legally required paid annual leave around the world, in days

Yes, I agree with BB, this is seriously depressing.

The New York Times > Magazine > Annual Leave

Comments

[Artie Fufkin]

But how much paid annual leave do people actually receive in the US? I know plenty of people who have so much paid annual leave that they can't use it all.

The difference is if you want the federal government dictating employment policies. I don't.

[Sisyphos]

Those countries which are "nice" with their workers are the ones with the most unemployment: The more regulated a labor market is, the more unemployment does it produce... This is another demonstration of it.

[deedeen]

What is "annual leave"?

[Joe]

"I know plenty of people who have so much paid annual leave that they can't use it all."

I know plenty of people who are kept so busy they don't get to use any of it. And it all expires if unused.

[OlivierM / 9viesduchat.com]

Et oui ! En France nous avons le plaisir d'avoir d'avoir 5 semaines de vacances + quelques jours. Nous travaillons environ 218 jours par an.

Yes ! In France we have the pleasure to have 5 weeks of holiday (paid) + somes days. We're working arround 218 days per year.

Come in France, your welcome !

[dana]

Where is this "Outside" they mention? Is that near Gorilla World?

[Johnny-johnny]

"Those countries which are "nice" with their workers are the ones with the most unemployment:"

Not necessarily. New Zealand is "nice" with it's workers and has 20 days of legally required annual leave. Unemployment is currently 3.6% which I believe is the lowest or second lowest in the OECD.

People unnecessarily equate effort with productivity and output. Many companies have found dropping a 40 hour week in favor of a 35 hour week has resulted in no drop in productivity. The same holds true for an extra 1 or 2 weeks of annual leave per year.

[Hans]

I don't find it depressing. Quite the opposite! This shows that the US government is, at least in this regard, keeping its tentacles out of the free market. If an employee is unhappy with the amount of annual leave provided from their employer, they are free to negotiate for more or say bye bye.

What's depressing to me is to see all around the widespread acceptance of government interference in our lives.

[bb]

I think this is one case where government interference would be welcome...

[Tim]

Well, we have 25 in Sweden. But most people here have about 30 days. And those with kids stay home for about 60 days a year, just because they can (thanks to the government). Since I moved here 8 years ago, I got so used to it. Now I think it is still not enough with 30 days a year for any human being.

[Lily]

Any idea what Switzerland's is?

[Martina]

Swiss people got 20 days off per year plus all the holidays like August 1st [our 4th of July, so to speak], Christmas and Easter. But this is just the minimum we've got to get, a lot of my friends get more.

[howard]

"Those countries which are "nice" with their workers are the ones with the most unemployment: The more regulated a labor market is, the more unemployment does it produce... This is another demonstration of it."

Such is the blissful ignorance of spouting talking points without actually researching their truthfulness. Some of us get so attached to our way of thinking that we assume any deviation from it is going to result in disaster.

The U.S. market is no shining beacon, except to those in the top few percentile who are actually seeing gains, and those will evaporate as well if the foundation of the market (the middle and working classes) continues to be eroded.

[LeRoy Bidlo]

Your "leave" figure for Canada does not include Saskatchewan where we get three weeks (15 days) of statutory vacation. It can't be "taken away" if not used because it's provincial law. I get five weeks of holidays and seldom take it all. I've accumulated over three months of "holidays" (as Canucks call vacation time) and it doesn't look like I'll take it all until I retire.

[Sara]

In Portugal we have 24 days (12 per each 6 months of work) plus 3 days if you work at the same place for over a year without faults.
When you have a baby, you have 16 weeks of leave, witch are divided between the mother and the father (f.e. if the mother had 12 weeks of leave, the father only has 4).