Countries Defying The Traditional 9-5

Instant Offices looked into the top ten countries offering alternative working options that aim to limit interactions with employees after hours, shorten the work week and encourage leave to be taken. Workers in these countries generally report higher levels of overall happiness and engagement.

Countries that work the least hours:

1. Germany - 26.37

2. Netherlands - 27.29

3. Norway - 27.38

4. Denmark - 28.02

5. France - 28.50

6. Luxembourg - 28.98

7. Belgium - 29.63

8. Switzerland - 30.58

9. Sweden - 31.00

10. Austria - 31.25

The research looked at what countries around the world are doing to encourage employee engagement and overall happiness. The results points to the fact that employers reportedly find it easier to attract top talent with flexible working options and a better work-life balance. UK employees voted flexible working a favoured benefit, with 35% listing it as their top one.

Germans have the highest amount of annual leave with a whopping 30 days off annually. In Norway, it’s 21 days each year, and in Denmark, the average paid vacation allowance is five weeks. The Danish consider family highly important, so finding a balance for work and home is easy – they have the right to five weeks of holiday a year, of which three weeks can be taken consecutively during the school holiday periods.

A French employee’s time spent working can be broken up with a generous lunch break that can last 2 hours, and some smaller businesses tend to close for lunch so employees can spend time with their families. Germans follow a similar path often having full, sit-down lunches with colleagues, with a lunch beer not something that’s frowned upon.

In France, overtime is not generally part of the working culture – taking work home to do in the evenings or over the weekend is not common practice for regular employees; however, senior staff are more likely to put in overtime. Regulations like these ensure that employees are fairly paid for work and prevent burnout by protecting private time.

Labour ministries in Germany have banned managers from calling or emailing staff after work hours, except in an emergency, enforcing the idea that employees leave work at work when they go home. France introduced a similar initiative when the country passed a law which requires companies with 50 or more employees to establish hours when staff will not send or respond to emails.

Through strict paid leave programs, like compulsory vacation time, maternal and paternal paid leave, countries like Norway, Sweden, France, and Germany take a firm stand when it comes to preventing worker burnout. With the rise of family-friendly workplaces, the reduction of hours spent at the office and different ways of working being encouraged, a new culture is emerging that challenges the traditional 9 – 5.

The UK is committed to transforming the modern workplace, and through several benefits and options for employees, the UK labour market has introduced some of the most diverse working patterns in Europe. After 26 weeks of regular employment with a company, workers can request flexible working options including anything from job sharing and shift work to part-time hours or working from home.

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