The 10 best countries to work in
| Photo 1 of 12 | 
|
The perfect balance
Finding the perfect balance between work, family and leisure is one of the keys to happiness in life, but not all nations are created equal when it comes to fostering that balance. Many Americans may be surprised to learn that the U.S. lags far behind most other Western nations in regard to the kinds of free time it affords its workers. For instance, while the vast majority of European nations mandate paid vacation or holiday time for their workers, the U.S. has no such mandate. The truth is just as grim when it comes to paid maternity leave. The United States, along with Papua New Guinea and Swaziland, are the only countries in the world that do not require some form of maternity leave.
Compared to much of the Western world, American workers are among the most overworked in the world. Can we learn something from how other nations treat their working class?
Based on statistics such as vacation time, parental leave, and work/life balance, here's our list of the 10 best countries in the world to work in. (Text: Bryan Nelson)
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Comments
I agrree Americans are hardworking always on the go so busy. Europeans always have time for vacation
I agree that Americans are overworked and yet we are the most productive workers. We are taken advantage of because the corporate guys cry poverty every time the worker asks for decent treatment or extra benefits.
It is time to unite and do something about this!
Another friend of mine who was the Director of several International Schools, several were in this list of the "10 best countries", once told me some of the real facts about all this wonderful stuff. First of all, the people are taxed to death for all this good stuff (as I mentioned in a post below). Also, he said the only way he could dismiss a perfectly awful classroom teacher was if the person raped a student; that anything else would not be grounds for dismissal. Nice work if you can get.... More
That's because there is no need for such philanthropy. Think about it.
Unless a reader is blind, the vast majority of these socialist countries are nordic. Has anyone stopped to take a look at the total taxes paid out or shall we say deducted from the workers to pay for all th is stuff? You will be astounded - shocked.
The Americans are finished. They just prefer to spend their money on wars and armaments to fight imaginary enemies. Before long these power drunk dudes will be emigrating to work as gardeners and chauffeurs for the Indians and the Chinese.
Unlike other countries, such as merrie old England,which were finished before WWII was started aand have been in a decline every since 1945, those power drunk Americans can spend it all on war and armaments and still have plenty left in the tank. When the USA economy hiccups, the entire world goes into a tailspin. You'd better hope the good old Yankee way of t hings doesn't fail, Georgie boy, or you and yours will be quite a few pegs lower than you are right now.
The author of this article is in some kind of dreamland. Who do you think pays for all these benefits and days off? My son lived in Germany for three years as an engineer. His salary was significantly lower than what he got as soon as he got to the States, any purchases not considered essentials were significantly higher than similar items in the U.S. He loved Germany but couldn't afford to live there!
I thought this was about quality of life, not how much stuff you can buy -
I've lived and worked in eastern Europe, Asia and South America. All of these places had advantages and disadvantages. What I've found though, is that the USA is the best place to live is you are hardworking, entrepreneurial and don't waste your money on a lot of junk and the needless updating of cars, houses, clothing etc., Items that are perfectly fine and still have a lot of life left in them. But for some reason, people waste their money on new and shiny, and are then slaves to paying.... More
Yup! We still owe our souls to the company store. Keep singing that "Sixteen Tons.." song.
You hit the nail right on the head.
I like this type of comment articles. I'd like to see more.
Wow. How biased can you get. The assumption is that making your government bigger, more powerful and more bureaucratic (through mandated "good causes") is good for your country.
Yes, we here in the US prefer our government work to enrich itself and its political and corporate cronies. Heck with good causes. And we have created a self-perpetuating system to keep the rich rich and everyone else struggling to get by. We call it freedom because one day one of us, through the miracle of reincarnation could be reborn rich and powerful.
Amen!
Philippines is one of the best countries to work in too !
as what? a domestic worker?
Gee, everyone of these countries also has free health insurance. Don't need as much money to live on if you don't have to worry about getting sick or hurt.
Shannon you are wrong, there is no such freebee, they all have to pay for there Health Insurance. My Brother in Germany payes over a 1000.00 Euros a month for a family of 4.
Is it because we are geographically somewhat isolated from the "hub" that we are just now beginning to realize that the 'best country to live in' as most of us mindlessly repeating is in fact one of the worst? Whereas most civilized countries work to live, we live to work - longer than anyone else. To fill the void created by time for enjoyment and social contact we buy stuff that'll only make our situation worse.
I was dragged kicking and screaming from Europe to the US to enjoy having.... More
S-A-N-G-R-I-L-A,where can one live without the modern amenites/facilties?
Seems like this report put most of the emphasis on the number of vacation and the less number of work hours per week. How about other components to make a good work place? Like work environment, job security, employee enrichment, etc., etc.
