4 ms·

I struggle to digest this article. Considering I'm an Italian who has ever worked 40+ hours a week (non tech jobs got me to 60+ hours/wk...). And then, when I l

by sguav 10y ago

I struggle to digest this article. Considering I'm an Italian who has ever worked 40+ hours a week (non tech jobs got me to 60+ hours/wk...). And then, when I lived in England, everyone seemed to be doing at most 35 hrs/wk. I understand that these are statistics, but I can't really match it to my experience (but, hey, maybe this tells me to complain less and enjoy spare time more!)

ythl 10y ago
Italians have the opposite problem - too much spare time (at least, all at once). When I lived in Italy I was astonished that the entire country could effectively shut down for an entire month (ferragosto). I mean, come on, at least stagger your vacations so that everyone doesn't take leave all at the same time...
- sguav 10y ago
  True, in my company we can't afford to shut in August considered that 90% of our clients are outside Italy. But generally speaking it goes that way. Possibly paid holidays lower the average then. (BTW: ferragosto is just one day - Aug 15th)
- e12e 10y ago
  The same could probably be said for Norway too. I think it's a good thing, mind. Everyone gets 5 weeks off now, in general. usually 4 weeks in summer (the rest to be used for Easter, Christmas or at employees discretion in agreement with the employer), that matches up with the school holiday. I suppose there'd technically be room to shift those weeks a bit, but then how can you make sure everyone in a household have holidays together, assuming two working parents?
- lagadu 10y ago
  That's true for pretty much most of Europe, in my experience; though as you move further north it's during July instead of August. The most common here in Denmark is the last three weeks of July. I really like working in July, the whole city is empty and nobody bothers me because they're on vacation :)

4 ms·

I struggle to digest this article. Considering I'm an Italian who has ever worked 40+ hours a week (non tech jobs got me to 60+ hours/wk...). And then, when I l

by sguav 10y ago

ythl 10y ago
Italians have the opposite problem - too much spare time (at least, all at once). When I lived in Italy I was astonished that the entire country could effectively shut down for an entire month (ferragosto). I mean, come on, at least stagger your vacations so that everyone doesn't take leave all at the same time...
- sguav 10y ago
  True, in my company we can't afford to shut in August considered that 90% of our clients are outside Italy. But generally speaking it goes that way. Possibly paid holidays lower the average then. (BTW: ferragosto is just one day - Aug 15th)
- e12e 10y ago
  The same could probably be said for Norway too. I think it's a good thing, mind. Everyone gets 5 weeks off now, in general. usually 4 weeks in summer (the rest to be used for Easter, Christmas or at employees discretion in agreement with the employer), that matches up with the school holiday. I suppose there'd technically be room to shift those weeks a bit, but then how can you make sure everyone in a household have holidays together, assuming two working parents?
- lagadu 10y ago
  That's true for pretty much most of Europe, in my experience; though as you move further north it's during July instead of August. The most common here in Denmark is the last three weeks of July. I really like working in July, the whole city is empty and nobody bothers me because they're on vacation :)