06-26-2003, 10:56 PM | #1 |
Hoplite Nomad
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Work hours and vacation around the world
Are you enjoying your two weeks of vacation this summer? In other countries, vacation can stretch a lot longer. Here are some examples:
Australia Most workers in Australia work 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Australians earn significantly more vacation time than Americans, for example Australians have three months off after 15 years of services. Since Australia’s summer is in December and January, most Australians take their vacation then, combine summer break with the Christmas and New Year’s Day holidays. Belgium The standard work week in Belgium is Monday through Friday, 37.5 hours, and cannot exceed 40 hours. Overtime must be compensated by overtime pay and an equal amount of paid time off. Employees who have completed at least a full year’s service typically receive 24 days of vacation time annually. China China’s standard workweek is 40 hours long, with a mandated 24-hour rest period each week. There are seven paid public holidays, and employees usually get seven to 14 days of vacation each year. France Beginning in 2000, the legal workweek for companies with more than 20 employees is 35 hours; smaller companies have until 2002 to adjust to the new law. French vacation benefits tend to be very generous. Typically, workers earn around four weeks of vacation each year. Hong Kong After being employed continuously for 12 months, an employee is entitled to vacation leave, usually ranging from seven to 14 days per year. Senior staff and executives generally get four to six weeks off each year. The normal workweek in Hong Kong is 44 to 48 hours spread over six days. Italy The Italian work week, is 40 hours long. The regular work week should not exceed six days, and a work day shouldn’t last more than eight hours. Workers receive at least four weeks of paid vacation, with many getting up to six weeks off. Korea The maximum legal work week in Korea is 44 hours, with overtime pay when necessary. Each week, employees are legally entitled to a 24-hour rest period. Employees earn one paid vacation day each month, plus ten days after one year with perfect attendance. Norway Normal work hours are limited by law to 37.5 hours per week, usually running Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Norwegian law also provides for 25 paid vacation days per year and a legally mandated 28-hour rest period on holidays and weekends. Employees have a right to sick leave and women are entitled to maternity leave with full pay for up to 42 weeks, or 52 weeks at 78 percent of her pay. Singapore Most companies in Singapore operate on a five-and-a-half-day work week, with Saturday being the half day. The standard legal work week is 44 hours long. Employees are entitled to a minimum of seven days of vacation leave for the first year of service, with most enjoying two to three weeks of leave and paid sick leave.
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About Eowyn, Does anyone know what her alias Dernhelm means? She was kown as dernhelm because of her exclaimation when she realized that the rider's headgear was heavy and obscured her sight. 'Dern Helm" Culled from Entmoot From Kirinski 57 and Wayfarer. |
06-27-2003, 01:48 AM | #2 | |
Greatest Elven woman of Aman
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Re: Work hours and vacation around the world
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The nice thing here is, 4 of the 42/52 weeks are reserved for the father. He must take them, they cannot be transferred to the mother. Only 9 weeks are reserved for the mother, the parents can share the rest of their leave between them as they want.
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06-27-2003, 02:22 AM | #3 |
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Go! Norway.
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About Eowyn, Does anyone know what her alias Dernhelm means? She was kown as dernhelm because of her exclaimation when she realized that the rider's headgear was heavy and obscured her sight. 'Dern Helm" Culled from Entmoot From Kirinski 57 and Wayfarer. |
06-27-2003, 03:06 AM | #4 |
I am Freddie/UNDERCOVER/ Founder of The Great Continent of Entmoot
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The workers end up paying for it in one form or another. There are no free lunches.
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06-27-2003, 03:38 AM | #5 |
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Through taxes and higher costs yes, but we think it's worth it. The positive sides are: Higher birth rates, more women in work, closer father/child relationships and happier children.
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--Life is hard, and then we die. Last edited by Artanis : 06-27-2003 at 03:39 AM. |
06-27-2003, 03:48 AM | #6 |
Lord of the Pants
Join Date: Apr 2003
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Wow. In New Zealand, you're entitled to a years maternity leave, but it's not paid. You're entitled to something like 12 weeks paid maternity leave, and an employer may wish to extend that to a longer period. In terms of holiday pay, most New Zealanders get between 3-4 weeks.
