countries they actually get even longer. Although there are not so many official holidays there, in reality, since December 20, business activity there has practically been reduced to zero, since December 25, almost all enterprises are closed, and open from January 9-10.
In general, if we consider the trend, then working hours in most countries of the world are gradually decreasing. In the early 1900s, people in many countries put in 3,000 hours of work a year (!), but now the world average is 1,800 hours, and even lower in the most productive and economically developed countries.
Back in 1930, economist John Keynes, the author of the famous theory of Keynesianism, predicted that in 100 years, in 2030, the working week will last an average of 15 hours. Of course, he was most likely wrong in the numbers, but not in the trend: working hours have indeed been steadily declining since then.
If you analyze the data on labor provided by the OECD, you can clearly see that for a strong economy, you need to work not hard, but efficiently. They also have such an indicator as the productivity of working hours, so, for example, if we compare two European countries with the maximum and minimum working hours - Greece and Germany, then in Germany productivity is 70% higher than in Greece. This example perfectly demonstrates the now popular expression: “you need to work not 12 hours a day, but with your head!”.
Fans of workaholism often cite as an example Asian countries, such as China, India, where working hours are very long, and these countries demonstrate high rates of economic growth. I propose to look at Asia a little from the other side.
It is in Asia that there is a special term "karoshi", which means "death by processing." Because such cases are far from uncommon there: people literally die at their workplaces, as their body cannot withstand such a strong load. For example, in Japan, official karoshi statistics are kept, and many believe that they are underestimated.
In general, I think that in terms of the length of the working day, the working week and working hours in general, we need to focus on Europe, and not on Asia. The economies of European countries perfectly demonstrate that labor productivity is much more important than hours worked. Here are just the most important advantages of a shorter working day and working week:
- A person is less tired at work, which means that he can work more efficiently;
- Limited working time leaves no room for distraction on the so-called. - the employee is fully involved in the work process;
- The less working time, the more a person can concentrate on work;
- The employee spends more time at home, with his family, with relatives and friends, devotes more time to his hobbies, rests, which means that he has more energy and strength for work;
- A person who works less has fewer health problems, which means that he again has more strength and energy to do work.
Summing up all of the above, I can conclude: we need to look closely at positive examples and keep the course towards reducing the working day, working week, working time in general. To begin with, at least exclude constant processing from practice. Because when - this, I assure you, will not lead to anything good, neither for employers, nor for employees. Normal civilized labor relations will definitely help to increase labor efficiency, and it will be better for everyone.
In conclusion, for the sake of persuasiveness, I will give a personal example: I devote less than half of the traditional working time to working on this site. And he didn't get any worse, did he? And achieved quite good. That is, in order to, it is not at all necessary to work a lot. Be sure to work efficiently!
Now you know what the working day, working week and working hours are like in the countries of the world, what results it brings, you see my conclusions and you can draw your own. I hope that this information will be useful to you, perhaps it will make you take a different look at things that seemed obvious.
Take care of your time - it is your limited and exhaustible resource. See you at!
Estimate:
According to a study by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Mexico is the hardest-working country in the world, with 2,246 hours of work per year. This is, frankly, an unexpected result, because it is commonly believed that Latin Americans do not like to work.
Meanwhile, every year the citizens of Mexico have to work more and more. So, in 2015, every Mexican worked an average of 18 hours more than in 2014. According to The World Factbook, 61.9% of Mexicans are employed in the service sector, 24.1% in industry, 13.4% in agriculture, and the average annual real salary (calculated at purchasing power parity) of a Mexican citizen is $14,867.
Despite the hard working days, Mexico occupies the penultimate place in terms of the number of vacations: a vacation in Mexico for a worked year is only six days. Only Filipinos have less rest: vacation there lasts five days.
In addition, Mexico has 15 public holidays, including New Year, Constitution Day and Flag Day, during which the people of the country do not work.
In second place is Mexico's geographical neighbor - Costa Rica. Costa Ricans work only 16 hours less per year than Mexicans. And a few years ago, the championship in workaholism belonged to the Costa Ricans.
