Countries With The Longest And Shortest Workdays [GRAPHIC]

It's well known that Americans put in long hours at the office. But now, thanks to an infographic from tribeHR using data from the OECD, we can compare it to other countries around the globe.

It's not Americans that work that longest days of any country, however. That dubious honor goes to Mexico, whose citizens work an average of nearly 10 hours per day. U.S. workers, on the other hand, work 8.3, despite many top-level employees viewing a 40-hour work week as part time, according to a July report from the Center for American Progress.

And who's the easiest going of all surveyed countries? That would be Belgium, seven-hour workday and all.

Below is the infographic showing which nations work the longest hours from tribeHR Human Resources Software:

Comments

[becky bradshaw]

09:19 AM on 09/04/2011

With 15-20% of Americans unemployed or underemployed, it does bring down the average a bit.

"A really efficient totalitarian state would be one in which the all-powerful executive of political bosses and their army of managers control a population of slaves who do not have to be coerced, because they love their servitude. To make them love it is the task assigned, in present-day totalitarian states, to ministries of propaganda, newspaper editors, and school teachers."

Aldous Huxley

[dporterdvd]

01:59 AM on 09/04/2011

As far as America goes, I think that study only reflects the hours Americans are paid for (not the total hours they actually worked).

Most Americans I know used to work about 40 hours per week but now are working closer to 60 but are only getting paid for 40.

[JacksonHts]

10:57 PM on 09/05/2011

And remember when one parent worked, one stayed at home, and could still afford two cars, a home, and could raise a family?

[Winter Skye]

10:37 PM on 09/03/2011

If you look at the graphic, some of the countries with the best standards of living are at the "bottom" (shortest work days)! So this insanity about being a "hard worker" is propaganda given by the leisure class to the wage slaves to keep them moving! I am not a mule; I never understood why people actually take pride in slaving away. Life is about balance.

[spkninglsh]

11:30 PM on 09/03/2011

Get back to work!

[cmr86]

06:32 AM on 09/04/2011

Work smart, not hard.

[Bubblessharky]

07:25 PM on 09/03/2011

So glad the US hasn't adopted any of those socialist trends like Denmark or other EU nations. I am also glad they didn't examine how much time might be spent commuting to and fro their place of employment in the overchoked and crumbling US roading infrastructure.

So happy that the GOP is here to ensure we don't have any more spare time to fraternise in stupid tasks like educating overselves or volunteering in the community. After all that is plain socialism.

[Gottlieb]

09:32 PM on 09/03/2011

I have read those Danes are rated as the happiest people on the planet. As the GOP likes to refer to me,"a leach on society" as I don't work but just volunteer 30 or so hours a week and walk a block to where I tutor 1st graders when I am not working on my masters. No Americans are dying to supply gas to a car since I don't own one. The GOP is promoting their "Big Lie" for political power and servicing their paymasters instead of rebuilding our infrastructure, helping small business people and putting Americans to work.

[Mobu]

11:00 PM on 09/03/2011

If I have to guess you never travel outside the US.

[barbra1971]

02:55 AM on 09/04/2011

He was sarcastic.

[The Contrary]

01:19 PM on 09/03/2011

Last we heard, there has been no financial collapse or government shutdown in any of these countries: Belgium, Denmark, and Germany (top 3 countries on the list).

Maybe a quasi-capitalism mixed with socialism in these countries is working well after all. Considering all the challenges that each country is facing including Belgium that has 3 official languages - Dutch, French, and German.

Denmark is the world LEAST inequality in income gap between the wealthy and the poors. Denmark is also known for the "world's happiest people on earth".

It is time for American politicians and business leaders to learn something good coming from these countries. (Maybe NOT. Americans don't like to learn. We like to lead.)

[Gottlieb]

09:41 PM on 09/03/2011

Americans are constantly told, "We are the greatest or we have the greatest health care system in the world." You shouldn't include Belgium since they haven't had a government for a while now since they have such evenly divided political parties based on linguistic and geographical differences with no party able to form a government. Americans are too use to being pandered too.

[filo]

08:15 AM on 09/03/2011

You work three jobs? … Uniquely American, isn't it? I mean, that is fantastic that you're doing that." Dubaya —to a divorced mother of three

[StopMakingSense2]

01:39 PM on 09/02/2011

If republicans get their way you won't work to live, you will live to work..

[glockman]

06:00 PM on 09/03/2011

Most of us already work to live. We work to survive.

[Gottlieb]

09:43 PM on 09/03/2011

Most Americans are two paychecks away from economic disaster.

[ahzzz]

11:36 AM on 09/02/2011

While interesting this is visually one of the worst graphics I have seen in a long time.

[Both Wings 2 fly]

09:58 AM on 09/02/2011

Would all the nay sayers of this article, please give the FACTS, as to why these stats are wrong? I know that Fox news gives opinions and are short on FACTS, but there are other sources out there where you could gather FACTS. I know they can be confusing to those that are not used to them, but I am sure you can get through that fear, and find out that they are really your friends.
Sua Sponte

[nappyman]

09:13 AM on 09/02/2011

What happened to lazy mexicans? And I can't believe those socialist Canadians work so much?

[furby6]

10:52 AM on 09/02/2011

And this Canadian woman is mighty upset at the free labour we're throwing in to pick up after everyone. We should start charging for those 4 hours a day. If beer drinking and watching sports on TV had been included on the men's side, they would have scored far better, the lazy ashes.

[JustinP213]

08:05 AM on 09/02/2011

3.75 hours of paid work for Denmark?? Really? That's it? Wow.

[Winter Skye]

10:38 PM on 09/03/2011

I am researching moving there as we speak;)

[barbra1971]

02:59 AM on 09/04/2011

Check the taxes too, it may be hard for you to accept it in the beginning :-) But the safety net is great.

[JustinP213]

08:52 PM on 09/04/2011

Hahaha

[frank day]

08:01 AM on 09/02/2011

So much for the myth that Mexicans are lazy.

[furby6]

10:54 AM on 09/02/2011

Yep, and then people scream and jump up and down because employers hire Mexicans. I guess Mexicans are desirable employees for more reasons than low pay. Interesting, and not surprising if you consider how many HP readers are in here commenting during their work hours.

[Arts4u]

11:53 AM on 09/03/2011

Sorry. Doesnt' mean that Americans can go to Mexico and take their jobs, does it?

[Norm]

09:23 PM on 09/03/2011

My brother lives in Mexico: Mexicans, including doctors work for very little per hour, which easily explains why their work day must be longer.

[specultr]

01:34 AM on 09/04/2011

My sister-in-law is a doctor in Monterrey Mexico, and she owns quite a bit of property. I don't know her wage amount, but it affords her a very nice lifestyle along with her engineer husband.

[jagrmeister721]

03:07 AM on 09/02/2011

LOL @ unpaid work.  Once again, OECD establishes itself as an unserious joke.

[exilist]

01:09 AM on 09/02/2011

This makes no sense. What fulltime worker only gets paid for 5 hours of their day? Huh?

[MasterKat]

02:35 AM on 09/02/2011

You assume they're actually working the whole 8 hours they're at their jobs. How much time do you spend surfing the internet, chatting with co-workers, going to the bathroom, etc? I just don't know how accurately we can measure those paid 'breaks.' Facebook apparently costs employers millions every year. But keep in mind that evidence suggests productivity increases if you have a mini break every 45 minutes or so.

[500 a]

11:26 PM on 09/01/2011

Mexican workers work 4.2 unpaid hours per day?  Could it be that they are forced to work off-the-books or they'll loose their job?   It's exploitation...not 'unpaid work'