Countries with the most holidays. How much vacation do residents of different countries of the world have? June - Spiritual Day
There may be fewer state holidays in Ukraine - according to the bill proposed by the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance, there will be 9 of them instead of the current 11. The authors of the bill propose to abandon the weekend of May 1-2, and also replace March 8 with Shevchenko Day (March 9), Day Victory - on the Day of Remembrance and Reconciliation (May 8), and the Monday after Trinity in May-June - on Family Day in September.
In Europe
New Year and Catholic Christmas are holidays in almost all of Europe. Most European countries do not work on May 1st: they celebrate either Labor Day or Spring Day. International Women's Day is celebrated only in Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova and Russia.
Religious holiday
Secular holiday
Data for 2017. Easter and Trinity do not have a fixed date, but always fall on Sunday (the day off is transferred to Monday). Holidays of Ukraine are indicated according to the current law.
In the world
IN different countries world, according to the consulting company Mercer for 2014, the number of days off ranges from 7 to 18 days. Most vacationers are in Colombia and India, least in Mexico. In China and Japan, so-called golden weeks have been adopted - several holidays Together with weekends they form a week. In Japan, this week begins with Emperor Showa Day. In China, there are two such weeks: the celebration of the Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) and the Founding Day of the People's Republic of China. The Chinese work off part of these days off throughout the year.
In Russia, mandatory vacation is 28 calendar days, 20 of which are working days, with another 14 days a year being holidays. In total, Russians vacation 34 days a year. If you are interested in finding out how things are going with vacation in other countries of the world, then take a look at this post.
This length of vacation can be counted on with a five-day working week; with a six-day vacation it lasts 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 Greeks are sometimes accused of laziness. However, not entirely deservedly so. They have less vacation than in many other European countries: with a five-day working week - 20 working days, with a six-day week - 24.
Finland
The length of vacation for an ordinary employee in Finland depends on the length of service. According to the law, if he works for less than one year, he earns two days of vacation for each month. After a year, the rate increases to two and a half days.
You will not be able to receive monetary compensation instead of a vacation. In Spain this is prohibited by labor law. It also prohibits transferring vacations to the next year. If you didn’t want to rest on time, that’s your problem. Days not taken off are burned out.
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 length of vacation in the company. The minimum paid leave is 28 working days. But there are still eight days 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, some people rest 36 days a year (in addition to weekends), and others - 28. And no violation of the law!
When calculating vacation in France, it takes into account how many hours an employee works per week. Workers 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 wish - at least one day at a time. 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 residents of Lithuania, who have extensive experience behind them, the changes will only benefit them. Now, after ten years of continuous service, an employee has an additional three working days of vacation instead of three calendar days. And for every five subsequent years - one more working day.
For each month worked, the employee is entitled to 2.08 days of vacation. In total, 25 working days accumulate in a year. Of these, five can be taken not entirely, but divided one day at a time. For example, not working on Mondays for five weeks in a row.
Despite the fact that the law sets a minimum duration of vacation, workaholic Japanese rarely adhere to it. Resting is considered bad manners. Most often, the Japanese vacation lasts five to six days. And the lack of sleep local residents are replenished throughout the year. The only reason that can force the Japanese to rest is a national holiday.
In August, there is complete calm in the life of Italians. The first holidaymakers flock to the beaches in the first days of the month, and on August 15, when the national holiday of Ferragosto is celebrated, the official holiday period begins. At this time, cities literally die out. Even the factories are not working! And on the doors of shops and restaurants there is often a sign: “Closed for the duration of the holidays.”
Australia
The duration of 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
Argentina occupies a leading position in terms of the number of holidays. Moreover, if a 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 country decided to make the holiday short. However, it lasts ten working days only if the length of service in one place is less than five years. After this period, the vacation increases to 15 days, after 10 years - to 20 days, and after 20 - to 25.
Germany
According to German law, each employee has the right to vacation in the amount of 20 working days in a five-day work week and 24 in a six-day work week. This is an ironclad minimum. But employers often add to this. On average, employees are given 25–29 days a year to rest.