It is worth noting that thanks to such diligence in 2000-2013, the country's GDP grew by 4.5% per year. Most Costa Ricans - 64% - are employed in the service sector, 22% - in industry, and only 14% - in agriculture. Thanks to hard work, Costa Rica has almost managed to overcome poverty: only 12% of the country's population lives below the poverty line, although the average for the region is no less than 50%.
Holidays for Costa Ricans, unlike Mexicans, are all right. According to the constitution of the country, every worker is entitled to one day of rest after six consecutive days of work and to paid annual leave, the duration and timing of which is regulated by law, but which in no case should be less than two weeks for every 50 consecutive weeks worked. Moreover, Costa Rica has 16 public holidays, during which citizens also have a rest.
Rounding out the top three workaholic countries is South Korea with 2,113 working hours per year. But Koreans spent 11 hours less on work in 2015 than they did in 2014, according to the OECD.
However, despite the reduced workday regime, more than 2,000 hours a year for a high-tech economy is quite a lot, given the fact that more than a quarter of Koreans work ten or more hours a day.
It is worth noting that the average annual real salary of a resident of South Korea is $33,110. At the same time, most of the population - 70.2% - is employed in the service sector, 24.2% - in industry, and 5.7% - in agriculture.
For the sake of a career, Koreans ignore family and labor laws: a six-day work week is the norm rather than an exception, and short vacations are only three days a year, instead of the 10 days required by law.
There are only 13 public holidays: the citizens of the Republic of Korea have a rest not only on the New Year, but also on Children's Day, Memorial Day (in memory of those who died in the struggle for independence or in military service) and Constitution Day.
Greeks don't sleep
Perhaps the main surprise of the OECD study can be considered the fact that the fourth place was taken by Greece - a country whose inhabitants in Europe are considered almost the main lazy continent.
In fact, the Greeks work 2042 hours a year. And every year the citizens of Greece have to work more and more. So, in 2015, every Greek worked an average of 16 hours more than in 2014, and the average annual real salary of a Greek citizen was $25,211.
In Greece, they work an average of 43.7 hours a week. According to The World Factbook, 72.4% of workers are employed in the service sector, 15% in industry, and 12.6% in agriculture.
Greek holidays last 20 days, but they are more fortunate with public holidays than other hardworking countries: there are as many as 18 of them in Greece. .
Chileans close the top five workers with 1988 hours per year. Official holiday in Chile lasts 15 days. Exactly as many public holidays - days off in the country. Among them are not only Christmas and Independence Day, but also Labor Day, All Saints Day, Army Day and even the feast of the Body of the Lord.
Following the Chileans is Russia (1978 hours per year). At the same time, in the crisis year of 2015, each resident of Russia worked an average of seven hours less than in 2014. However, the Russians clearly do not like to recycle: only 0.2% of the population worked more than they should.
Not surprisingly, most of the population is employed in the service sector: 63% of workers, 27.6% in industry, and only 9.4% in agriculture. At the same time, the average monthly accrued wages in 2015, according to estimates, amounted to 33,925 rubles.
It is worth noting that in Russia there is a rather large vacation: 28 calendar days. Moreover, for some citizens, an extended rest is provided. So, employees have a rest of 30 calendar days, minors - 31 days, and workers of professional emergency rescue services and formations have the right to rest for up to 40 days, depending on the length of service.
To all this, 14 more public holidays are added - non-working days. Moreover, in none of the above countries there are New Year holidays, as in Russia.
Relaxed Europeans
Oddly enough, but, according to the OECD, the recognized economic leader in Europe and the world - Germany - is not at all the champion in working hours. The Germans work much less than the Greeks and Russians - an average of 1371 hours a year.
In terms of a working week, this is only 26.3 hours. 74% of workers are employed in the service sector, and about 25% in industry. The fewest Germans are employed in agriculture: just over 1%, according to The World Factbook report.
Moreover, the number of vacation days in Germany is one of the largest: employees can rest 30 days a year. This is stated in the report of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions.
But the number of public holidays here depends on the lands themselves (the so-called territorial units within the country). So, nine holidays are celebrated in all 16 lands, and in addition to these nine holidays, additional ones are established in eleven lands.
