Since the end of the colonial age, European and American customs, practices, political ideas, and cuisines have steadily drifted apart. While largely similar, it is the proverbial devil in the details that marks the subtle but profound differences between both. While one could fill several text books with these subtle difference, not the least reason for which there are so many European countries, this essay will delineate a lesser debated difference. That difference being the working habits and norms of Europeans VS Americans. Now, for economy of wording I will group European countries thusly: Western Europe, Eastern Europe, southern Europe, and Northern Europe. While these countries all identify as European, their differences in societal
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Once again, instead of delineating all working norms of all Northern European countries, I will examine one of the most prosperous and populous ones: Sweden (e.g. Ananya Bhattacharya, CNN 2015). As a country that has a long history of generous social security benefits, it should come as no surprise that Sweden would be among the forerunners experimenting with shortened but more productive working hours. While Sweden is not a European Union country, many of their policies fall in line with that of their union counter parts. Moreover, most Swedish companies have implemented a mandatory hour long lunch, during which Swedish employees are encouraged to leave the office to eat or run errands. Also, the typical Swede enjoys 4-5 weeks of vacation a year. While these are well and good, there is a flip side. Social media in the workplace is intensely frowned upon by Swedish employers, as well as phone games, long breaks and chatting up co-workers. While the reasons for this are obvious, I would be hard pressed to argue that this detractor wouldn’t be worth the shorter working …show more content…
Southern Europe has been ruled over, and been in close contact with, many cultures over the course of its recorded history. One of the prime examples, and one of the richest ones, is the country of Spain. Spain is famous for its rich culture, cuisines, and festivals. But as for working habits, considerably less is known about its customs. According to data referenced(e.g. Laura Bridgestock, Top-Universities 2014), Spain’s typical working hours are noticeably outside of normal limits, and even frame of time, compared to American working hours. The typical Spaniard works from 0830 to about one thirty P.M, followed by a famous siesta. Then, the typical Spaniard works from 4:30 PM to around eight PM. While regional differences exist, especially in more urban areas, this seems to be the typical work day of a Spaniard in the private sector. For the Spaniard who works in a bank, clinic, government office, or other such capacity the typical work hours fall more in line with other European countries. As for the benefits of a working Spaniard, I once again find them to enjoy the comparatively lavish benefits of a Union country. Minimum twenty two days of vacation in addition to a dozen paid holidays, free healthcare and old age pensions once again rear their head in
Once again, instead of delineating all working norms of all Northern European countries, I will examine one of the most prosperous and populous ones: Sweden (e.g. Ananya Bhattacharya, CNN 2015). As a country that has a long history of generous social security benefits, it should come as no surprise that Sweden would be among the forerunners experimenting with shortened but more productive working hours. While Sweden is not a European Union country, many of their policies fall in line with that of their union counter parts. Moreover, most Swedish companies have implemented a mandatory hour long lunch, during which Swedish employees are encouraged to leave the office to eat or run errands. Also, the typical Swede enjoys 4-5 weeks of vacation a year. While these are well and good, there is a flip side. Social media in the workplace is intensely frowned upon by Swedish employers, as well as phone games, long breaks and chatting up co-workers. While the reasons for this are obvious, I would be hard pressed to argue that this detractor wouldn’t be worth the shorter working …show more content…
Southern Europe has been ruled over, and been in close contact with, many cultures over the course of its recorded history. One of the prime examples, and one of the richest ones, is the country of Spain. Spain is famous for its rich culture, cuisines, and festivals. But as for working habits, considerably less is known about its customs. According to data referenced(e.g. Laura Bridgestock, Top-Universities 2014), Spain’s typical working hours are noticeably outside of normal limits, and even frame of time, compared to American working hours. The typical Spaniard works from 0830 to about one thirty P.M, followed by a famous siesta. Then, the typical Spaniard works from 4:30 PM to around eight PM. While regional differences exist, especially in more urban areas, this seems to be the typical work day of a Spaniard in the private sector. For the Spaniard who works in a bank, clinic, government office, or other such capacity the typical work hours fall more in line with other European countries. As for the benefits of a working Spaniard, I once again find them to enjoy the comparatively lavish benefits of a Union country. Minimum twenty two days of vacation in addition to a dozen paid holidays, free healthcare and old age pensions once again rear their head in