The number of holidays depends on the area. The law states that the declaration of public holidays is the responsibility of the states. The exception is German Unity Day, which falls on October 3. Eight more holidays are celebrated in all 16 states. Next - where and how. For example, residents of Bavaria celebrate the Day of St. Epiphany, Body and Blood of Christ and Reformation Day, while residents of Thuringia celebrate only Reformation Day.
Netherlands
Residents of the Netherlands prepare in advance not for holidays, but for funerals: every year in this country one day is set aside as a day off 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 in this moment) is the only holiday that is postponed if it falls on a weekend.
South Korea
As in many others Asian countries, V South Korea It's common to work a lot. But it’s not customary to rest. A short vacation is split up. A vacation of 20 working days, like in Russia, is an unthinkable luxury by Korean standards. Getting sick in South Korea is also not accepted. Due to illness, you are allowed to miss only one day a month, and even then at the expense of vacation. Sick leave is paid only if the person was in the hospital.
From January 1, 2017, the minimum duration of vacation 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 working week for less than five years. With a six-day working week and less than five years of work experience, the vacation duration will be 16 days. After working in the company for five years, an employee can expect that every year his vacation will increase by one or two days.
Singapore
In the first year of work here, there is no point in waiting for a vacation of more than seven working days. Then, every year, the employee is added one more day until he reaches 14. Russians can only wonder how, with such a short vacation, Singaporeans manage to take only a few days off. However, in the country of fines, very many things are indeed prohibited - officially and not so 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. Like the Japanese, they relax 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 holidays varies by state.
The length of leave depends greatly on length of service. Newbies are out of luck. They are only allowed six days to rest. After four years of work at one enterprise, the duration of vacation increases 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 that treats vacation as a privilege, thanks to the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. It regulates the maximum number of working hours per week, overtime work, and the minimum wage, but does not mention a word about paid leave.
Therefore, Americans are not legally entitled to leave. The decision on its duration and payment is made by the employers themselves. But even those Americans whose companies offer paid leave find it difficult to take it. The principle of work culture is such that people are afraid to rest, as they may be labeled as quitters. Attempts to change the situation have been made for several years, but so far they have failed.
According to a study conducted by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (), the most industrious country in the world is Mexico, with 2,246 hours worked per year. This, frankly speaking, is an unexpected result, because it is generally accepted that Latin Americans do not like to work.
Meanwhile, every year Mexican citizens have to work more and more. Thus, in 2015, each Mexican worked on average 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) for a Mexican citizen is $14,867.
Despite the hard work, Mexico ranks second to last in terms of the amount of rest: vacation in Mexico for a year of work is only six days. Only the Filipinos rest less: their vacation lasts five days.
In addition, Mexico has 15 public holidays, including New Year's Day, Constitution Day and Flag Day, during which residents of the country do not work.
In second place is Mexico's geographic neighbor, Costa Rica. Costa Ricans work only 16 hours less per year than Mexicans. Moreover, a few years ago, the championship in workaholism belonged to Costa Ricans.
It is worth noting that thanks to such diligence, in 2000-2013, the country’s GDP grew by 4.5% per year. The majority of Costa Ricans - 64% - are employed in the service sector, 22% - in industry and only 14% - in agriculture. Thanks to hard work, Costa Rica has practically managed to overcome poverty: only 12% of the country's population lives below the poverty line, although the regional average is no less than 50%.
Costa Ricans, unlike Mexicans, are okay with vacations. According to the country's constitution, every worker has the right to one day's rest after six consecutive days of work and to annual paid leave, the duration and timing of which shall be regulated by law, but which in no case shall be less than two weeks for every 50 consecutive weeks worked. Moreover, Costa Rica has 16 public holidays, on which citizens also rest.
South Korea closes the top three workaholic countries with 2,113 working hours per year. But Koreans spent 11 hours less on work in 2015 than in 2014, according to the OECD.