A few more Germans work in the Netherlands (1419 hours a year). It is worth noting that in the mid-2000s, the Dutch government was the first in the world to introduce a working week of less than 30 hours. And the Dutch themselves want to work even less. That is why many enterprises in the country are increasingly introducing a 4-day work week. At the same time, the working day of a Dutchman lasts an average of 7 hours and 30 minutes. 81% of residents are employed in the service sector, 17% in industry and about 2% in agriculture.
The average Dutch vacation in Europe is 4 weeks, that is, 20 calendar days. In addition, there are 9 major holidays in the Netherlands. Among them are King's Day, Liberation Day, Holy Trinity Day and St. Nicholas Day. Despite the fact that the latter is not among the state, the Dutch do not work on this day.
In the Scandinavian countries, they also do not process much. In Norway they work 1424 hours a year, in Denmark - 1457 hours. Admitted lovers of a beautiful life - the French - and they work more than the Germans (1482 hours a year).
France is a country with a 35-hour work week, long lunch breaks and even longer holidays. However, not every Frenchman works 35 hours: this figure is just a threshold, after which overtime hours begin for an additional fee. That is why many residents of the country are ready to work more than the norm.
In 2010, 50% of full-time workers applied for overtime pay, according to the French government, and 44% of lawyers worked more than 55 hours in 2008, according to the French National Bar Association. 76% of French people work in the service sector, 21% in industry and only 3% in agriculture.
In France, official paid leave is 25 days a year. Taking into account 10 official holidays, the French have an average of 35 days of rest per year. They rest on Victory Day, All Saints Day and traditionally on Christmas.
Six hours or three days off
However, there are countries that are not included in this rating, but at the same time are ready for changes in the working rhythm. For example, Sweden recently completed a two-year experiment to introduce a 6-hour day. True, the employees of the nursing home in Gothenburg, who were lucky enough to become participants in such an innovation, were upset.
The study showed that the health of employees has improved, which has reduced their sick leave, as well as improved patient care, but the city will not continue the experiment on an ongoing basis: it is too costly.
It turned out that in order to allow 68 nurses to work 30 hours a week instead of 40, the city must hire an additional 17 people, which will cost the treasury over a million euros, notes.
And the Belgian design studio Central, in order to increase the efficiency of its employees, offered them, no less, a third day off, which workers dispose of at their discretion.
It is noteworthy that such an innovation really made it possible to increase the efficiency of work and the speed of completing tasks, because a rested and happy employee is a productive employee, the company noted.
Sri Lanka holds the record for the number of public holidays per year (24 days). In a whole group of countries, citizens officially do not work 21 days a year - these are Bhutan, Brazil, the Virgin Islands, Iran, the Maldives, Puerto Rico, San Marino. In India, 18 days a year are rested, in South Korea - 17, in Japan - 15. In developed Christian countries, the average number of holidays fluctuates around 11-13 (13 in Germany, 12 in Italy, 11 in the USA).
According to UNESCO, the average country annually gives holidays 12.2 days, while for industrialized countries this figure is 12.4, for developing countries - 12.1.
The most “resting” region of the planet is the Caribbean, where citizens do not work on average (excluding weekly holidays) 14.4 days a year. The most "hard-working" region is North America, where they rest on average only 10.5 days.
In addition to official holidays, in many countries there are periods of recession in business activity - for example, in Christian countries this is traditionally the Christmas holidays, and in Russia (11 official non-working days) and the CIS countries there are also May holidays. In Brazil, for example, business activity comes to a halt almost throughout the period of Lent, when the population unanimously goes on vacation, and children have school holidays.
In countries where several religions are common, citizens (probably out of solidarity) celebrate holidays not only of their own, but also of other confessions. It is this tradition that makes Sri Lanka the leader in the number of non-working days. In India, this practice is even associated with a legislative restriction on the maximum number of non-working days due to an employee: the majority has the right to choose two of the 24 so-called "limited" holidays in accordance with their national or religious affiliation. And there are only five national holidays in this country.