As to these aother areas, Germany, Netherlands and the Nordics are doing better than the US. They all have clean environment (especially Sweden, Finland and Norway), strong economy equalling employment opportunities, legally protected employment security (if you are an executive in an international company, you know very well how difficult it is to dismiss in e.g. Sweden or Germany), and lots of legally mandated employee training etc.
Face the fact that this may not be the greatest place in the world to live and we are all brainwashed to hate europe.
My husband & I went visit his family a few years back & we were surprised that everything that was said about Germany is true, Yes, there are all the benefits; yes they pay higher taxes than we do. but remember it's C to C (cradle to coffin). You have to remember it's a different stlye of. People donot sell their homes. like we do here. Most are passed on to family or they add on to have their children or older members of the family live with them. They buy what they can afford and.... More
I have been to many countries,europe and far east. I know after living in these other countries , U.S. is by far the best!
Janos, the best in what way? Would love to hear the specifics.
The best in the area of health care? I always hear the opposite from friends who visit other countries and happen to need some health care from an accident or illness. I know there is better health care elsewhere than we have here. US healthcare just does not make sense, but victims of the users. Having to pay extremely hefty monthly premiums then on top of that deductables that seem to never end, co-pays, etc. etc. and on top of that the quality of care we receive leaves a lot to be.... More
Yes, you're right, though we do lead the developed world in infant and maternal mortality thanks to our for-profit medical system.
Any country with enough socialism would be OK for the poor and lower middle class worker. The richer people could work anywhere and make ends meet very good if they wanted to. High cost of everything and low wages are killing many people. In the U.S. the ratio of cost of living to net income is not good for at least 50% of the population. Emergencies put most of them in a hole about 1 out of every 3 months.
the reason why you see this level of cheap sallow patriotism " ameica is the best " is
that most of US middle class believes they might be milionares some day .
As someone who's seen quite a bit of world (50 countries so far), I can only say thanks God I'm a European. If I were "lucky" to have been born "in the best country in the world", I probably wouldn't have had a university degree as I have now (since in the "best country" it allegedly costs around 100000$ to get you through to your diploma), because in less good parts the education is completely free. And whatever I may have saved in terms of money would have probably gone on medical expenses..... More
In Europe if you are in you are in. If you are out you are out.
This is why Americans see Europeans as elitists. The Europeans believe themselves superior to others because they think they know what is good for everyone else. And the way to force others to take what's good for them is to make their governments bigger, stronger, more bureaucratic.
If you have a job in Europe, you are one of the elite. If you are one of the many looking for a job, you are screwed.
Actually, in most of Europe they have what you might call a real social safety net, which allows people to live until they can find employment or take advantage of training opportunities. That is why Western Europe surpassed us years ago in upward mobility. In the US if you are poor--more and more of us as full-time work gives way to part-time without benefits--in all probability you will remain poor... and hungry.
How about all the violence on women in the north of Europe?
Germany looks actually better than Germany. The only thing that distorts the statistics is the unification of East lands into new Republic in 1990. There has been a substantial difference in economic development, and the convergence will still take some time. Norway wouldn't probably be anything special if not vast resources of oil and natural gas.
corr. Germany looks better than Holland...
Well that sounds cool and dandy, but what are the salary ranges and what are the job oportunities in these countries?
It all depends on what you like,and your experience in the the many parts you have been,USA is the best for focused and hard workers.every thing is kind of evened out by the system and the law,every one is under the law,where else?
everyone but politicians and oil companies...
Seems to me (octogenarian) that in the good ol' USA we don't know where we're going but we want to get there FAST. Fast foods, fast cars, fast computers, etc etc. Perhaps, in some other countries the majority believe (or have been persuaded) that it's ridiculous to hurry to you not where? But it's comforting to know that OURS is not the only "hurry" culture in the world.
I live in the Republic of Colombia. I am a young 72 years old. Never been healthier or stronger. I have a beautiful trim 20 year old wife. Try that in the U.S.
Well that's just grossly disgusting.
You must be rich!
Americans should travel more frequently abroad to appreciate living in OUR GREAT country - USA for ever.
Easy to say, my friend. What percentage of Americans can afford to travel abroad even once, not to mention frequently?
Totally agree! Going abroad and witnessing and living other cultures made me appreciate the USA, and I couldn't wait to get back. But I learned that money is not everything as well.
I will earn my second graduate degree on May 3rd,2012. I have no job related to any of my degrees here in the US.Maybe I need to move to Europe! I know I like what I see about Sweden(love volvos),Finland,Denmark,Norway and Netherlands.
Though I don't discriminate,I think and have read, that women from those countries are very sexy. What else does a guy need in life?
I know what you mean about the woman here in the states. Alot of them are fat and dont move for anything. All i do is say what do you do all day beast. I dont know how guys knock them up? Doesnt work for me.
Add your comment
Sign in with one of these accounts or just add your comment below.
create an account