Vacation
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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For other uses, see Vacation (disambiguation).
Vacation is a term used in English speaking North America to describe time away from work or school, a trip abroad, or simply a pleasure trip away from home, such as a trip to the beach. In the rest of the English-speaking world the word "holiday" is used. In Canada both terms are widely used. In England the word vacation referred specifically to the long summer break taken by the law courts (and later universities) - a custom introduced by William the Conqueror from Normandy where it was intended to facilitate the grape harvest. The French term is similar to the American English: "Les Vacances". The term derives from the fact that, in the past, upper-class families would literally move to a summer home for part of the year, leaving their usual family home vacant.
Most countries around the world have labor laws mandating a certain number of days of time off per year to be given to a worker. In Canada the legal minimum is two weeks, while in most of Europe the limit is significantly higher. Many American companies give only one week, and then frequently only after completion of a year of employment.
In modern employment practice, vacation days are usually coupled with Sick leave, official holidays, and sometimes personal days.
Americans and Canadians may also use the word "holiday", especially those of recent British or European descent. "Annual Leave" is another expression used in Commonwealth countries
[edit] Minimum vacation time around the world
| Country | legally required |
|---|---|
| Argentina | 14 calendar days (from 0 to 5 years seniority), 21 calendar days (from 5 to 10), 28 calendar days (from 10 to 20) and 35 calendar days (from 20) |
| Australia | Not required, but 4 weeks is standard. Additional Long service leave is also payable. |
| Austria | 5 weeks, for elderly employees 6 weeks |
| The Bahamas | 2 weeks after 1 year employment, 3 weeks after 5 years employment |
| Belgium | 20 days, premium pay |
| Brazil | 30 consecutive days, of which 10 can be sold back to the employer |
| Bulgaria | 20 business days |
| Canada | 10 working days, determined by provincial law |
| Chile | 15 working days |
| China | Not required |
| Croatia | 18 working days |
| Czech Republic | 4 weeks |
| Colombia | 2 weeks |
| European Union | 4 weeks, more in some countries |
| Ecuador | 2 weeks |
| Finland | 5 weeks |
| France | 5 weeks + 2 weeks of RTT (Reduction du Temps de Travail, in English : Reduction of Working Time) = 7 weeks. The most significant vacation time of any country in the world. |
| Germany | 4 weeks (24 "workable" days, i.e. Mo to Sa, even if the working week is Mo to Fri), plus 9 to 13 bank holidays |
| Hong Kong | 7 days |
| Hungary | 20 working days |
| Ireland | 4 weeks, plus 9 public holidays |
| Israel | 14 days |
| Japan | including sick leave: 18 days paid time off; officially, five weeks (in reaction to the karoshi problem) |
| Korea, South | 10 working days |
| Mexico | 1 week |
| Netherlands | 4 weeks |
| New Zealand | 4 weeks as of April 1, 2007 |
| Norway | 25 working days |
| Paraguay | 2 weeks |
| Peru | 2 weeks |
| Poland | 20 business days, 26 business days after 10 years of employment |
| Puerto Rico | 15 days |
| Romania | minimum 20 working days |
| Saudi Arabia | 15 days |
| Singapore | 7 days |
| South Africa | 21 consecutive days |
| Spain | 30 calendar days |
| Sweden | 5 weeks |
| Switzerland | 4 weeks |
| Taiwan | 7 days |
| Turkey | 12 work days |
| Tunisia | 30 work days |
| Ukraine | 24 calendar days |
| United Kingdom | 20 calendar days, plus 8 bank holidays |
| United States | Not required, but 7-21 days is standard for most employers. Typically, 10 working days. |
| Uruguay | 2 weeks |
| Venezuela | 15 paid days |
| Vietnam | 10 working days. |