However, despite the reduced working hours, 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 and more hours per day.
It is worth noting that the average annual real salary of a South Korean resident is $33,110. Moreover, the majority 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 here is more the norm than the exception, and short vacations are only three days a year, instead of the 10 days required by law.
There are only 13 public holidays: citizens of the Republic of Korea rest not only on New Year, but also on Children's Day, Remembrance 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 is the fact that fourth place was taken by Greece, a country whose inhabitants in Europe are considered almost the main lazy people of the continent.
In fact, Greeks work 2,042 hours a year. And every year, Greek citizens have to work more and more. Thus, in 2015, each Greek worked on average 16 hours more than in 2014, and the average annual real salary of a Greek citizen was $25,211.
In Greece people work on average 43.7 hours per week. According to The World Factbook, 72.4% of workers are employed in the service sector, 15% in industry, and 12.6% in agriculture.
The Greeks' vacation lasts 20 days, but they are luckier with public holidays than other hardworking countries: there are as many as 18 of them in Greece. In addition to the classic weekends on New Year's and Labor Day, the Greeks also relax on St. Nicholas the Wonderworker's Day and Greek Independence Day .
The top five workers are closed by the Chileans with 1988 hours per year. Official vacation in Chile lasts 15 days. There are exactly the same number of public holidays and weekends in the country. These include not only Christmas and Independence Day, but also Labor Day, All Saints' Day, Army Day and even Corpus Christi.
Following the Chileans is Russia (1978 hours per year). Moreover, in the crisis year of 2015, every resident of Russia worked on average seven hours less than in 2014. However, Russians clearly do not like to overwork: only 0.2% of residents worked more than required.
It is not surprising that 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 quite a long vacation: 28 calendar days. Moreover, for some citizens an extended vacation is provided. Thus, employees rest for 30 calendar days, minors - 31 days, and workers of professional emergency rescue services and units have the right to rest for up to 40 days, depending on their length of service.
To all this are added 14 more public holidays - non-working days. Moreover, in none of the above countries there is New Year holidays, as in Russia.
Relaxed Europeans
Oddly enough, but, according to the OECD, the recognized economic leader of Europe and the world - Germany - is not at all a champion in working hours. Germans work significantly less than both Greeks and Russians - on average 1,371 hours per 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 Fund 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). Thus, nine holidays are celebrated in all 16 lands, and in addition to these nine holidays, additional ones are established in eleven lands.
Slightly more Germans work in the Netherlands (1,419 hours per 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. Moreover, the Dutch themselves want to work even less. That is why many enterprises in the country are increasingly introducing a 4-day working week. At the same time, a Dutchman's working day lasts on average 7 hours and 30 minutes. 81% of residents are employed in the service sector, 17% in industry and about 2% in agriculture.
The Dutch have an average vacation in Europe - 4 weeks, that is, 20 calendar days. In addition, there are 9 main holidays in the Netherlands. Among them are King's Day, Liberation Day, Trinity Day and St. Nicholas Day. Despite the fact that the latter is not a state holiday, the Dutch do not work on this day.
In Scandinavian countries they also do not process much. In Norway people work 1,424 hours a year, in Denmark - 1,457 hours. Confessed amateurs beautiful life- the French - and they work more than the Germans (1482 hours per year).
France is a country with a 35-hour work week, long lunch breaks and even longer vacations. However, not every Frenchman works 35 hours: this figure is simply a threshold after which overtime hours begin for additional pay. That is why many residents of the country are ready to work more than normal.
According to the French government, 50% of full-time workers claimed overtime in 2010, 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 take an average of 35 days off per year. They rest on Victory Day, All Saints' Day and traditionally Christmas.
Six hours or three days off
However, there are countries that are not included in this rating, but are still ready for changes in the working rhythm. For example, Sweden recently completed a two-year experiment to introduce a 6-hour working day. True, the employees of a 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 time on sick leave, and patient care has also improved, but the city will not continue the experiment on an ongoing basis: it is too expensive.
