workweek

The legal workweek (a US term, in the UK called the working week) is the number of days in a full 7 day week that are allocated for business activities. In many countries it is Monday to Friday, though the workweek varies from nation to nation. What constitutes the workweek is mandated by law in some jurisdictions, but in others custom applies^{[clarification needed]}]</ref>), Saturday through Thursday (as in Iran^{[1] [2]}) or Sunday through Thursday as in Egypt, Iraq^[3], Jordan, and Syria^[4]. A working week of Sunday through Thursday, with Friday and Saturday as the weekend, is becoming more common, with Qatar shifting to this model in 2003, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates^[5] in 2006, Kuwait in 2007, Oman in 2008, and Algeria in 2009^[6]

In 2009, formal proposals are also being discussed in Yemen and Saudia Arabia to shift to a Saturday to Thursday work week. This trend is to allow for respect of Fridays as the day for Jummah prayers in Muslim countries while also having more working days to overlap with international financial markets.

Australia

In Australia, the working week begins on Monday and ends on Friday. Saturday is considered the last day of the week, with Sunday the first day of the new week.

Although Australians generally work significantly long hours, the offical working week is 35 hours per week (8 hours per day not including breaks, except for Friday where the majority of people knock off at 12 noon and go to the pub for a pint!).

China

In China, the working week begins on Monday and ends on Friday. China began the two-day weekend from 1995. Most of workers works 5 days a week included the official and most of the industry. Normally Chinese consider a week begins with Monday and ends with Sunday. However, most of the business shops as well as the museums and cinemas are open on Saturday and Sunday. People normally do shopping on weekend. The salesperson need to work on Saturday and Sunday.

Canada

The standard business office workweek in Canada begins on Monday and ends on Friday, 40 hours per week.

Europe

This section requires expansion.

In Europe, the standard full-time working week begins on Monday and ends on Friday. Most retail shops are open for business on Saturday. In Eastern Europe and the Netherlands, large shopping centres open on Sunday, however in the Netherlands this is highly controversial, as some political parties, especially the SGP^[7], tend to disagree with it. In some European countries such as Germany and Denmark, there are laws regulating open hours for shops. Shops must, with exceptions, be closed on evenings and on Sundays.

Hong Kong

The standard working week in Hong Kong is Monday to Friday for most local and international companies. A handful still work Saturdays, but the old six day week largely was abandoned following governmental changes in 2006, under which various administrative and judicial bodies moved to a five day week. However, many civil services and banks remain open to consumers on Saturday mornings, and most shops and restaurants open early and shut late, seven days a week.

India

In India, the standard full-time working week begins on Monday and ends on Saturday, making it a 6 day work week, 48 hours per week. The weekend is Sunday, But in some instances, some Companies implement a 40 Hours per week rule giving an off on Saturday as well, Making the weekend start from Friday night till Sunday.

Israel

For most Israelis, the workweek begins on Sunday and ends on Thursday or Friday at noon^[8] to accommodate the Jewish Sabbath which begins Friday night. The standard workweek is 43 hours per week, while a workday is 8 hours per day.^[9]

Japan

The standard business office workweek in japan begins on Monday and ends on Friday, 40 hours per week. This system becomes common around years 1980-2000. Before then, allmost workers in Japan work fulltime on Monday to Friday, and halftime on Saturday (called "Han don", means half-holiday. "don" from Netherlandic word "Zontag"), 45-48 hours per week. On Friday many people say HanaKin, which means flowery friday.

Philippines

In most instances, the workweek is Monday through Friday. 40 hours per week. But in some instances, some Companies implement a 48 Hours per week rule.

Sweden

In Sweden, the standard workweek is Monday through Friday, both for offices and industry workers. There is no law regulating the workweek, or shop opening hours, only trade union agreements with companies. Shops are almost always open on Saturdays and often on Sundays, especially food shops and shopping centres outside cities, so that employees there have to work.

Turkey

In secular Turkey, the workweek is Monday through Friday, as in European countries. However, most shops are open on Saturday and Sunday.

United Kingdom

The normal business working week is from Monday through Friday. However, many shops and services are open on Saturdays and increasingly so on Sundays as well.

The EC Working Time Directive regulates that workers cannot be forced to work for more than 48 hours per week on average (although the UK allows individuals to opt out if they so choose). The minimum holiday entitlement is now 28 days per year but that includes Public Holidays. One could in theory work 6 hours every day for 337 days in a row. ^[10]

United States

The standard business office workweek in the United States is from Monday through Friday, 40 hours per week. However, many service providers are open for business on Saturday and Sunday as well.

Weekends for students

Some colleges and universities afford students the opportunity to choose classes scheduled Monday/Wednesday and Tuesday/Thursday, giving the students an extra weekend day on Friday. Some college students take advantage of this trend and go out to bars and nightclubs on Thursday nights leading to the phrase "Thursday is the new Friday." ^[11]

See also

Organized Labour portal

• Working time - how much time people spend working in a day, week, or year
• Feria
• Labour and employment law
• Long weekend
• Waiting for the Weekend
• Weekend warrior
• Work-life balance

References