Just as an added note: we've just passed a bill to legalise prostitution! Finally! |
06-27-2003, 03:52 AM | #7 | |
I am Freddie/UNDERCOVER/ Founder of The Great Continent of Entmoot
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Many large companies offer day care at work in the US and also other beenfits. I don't think it's alway the governments job to put so many demands on companies. Abuse, child labor laws - yes. How many vacation days a company offers just isn't one of them.
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06-27-2003, 04:03 AM | #8 |
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Well I'm talking about Norway, which is the country I know, and we don't have 3 months vacation here. We also need higher birth rates, because when I get old I expect to be taken care of by society in form of medical assistance and health care. Many eldrely people here live in institutions, which the state is paying for. There must be enough workers around to pay for this welfare. I know this is different from the USA, but this is our system. Norway is rich and unemployment is low, partly because of the oil industri, and we can afford a high standard of public welfare.
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06-27-2003, 10:36 AM | #9 |
Elf Lord
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True, besides, higher birth rates anywhere in Europe are far from meaning excessive birth rates. Socially and economically, they would be positive.
The Neoliberal myth that State is necessarily bad and Private is necessarily good is just that; a myth. Companies are part of society, therefore they must work for the benefit of all society; otherwise their role should be rethought.
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06-27-2003, 11:21 AM | #10 | ||
I am Freddie/UNDERCOVER/ Founder of The Great Continent of Entmoot
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Companies and employees both enter into "agreements" for vacation, pay rate, benefits, etc. It is in a company's best interest to provide people with competitive benefits. The companies which provides better benefits will attract better workers and happier ones. Government is just a beauracracy which the majority of times just gets in the way of free market forces. NJ has the highest car insurance costs in the country because of the rules the state has placed on the insurance companies. Most companies have left the state, which has caused rates to go up. When NY taxes companies heavily or puts demands on them - they move over to NJ. I hope NY continues to keep raising the taxes in NY - it's good for NJ. More people are coming hear to shop, eat and do business because of it - which generates tax revenue without us actually having to raise taxes. All actions government takes on companies have a reaction on the free market. It also prevents companies from reacting efficiently to changing market conditions since so much of their expenses are fixed by the government. I'm not talking about safety requirements and all that - I'm talking about employee benefits. They're benefits - not supposed to be "requirements". When the economy slows down and it's haivng to pay people who aren't even working - it puts a heavy burden on the company. It then has to cut in other areas - possibly laying off people, instead of cutting benefits. I'm not saying all companies work or treat their employees fairly - but the majority do. It's just that fairness isn't what gets on the news. It's the 1, 2, 3 companies which don't that make the news. Companies that make the news are the ones that have excessive executive pay as the company is failing - or some accounting scandal - not the 99% which don't.
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06-27-2003, 03:18 PM | #11 | ||||
Elf Lord
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Your raise a good point, but not really applicable to the present European situation. Considering that most European countries have negative birth rates, an increase would most likely mean only a stable population or one slowly growing, nothing that would cause problems in the foreseeable future. Quote:
Absolutely. Yet, that is not the role of Society. The role of Society is to create conditions that are the most favourable to the greater possible number of its members. If a given company doings does comply with this, very well. If not, its role has to be reconsidered. Quote:
As you implied before, what is best for the company (maximization of profits) is not necessarily what is best for Society (maximization of living conditions). It is part of the common beliefs of today that Market, if left by itself, will automatically regulate itself and will work in a state of Market Economy, or near such a state. But reality is different. Many markets devolve into Oligopolies or into a state of Market Monopoly (not of Monopoly), this is usually due to the very conditions of the Market and not due to State Intervention. You will also note that Social Democracies are traditionally capable to weather economic crisis better than more purely capitalist systems, (albeit have usually less growth in better times). Such societies are more stable, and less given to social extremes, (of poverty or wealth). It could be described, I believe, as a trade of, of greater potential wealth for greater tangible social security. Quote:
Perhaps there it is so, but my perception elsewhere is somewhat different.