It turned out that in order to allow 68 nurses to work 30 hours a week instead of 40, the city would have to hire an additional 17 people, which would 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 employees can dispose of at their own discretion.
It is noteworthy that this innovation really made it possible to increase work efficiency and speed of task completion, because a rested and happy employee is a productive employee, the company noted.
In Russia, compulsory vacation is 28 calendar days (that is, 20 working days), and another 14 days a year are declared holidays. It turns out that, in addition to weekends, the average resident of Russia rests for 34 days (and those who have irregular working hours have the right to additional vacation - from three days). How many holidays do you spend abroad? Let's talk!
Austria
This length of vacation can be counted on with a five-day working week; with a six-day vacation it lasts 30 days. And after 25 years of work in one place, it increases by another five.Greece
Finland
The length of vacation for an ordinary employee in Finland depends on the length of service. According to the law, if he works for less than one year, he earns two days of vacation for each month. After a year, the rate increases to two and a half days. Spain
You will not be able to receive monetary compensation instead of a vacation. In Spain this is prohibited by labor law. It also prohibits transferring vacations to the next year. If you didn’t want to rest on time, that’s your problem. Days not taken off are burned out. Great Britain
France
When calculating vacation in France, it takes into account how many hours an employee works per week. Workers who choose a 39-hour workweek instead of the standard 35-hour workweek are entitled to two additional weeks of vacation. Lithuania
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 wish - at least one day at a time. 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 residents of Lithuania, who have extensive experience behind them, the changes will only benefit them. Now, after ten years of continuous service, an employee has an additional three working days of vacation instead of three calendar days. And for every five subsequent years - one more working day. Denmark
For each month worked, the employee is entitled to 2.08 days of vacation. In total, 25 working days accumulate in a year. Of these, five can be taken not entirely, but divided one day at a time. For example, not working on Mondays for five weeks in a row. Japan
Despite the fact that the law sets a minimum duration of vacation, workaholic Japanese 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 their lack of sleep throughout the year. The only reason that can force the Japanese to rest is a national holiday. Italy
In August, there is complete calm in the life of Italians. The first holidaymakers flock to the beaches in the first days of the month, and on August 15, when the national holiday of Ferragosto is celebrated, the official holiday period begins. At this time, cities literally die out. Even the factories are not working! And on the doors of shops and restaurants there is often a sign: “Closed for the duration of the holidays.” Australia
The duration of 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
Argentina occupies a leading position in terms of the number of holidays. Moreover, if a 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 country decided to make the holiday short. However, it lasts ten working days only if the length of service in one place is less than five years. After this period, the vacation increases to 15 days, after 10 years - to 20 days, and after 20 - to 25. Germany
Netherlands
Residents of the Netherlands prepare in advance not for holidays, but for funerals: every year in this country one day is set aside as a day off 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
Israel
From January 1, 2017, the minimum duration of vacation 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 working week for less than five years. With a six-day working week and less than five years of work experience, the vacation duration will be 16 days. After working in the company for five years, an employee can expect that every year his vacation will increase by one or two days. Singapore
China
India
Republic Day, Independence Day and Mahatma Gandhi's Birthday have the status of public holidays. The rest are regional. Therefore, the total number of holidays varies by state. Mexico
The length of leave depends greatly on length of service. Newbies are out of luck. They are only allowed six days to rest. After four years of work at one enterprise, the duration of vacation increases by two weeks; after five years of experience, two more days are added for every five subsequent years. USA
The US is one of the few countries that treats vacation as a privilege, thanks to the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. It regulates the maximum number of working hours per week, overtime work, and the minimum wage, but does not mention a word about paid leave. Therefore, Americans are not legally entitled to leave. The decision on its duration and payment is made by the employers themselves. But even those Americans whose companies offer paid leave find it difficult to take it. The principle of work culture is such that people are afraid to rest, as they may be labeled as quitters. Attempts to change the situation have been made for several years, but so far they have failed.