- Summer is almost here. For some lucky American, that might mean his two weeks of paid vacation.
- However, in some European countries, five weeks of paid vacation per year is a legal entitlement.
- Swedish workers are guaranteed up to four consecutive weeks of paid summer vacation.
Summer is almost here. For some lucky American, that might mean his two weeks of paid vacation and the occasional summer Friday.
Because vacation policies are at the discretion of individual employers, first-year American workers average 11 days paid vacation per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Five years later, that number increases to he 15th.
Two weeks of vacation may seem like a luxury by U.S. standards, but employees in European Union countries are legally entitled to at least four weeks of paid vacation each year, and in some countries employers require are asking their employees to give them more time off.
From France to Austria, these nine European countries require companies to give their employees at least five weeks of paid vacation per year.