Mandatory Paid Time Off Around The Globe (CHART)

Open Forum:

Here in the U.S., the government doesn't require companies to give employees a specific number of paid time off days. Around the globe, though, many governments do. Here's a world view of paid time off policies.

Read the whole story: Open Forum

Comments

[JB1977]

12:41 PM on 05/05/2011

Mexico has better worker protections in this regard? Mexico?

[VeroucaSalt]

06:51 PM on 05/05/2011

Ironic, isn't it?

But the pay in Mexico just doesn't compare with the US.

[JB1977]

12:08 PM on 05/06/2011

Very true.

[GenXer]

09:14 AM on 05/05/2011

GE proves that low taxes dies not appease corporations greed. They paid 2% , gave the CEO a bonus and still ask the workers to take a pay cut. We are chumps.

[MikeyJaii]

10:48 PM on 05/04/2011

Austria ! Here I come!

[The Professor]

06:58 PM on 05/04/2011

And in Italy, if a group wants a day off, go on strike!

[jasongrundy]

03:21 PM on 05/04/2011

Looks like there is no difference between capitalism and communism.

[MDUB1969]

11:00 AM on 05/04/2011

It is becoming more and more difficult for me to find reasons to actually STAY in the US. I frequently look for jobs overseas, but haven't found anything yet. I am sure everywhere has its drawbacks, but I'd love to live somewhere where us everyday people are actually valued and the work/life balance sways toward enjoying life a little bit more.

[jtabs]

11:22 AM on 05/04/2011

What are you, some kind of Pinko, Commie, Fascist, we Merkins believe in the work ethic memorialized by the Tennessee Ernie Ford lyric;

"I was born one mornin' when the sun didn't shine
I picked up my shovel and I walked to the mine"

"You load sixteen tons, what do you get
Another day older and deeper in debt"

[MDUB1969]

12:38 PM on 05/04/2011

Ha you got it. It's the American Way. Then you die of Black Lung.

[wespenn56]

03:15 PM on 05/04/2011

At least you'll have health care once you find a job

[Saxton]

10:48 AM on 05/04/2011

In Europe, many people take their time off and travel and broaden their views of the world allowing them to become more informed citizens. Meanwhile in the US, only the wealthy are permitted to travel and vacation while the majority of Americans, if they are lucky, are permitted one week of vacation (maybe two) to relax and travel.
It is a shame most Americans don't step back and realize that they are being played for fools. Here we work 50 or more hours a week, receive little or no health care, receive one or two weeks vacation, and have little to put aside for retirement. We do all of this with the flag wrapped around us so that the corporate elite can extract every penny for profit from our labor.

[MDUB1969]

10:58 AM on 05/04/2011

Everything you say is true; however what are most Americans supposed to do about it. We don't have politicians out there suggesting our government adopt these more humane and desirable time off processes, so it isn't a matter of who they are voting for. It's the American way. Work first, yourself and family second. Unfortunately, we all can't emigrate to other countries, or afford to open our own businesses, or take more unpaid time.
I'm all for adopting new policies for time off, parental leave, maternity leave...just tell me who is advocating for it.

[JB1977]

12:37 PM on 05/05/2011

Bernie Sanders. . . Dennis Kucinich. . . . Damn, I can't think of any more.

[70119]

10:21 AM on 05/04/2011

Lunch hours in France are typically 2 hours. I interviewed with a company in the US that told me they allowed 20 minutes for lunch.

[VeroucaSalt]

06:54 PM on 05/05/2011

20 minutes? Sometimes I'm lucky to get 5!

[frank day]

10:07 AM on 05/04/2011

See! We are competitive with China in something.

[sho-nuff]

09:51 AM on 05/04/2011

...for what?...we are inundated with "patriotic" symbols and a bravado that goes un-matched...for what? this country does very little for it's people...

[JB1977]

12:39 PM on 05/05/2011

I think the only reason some people love it, particularly on the right, is because it's a much more every man, woman and child for themself kind of place. They equate that with freedom (despite their agreement to disregard various individual civil liberties).

[IrishInsurgent]

09:36 AM on 05/04/2011

Damn the comment at the bottom of the chart reads:

"Italy most of July and August off".

Not to bad. Two months paid summer holidays for workers on top of the normal vacations for bank holidays and christmas/new year.

Also Italy has pretty good drug laws. Cannabis possession for personal amounts is not even a fine offense just gets confiscated. Possession of other drugs can get you a fine of up to 1,000 Euro but no jail time.

[MDUB1969]

12:40 PM on 05/04/2011

The Czech Republic is the same way. Most other countries realize that chasing down pot smokers is a futile business, but you can find good MJ laws in the states. Colorado is pretty darn awesome these days...aside from the fact that we have no time off to enjoy our green.

[wilsonveteran]

03:53 PM on 05/04/2011

What you failed to mention is Italy is gong bankrupt faster than we are and there are no jobs to be had there. Grass is always greener.

[IrishInsurgent]

04:35 PM on 05/04/2011

Ha ! well I'm Irish so we are pretty much bakrupt and out of jobs anyway... so this is a case where Italy certainly looking better.

[Nukualofa]

09:22 AM on 05/04/2011

Most of those countries with the most time off have better unemployment benefits also.

[wespenn56]

03:16 PM on 05/04/2011

and health care

[Timma]

08:36 AM on 05/04/2011

...is it any wonder we've become a neurotic society?...

[sho-nuff]

09:52 AM on 05/04/2011

..with no clue of our id...how are you supposed to be creative, intellectually curios and confident if you never get the space to explore?

[frank day]

10:08 AM on 05/04/2011

Head down, nose down to the grindstone.
Don't think about anything except your meager existance.

Keep sweeping the Emerald Bar.

[yappnmutt]

04:26 AM on 05/04/2011

more time off for usans would be great for the xxx and, ahem, massager industries. you know what they say about idle hands. its best to keep them working, like at work....on their job.

[666dorado]

04:23 AM on 05/04/2011

wow, i guess mandatory paid time of would be....SOCIALISM.

real red-blooded americans will have none of that. they prefer to work like dogs.

[wespenn56]

03:17 PM on 05/04/2011

Why shouldn't we work like dogs? We're treated like dogs