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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other uses, see Vacation (disambiguation).
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Vacation is a term used in English-speaking North America to describe a lengthy time away from work or school, a trip abroad, or simply a pleasure trip away from home, such as a trip to the beach that lasts several days or longer. In the rest of the English-speaking world the word holiday is used, whereas in North America, "holiday" normally applies to a specific national holiday or long weekend related to such a day. In some cases "vacation holiday" is used in North America, which signifies that a vacation trip is taken during a traditional national holiday period, extended on either end of the period by taking additional time off from work—creating a longer time unencumbered by work, an extended "long weekend", as it were. This practice is common in the United States where employers give far fewer annual vacation days (see below) than European employers—so stretching the related national holidays tends to conserve one's accumulated total of eligible days available for longer quality vacation excursions.
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. Neither the U.S. nor China requires that employees receive any vacation time at all. There are movements fighting for laws requiring more vacation time for American workers such as timeday.org.
In modern employment practice, vacation days are often coupled with Sick leave, official holidays, and sometimes personal days.
Americans and Canadians, especially those of recent British or European descent, may also use the word "holiday." "Annual Leave" is another expression used in Commonwealth countries. Many Canadians use both "holiday" and "vacation"; "...I'm taking holidays..." is a common expression, something not often heard in the United States.
[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
As of 27 March 2006, 20 work days (4 weeks). 2 weeks can be "sold" to employer. Additional Long service leave is also payable. 10 public holidays as well are payable to employees.
Austria
5 weeks
The Bahamas
14 days after 1 year employment, 21 days after 5 years employment
Belgium
20 days, premium pay
Brazil
30 consecutive days, of which 10 can be sold back to the employer
Bulgaria
minimum 20 working days
Canada
Determined by provincial law. 10-15 working days depending on province. In addition, 10-12 public holidays depending on province.
Chile
15 working days
Colombia
15 working days for every year, vacations can be accumulated for up to 4 years (up to 60 working days of vacations)
Costa Rica
2 weeks after 1 year employment.
China
Not required - this is incorrect. while complicated by complex fluid laws there is a minumum of 20 days per year.
Croatia
18 working days
Czech Republic
4 weeks
Colombia
14 days
Denmark
6 weeks, of which 5 days can be "sold" back to the employer - omsorgsdage (carer’s leave).
Dominican Republic
14 work days after one year employment, 20 work days after 5 years employment.
Estonia
28 calendar days
European Union
4 weeks, more in some countries
Ecuador
14 days
Finland
35 days
France
5 weeks[1] (+ 2 weeks of RTT (Reduction du Temps de Travail, in English : Reduction of Working Time) according to the contract)
Germany
4 weeks, i.e. 24 "workable" days based on a six day week (Mon - Sat). Normal work-week is Mo-Fr; plus 9 to 13 bank holidays; plus sick, pregnancy, mothership and personal leave
Greece
20 working days or more depending of the years in the company
Hong Kong
7 days
Hungary
20 working days
Ireland
20 days, plus 9 public holidays
India
60 Days
Israel
14 days
Italy
20-32 working days (exact amount depends on contract details) plus 12 public holidays
Japan
including sick leave: 18 days paid time off;
officially, five weeks (in reaction to the karoshi problem)
Korea, South
10 working days
Latvia
4 weeks
Malaysia
Starts at 8 days for first 2 years employment with an employer. Increases to 12 days for between 2 and 5 years employment and 16 days for 5 or more years. Plus about 14 public holidays (depends on state).
Mexico
7 days
Netherlands
4 weeks
New Zealand
4 weeks as of April 1, 2007
Norway
25 working days
Paraguay
14 days
Peru
14 days
Poland
20 business days, 26 business days after 10 years of employment
Portugal
22 working days, up to 25 without work absences in previous year.
Puerto Rico
15 days
Romania
minimum 21 working days
Russia
28 calendar days[2]
Saudi Arabia
15 days
Serbia
20 working days minimum + 1 day extra for every 2 years of service (this extra is optional, employer can choose not to do that)
Singapore
7 days
Slovakia
20 days, 25 days after 15 years of employment
South Africa
21 consecutive days
Spain
30 calendar days
Sweden
25-32 working days, depending on age
Switzerland
28 calendar days (= 20 work days)
Taiwan
7 days
Turkey
12 work days
Tunisia
30 work days
Ukraine
24 calendar days
United Kingdom
4 working weeks, with no additional entitlement for bank holidays. Increases to 4.8 weeks from 1st October 2007, and to 5.6 weeks from 1st April 2009.[3]
United States
none[4]
Uruguay
14 days
Venezuela
15 paid days
Vietnam
10 working days.
[edit] See also
Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:
Vacation
Furlough
Labour and employment law
List of vacation resorts
Long service leave
Luxury resorts
Sick leave
Tourism
Volunteer Vacation
[edit] Sources
^ http://www.thinkandask.com/2005/10191vacations.html
^ See http://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/docs/WEBTEXT/60535/65252/E01RUS01.htm#chap19, chapters 114 and 155 or http://www.tk-rf.com/glava19.html (in Russian).
^ http://www.dti.gov.uk/employment/holidays/faq/index.html
^ US law does not require employers to grant any vacation or holidays and about 25% of all employees receive no vacation time or holidaysNo-Vacation Nation. For employees that do receive vacation, 10 working days with 8 national holidays is fairly standard. Members of the US Armed Services earn a total of 30 vacation days a year, not including national holidays.
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