The high religiosity of the citizens of Bhutan brings this small state to one of the first places in the "rating of vacationers" - with the only secular holiday (King's Birthday), the remaining 20 days are occupied by religious celebrations. Each of the two official public holidays in Saudi Arabia (Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adh) interrupts the working rhythm in the country for about 10 days. And in Puerto Rico, in almost every city, the celebration in honor of the heavenly patron of this settlement lasts an average of 10 days. In many Christian countries, extra holidays are added to major holidays, mainly Easter.
Citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia, where the number of holidays ranges from six on Chuuk Island to nine on Pohnpei Island, have the fewest official holidays. In Cuba, Mozambique, Papua New Guinea and Sao Tome and Principe, eight days of the year are officially holidays, in the UK, Vietnam, Djibouti, Cape Verde, Laos, Macedonia, Romania and Yugoslavia - nine days.
Here is a list of public holidays and weekends in some countries.
Germany:
Holiday with variable date-Easter
May 1 - Workers' Day
May 21 - Ascension
June 1 - Spirits Day
August 15 - Dormition
Italy:
Holiday with variable date- Easter Monday
First Sunday of June- Republic Day
USA:
Third Monday in January -
Martin Luther King DayThird Monday in February-
President's DayLast Monday in May-Memorial Day
First Monday in September-Labor Day
Second Monday in October- Columbus Day
Fourth Thursday in November- Thanksgiving Day
Japan:
Second Monday of January- coming of age day
Second Monday in October-
Health and Sports DayWhen preparing the certificate, materials of the Kommersant Publishing House and a number of regional and tourist sites were used ( (“Sakura Petals”), Germany.ru, Travel.ru, Tournews.ru, etc.).
In Russia, compulsory leave is 28 calendar days, 20 of which are working days, and another 14 days a year are holidays. In total, Russians rest 34 days a year. If you are interested to know how things are with holidays in other countries of the world, then rather look at this post.
You can count on such a vacation duration with a five-day working week, with a six-day vacation lasts for 30 days. And after 25 years of work in one place, it increases by another five.
The rhythm of Greek life is so leisurely and calm that sometimes the Greeks are accused of laziness. However, not entirely deserved. Their vacation is less than in many other European countries: with a five-day working week - 20 working days, with a six-day working week - 24.
Finland
The length of leave for an ordinary worker in Finland depends on the length of service. According to the law, if he works less than one year, for each month he earns two days of vacation. A year later, the rate increases to two and a half days.
You will not be able to receive monetary compensation instead of vacation. In Spain, this is prohibited by labor law. It also prohibits the transfer of vacation to the next year. Did not want to rest in due time - your problems. Days that haven't been spent are burning away.
Great Britain
Residents of the UK know their worth and, when applying for a job, they always ask not only about the salary, but also about the duration of the vacation in the company. The minimum paid vacation is 28 working days. But there are eight more days of official holidays. The trick is that the employer has the right not to add holidays to the vacation, but to include them in it. So, someone rests 36 days a year (besides weekends), and someone - 28. And no violation of the law!
When calculating holidays in France, the number of hours an employee works per week is taken into account. Employees who choose a 39-hour workweek instead of the standard 35-hour workweek are entitled to two additional weeks of vacation.
On July 1, 2017, a new Labor Code came into force in the country. Now one part of the vacation must be at least ten working days. The remaining ten can be taken as you like - at least for one day. Moreover, 20 working days is the minimum duration of vacation for those who work five days a week. Those who work six days a week have more vacation - 24 working days.
For the people of Lithuania, who have a lot of experience behind them, the changes will only benefit. Now, after ten years of continuous service, an employee has an additional three working days instead of three calendar days for vacation. And for every five subsequent years - one more working day.
For each month worked, an employee is entitled to 2.08 vacation days. In total, 25 working days accumulate in a year. Of these, five can be taken not entirely, but divided by one day. For example, not working on Mondays for five weeks in a row.
