Friday, March 4, 2011

The world's 15 most hardworking nations

Believe it or not, but India has been ranked as one of the most hardworking nations in the world in a survey conducted by Ipsos Global and Reuters late last month. The survey, in some select nations, used a simple technique to arrive at the result it sought. The survey says that full-time workers in most countries get paid holidays, apart from Sundays and in some cases Saturdays too. However, since organisations do not force workers to avail of those holidays, many people do not use these vacation days. So the Ipsos Global and Reuter’s survey on 13,000 people across various countries checked the likelihood of employees using all their vacation days. And the results were quite startling. In the United States as many as 57 per cent of those surveyed said that they would use all their vacation days, whereas in China almost 65 per cent said they would use all their paid holidays.

So check out which are the world's hardest working nations

15. France
Almost 89 per cent of French citizens avail of their allotted vacation days. On that basis it would be considered one of the least workaholic countries.
14. Mexico
Only 68 per cent Mexicans take all their allotted paid holidays. Mexicans clock an average of 1,857 hours per year, says the survey.
13. Russia
Only 67 per cent of people take all their allotted vacation days. There are 12 government holidays in Russia and Russians work 1,997 hours per year on an average, according to the survey.
12. Italy
About 66.5 per cent of people take all their allotted paid holidays. Italians have 11government holidays and work on average, 1,773 hours per year.
11. Poland
In Poland, only 66 per cent of people take all their allotted paid holidays. There are 10 public holidays in Poland, and the citizen world at an average of 1,966 hours per year.
10. China
About 65 per cent of Chinese employees take all their allotted vacation days. In China there are 11 government holidays, and organisations/companies have to give at least 10 vacation days to employees
9. Sweden
Only 63 per cent of people take all their allotted vacation days in Sweden. The Swedes get 11 government holidays in a year, and work about 1,610 hours per year on an average.
8. Brazil
Just about 59 per cent Brazilian employees take all their allotted vacation days. In Brazil, there are 11 federal holidays, and employers are required to offer 30 additional vacation days.
7. India
About 58.5 per cent of people take all their allotted holidays. Indians get 16 government holidays, and employers are required to give only 12 paid holidays.
6. Canada
In Canada, only 58 per cent of the employed people take all their allotted vacation days. Canada is slim on their holidays, with 9 federal holidays per year. Canadians clock an average of 1,699 hours per year.
5. The United States
Only 57 per cent of people take all their allotted vacation days. There are 10 government or public holidays that Americans enjoy. In the US, employees work 1,768 hours per year on an average.
4. South Korea
In South Korea, only 53 per cent of the employees take all their allotted vacation days. In South Korea, employees get 15 public holidays.
3. South Africa
Only 47.5 per cent of people take all their allotted vacation days. South Africans get 12 government vacation days.
2. Australia
Only 47 per cent Australian workers take all their allotted vacation days. Australians get 8 federal holidays off, and clock an average of 1,690 hours per year.
1. Japan
The Japanese are the world's hardest working people and only 33 per cent of the employees avail of all their allotted paid holidays. The Japanese get 16 public holidays and work about 1,714 hours per year on an average.