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**************************************** "None are more hoplessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free." - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Reality is just an illusion, albeit a very persistent one - Albert Einstein The Caffeine Mantra It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion. It is by the juice of Brazil that the thoughts aquire speed, The hands aquire shaking, the shaking becomes a warning. It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion... Elvellon Erelion |
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06-27-2003, 03:28 PM | #12 | |
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um why is that a good thing? do you really wanna get laid that bad?
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06-27-2003, 03:49 PM | #13 |
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Because it will get the off the street and into more safer 'havens', as well as ensuring that they are able to get regular checkups. Duh. And in keeping with the topic, maybe now they will be eligible for holiday pay, and sick leave, maternity leave, and set hours.
Last edited by Sheeana : 06-27-2003 at 03:50 PM. |
06-27-2003, 03:55 PM | #14 | ||||||
I am Freddie/UNDERCOVER/ Founder of The Great Continent of Entmoot
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Come back! Come back! To Mordor we will take you! "The only thing better than a great plan is implementing a great plan" - JerseyDevil "If everyone agreed with me all the time, everything would be just fine"- JerseyDevil AboutNewJersey.com New Jersey MessageBoard Another Tolkien Forum Memorial to the Twin Towers New Jersey Map Fellowship of the Messageboard Legend of the Jersey Devil Support New Jersey's Liberty Tower Peacefire.org AboutNewJersey.com - New Jersey Travel and Tourism Guide |
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06-27-2003, 03:56 PM | #15 |
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but its a necessary evil not a cause to celebrate,
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06-27-2003, 04:01 PM | #16 | |
I am Freddie/UNDERCOVER/ Founder of The Great Continent of Entmoot
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I also don't think it is something to celebrate. I'm not against prostitution - I think it is something between two adults. Are they going to pay for the regulations and stuff required by legalising it or all ALL tax payers going to foot the bill? What benefits are they going to be bringing to society?
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06-27-2003, 06:47 PM | #17 | |||||||
Elf Lord
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I’m aware of the problems with European economy but, the reasons you point are well of the mark, it is usually conveniently forgotten that many of the most competitive European economies actually have a greater social intervention level than those who don’t. It is usually forgotten that there have been in the past a significant reduction of the social role of the State in Europe, with dubious results. Quote:
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Now, what does your answer have to do with this? Quote:
Funny thing, that is exactly my opinion about yours; It is your opinion, but facts don’t support it.
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**************************************** "None are more hoplessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free." - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Reality is just an illusion, albeit a very persistent one - Albert Einstein The Caffeine Mantra It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion. It is by the juice of Brazil that the thoughts aquire speed, The hands aquire shaking, the shaking becomes a warning. It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion... Elvellon Erelion Last edited by Elvellon : 06-27-2003 at 06:49 PM. |
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06-27-2003, 08:32 PM | #18 | ||||||
I am Freddie/UNDERCOVER/ Founder of The Great Continent of Entmoot
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I can't answer everything right now - but I will answer this.
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06-28-2003, 04:44 AM | #19 | ||
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Also, I'm gifted with intelligence, good health, and parents that are fairly well off. It's sheer luck, but these are all factors that has helped me to get an education and a well-paid job. IMO I think it's only fair that I should pay a higher percentage of my relatively high income to the benefit for those who haven't had such good fortune in life. I've never been to the USA, so I guess you could put that against me, but I know many people who have, and they say USA is a marvellous country to live in - as long as you're a rich, healthy, white man. I'm sure they're exaggerating, but there seems to be some truth in it, also from what you're telling us here. I'm not saying that everything is perfect in Europe - it's certainly not - but I happen to prefer the European beurocracy before your kind of capitalist individualism anyway.
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06-28-2003, 08:27 AM | #20 |
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Woops wrong thread, sorry.
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I'm bad, no really... QUOTES: “We made a promise to ourselves at the beginning of the process that we weren't going to put any of our own politics, our own messages or our own themes into these movies. What we were trying to do was to analyze what was important to Tolkien and to try to honor that. In a way, we were trying to make these films for him, not for ourselves. “ PJ “Obviously we're taking this incredible novel and we're adapting it into films, and I think the film is the important thing. “ Peter Jackson on The Today Show, December 5, 2002 Last edited by Nazgul King Squirrel : 06-28-2003 at 08:28 AM. |