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Work less, play more: A list of the best countries to work in

After Sweden decided to implement six-hour work days last month, Marisha Karwa decided to find out which are the best countries for worker ants. It's not just the lure of shorter work days but also perks like mandatory paid holidays and other benefits that has her wanting to pack her bags

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SCANDINAVIAN NATIONS
Sweden
Work hours: Just last month, Sweden told its professionals to leave their desks after six hours of work to achieve a better work-life balance. And even before the switch to shorter work days, the average worker in Sweden clocked in 36 hours per week at work.
Parental leave: 16 months or 480 days paid parental leave. 60 days from these are reserved for the father. Besides, these 16 months can be spent as deemed fit by the parents over eight years of their child's life.
Annual paid vacation: 36 days.

Denmark
Work hours: Workers here work an average of 33 hours per week.
Parental leave: 52 weeks (or 12 months) paid maternity leave.
Annual paid vacation: 34 days.

Norway
Work hours: In Norway too, workers clock 33 hours of work per week.
Parental leave: 47 weeks paid leave or 57 weeks at 80 per cent salary.
Annual paid vacation: 35 days.

EUROPE
Germany

Work hours: At 27.8 hours per week, workers in Germany clock among the least hours in offices. Part-time work is increasingly becoming common, with 1 in 4 German workers being on part-time schedule in 2012. The labour ministry has also banned managers from calling or emailing staff out of hours except in emergencies.
Parental leave: 14 weeks.
Annual paid vacation: 24 days (excluding public holidays).

France
Work hours: France adopted a 35-hour work week in 2000.
Parental leave: 16 weeks for mothers at 80% salary and 2 weeks paid leave for fathers.
Annual paid vacation: 25 (excluding public holidays).

Belgium
Work hours: In Belgium, workers average 35 hours at work per week. Belgium also offers "career breaks" to its professionals. So, a Belgian employee is entitled to a spending allowance from the government if/when s/he takes a one-year hiatus from their job once in their career lifetime.
Parental leave: 15 weeks maternity leave, 10 days paternity leave in addition to three months parental leave that can be taken in short increments up to a child's 12th birthday.
Annual paid vacation: 20 days (excluding 10 public holidays).

The Netherlands
Work hours: At 27.6 hours per week, the Dutch average among the lowest work hours per week in the world, and are even poised to reach an average work week of under 21 hours.
Parental leave: 16 weeks and tax breaks on 26 weeks of unpaid maternity leave.
Annual paid vacation: 28 days.

Turkey
Work hours: At 47.7 hours per week, workers here spend among the most hours among industrialized nations at work.
Parental leave: 16 weeks at 66% of salary.
Annual paid vacation: 12 days (and 14 public holidays).

NORTH AMERICA
Canada

Work hours: Canadians average 36.6 hours per week at their desks.
Parental leave: 15 weeks. Parents can split a year of leave at 55% of their salaries.
Annual paid vacation: 10 and up to 10 public holidays.

The US
Work hours:
Officially supposed to be 40 hours per week, but a Gallup poll last year said it was between 46.7-49 hours per week.
Parental leave: The US is among the four nations that do not guarantee parents paid time off. The other three are Liberia, Swaziland, and Papa New Guinea.
Annual paid vacation: Again, the US has no legislation that mandates paid vacation time for employees.

SOUTH AMERICA
Brazil

Work hours: 44 hours per week, split into 8 hours on weekdays and 4 hours on Saturdays.
Parental leave: 17 weeks.
Annual paid vacation: 30 days excluding 11-15 public holidays.

Chile
Work hours: 42.5 hours per week.
Parental leave: 24 weeks for mothers.
Annual paid vacation: 15 days.

MIDDLE EAST
Israel

Work hours: Israelis average 40.5 hours a week at work.
Parental leave: 14 weeks; father can take leave from the 6th to the 14th week.
Annual paid vacation: 10 days.

ASIA
Japan

Work hours: Japan has mandated a 40-hour work week but upto 22.3% of its employees work 50 hours or more a week on average.
Parental leave: 14 weeks maternity leave at 60% salary.
Annual paid vacation: 10 days.

Korea
Work hours: At 44.5 hours, Koreans clock among the highest average work hours.
Parental leave: 90 days maternal leave at 90% salary.
Annual paid vacation: 15 days.

Hong Kong
Work hours: In the absence of legislation regarding working hours, the average worker here puts in 49 hours at work per week.
Parental leave: 10 weeks maternal leave at 80% salary. Fathers get 3 days at 80% salary.
Annual paid vacation: 7 days.

Singapore
Work hours: Singapore mandates a 44-hour work week.
Parental leave: 16 weeks for mothers, 1 week for fathers.
Annual paid vacation: 7 days. Singapore has more public holidays — 11.

AUSTRALIA
Work hours: Aussies average a 36 hours at work per work. They are also entitled to time off if they want to do community service work.
Parental leave: 18 weeks at minimum wage.
Annual paid vacation: 20 days.

Source:OECD, Wikipedia

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