Despite the fact that the law establishes a minimum vacation time, Japanese workaholics rarely adhere to it. Resting is considered bad manners. Most often, the Japanese vacation lasts five to six days. And the locals make up for the lack of sleep throughout the year. The only reason that can make the Japanese take a break is a national holiday.
In August, a complete calm sets in in the life of Italians. The first vacationers rush to the beaches in the first days of the month, and on August 15, when the national holiday of Ferragosto is celebrated, the official vacation period begins. At this time, cities literally die out. Even the factories don't work! And on the doors of shops and restaurants there is often a sign: "Closed for the holidays."
Australia
The duration of a vacation in Australia is the same as in Russia. But there are fewer holidays. Moreover, each state has its own holidays, even national ones are often celebrated on different days.
Argentina
In terms of the number of holidays, Argentina occupies a leading position. In this case, if the holiday falls on a weekend, it is transferred to the next working day. Perhaps, as a sign of compensation for the large number of holidays, the vacation in the country was decided to be short. However, ten working days it lasts only if the length of service in one place is less than five years. After this period, the leave increases to 15 days, after 10 years - up to 20 days, and after 20 - up to 25.
Germany
According to German law, every employee is entitled to a vacation of 20 working days for a five-day work week and 24 for a six-day work week. This is an iron minimum. But employers often add to this. On average, employees have 25-29 days a year to rest.
The number of holidays depends on the area. The legislation states that the announcement of days off is within the competence of the Länder. The exception is German Unity Day, which falls on 3 October. Eight more holidays are celebrated in all 16 lands. Further - where how. For example, the inhabitants of Bavaria celebrate the Day of St. Epiphany, the Body and Blood of Christ and the Day of the Reformation, while the inhabitants of Thuringia celebrate only the Day of the Reformation.
Netherlands
Residents of the Netherlands prepare in advance not for the holidays, but for the funeral: every year in this country, one day off is set aside for the funeral of members of the royal family. If no one died, it is added to the vacation. By the way, King's Day (or Queen's Day, depending on who is on the throne at the moment) is the only holiday that is postponed if it falls on a weekend.
South Korea
As in many other Asian countries, it is customary in South Korea to work hard. But rest is not accepted. A short vacation and that one is crushed. A vacation of 20 working days, as in Russia, is an unimaginable luxury by Korean standards. Getting sick in South Korea is also not accepted. Due to illness, it is allowed to miss only one day a month, and even then due to vacation. Sick leave is paid only if the person was in the hospital.
From January 1, 2017, the minimum vacation period has increased from 10 to 12 days. This is the first increase since 1951. 12 days of vacation will now be received by employees who have worked for the company on a five-day work week for less than five years. With a six-day working week and less than five years of work experience, the duration of the vacation will be 16 days. After working for the company for five years, an employee can count on the fact that every year his vacation will increase by one or two days.
Singapore
In the first year of work here, it makes no sense to wait for a vacation lasting more than seven working days. Then every year the employee is added one day, until 14 are typed. Russians can only wonder how, with such a short vacation, the people of Singapore manage to take days off not all days. However, in the country of fines, really, a lot of things are impossible - officially and not very much.
During the first ten years of work, vacation is five days, then ten, and after 20 years - 15. But even such a short vacation, many Chinese refuse to earn extra money. They rest, like the Japanese, on holidays, many of which last several days.
Republic Day, Independence Day and Mahatma Gandhi's Birthday have the status of public holidays. The rest are regional. Therefore, the total number of public holidays varies by state.
Vacation time is highly dependent on seniority. Beginners are out of luck. They have only six days to rest. After four years of work at one enterprise, the duration of the vacation is increased by two weeks, after five years of experience - two more days are added for every five subsequent years.
The US is one of the few countries where vacations are treated as a privilege, thanks to the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. It regulates the maximum number of working hours per week, overtime work, the minimum wage, but does not mention a single word about paid vacation.
Therefore, Americans are not legally allowed to leave. The decision on its duration and payment is made by the employers themselves. But even for those Americans who have paid vacations in companies, it is not easy to take it. The principle of the work culture is such that people are afraid to take a break, as they can be labeled as quitters. Attempts to change the situation have not been made for the first year, but so far they have failed.
