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Rediff.com  » Business » Tired of working long hours in office? Try these countries
This article was first published 10 years ago

Tired of working long hours in office? Try these countries

September 09, 2013 09:34 IST

Image: Tourists take part in a guided tour through the city on segways in Berlin, Germany.
Photographs: Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters

There are some countries where workers spend long hours in office, such as the United States where an average employee puts in 38 hours per week, whereas there are some where workers get to enjoy a good work-life balance.

Let's take a look at some nations that have shortest working hours.

Source: CNN Money

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Tired of working long hours in office? Try these countries

Image: People sit on a quay at the Leliegracht canal in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Photographs: Michael Kooren/Reuters

The Netherlands

Average hours per week: 29

Average annual wages: $47,000

Overall rank: 1

The Netherlands, which has the 10th-highest per capita income in the world, has been ranked the happiest country by the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development.

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Tired of working long hours in office? Try these countries

Image: A dog sits as he waits next to his owner to cross a street in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Photographs: Radu Sigheti/Reuters

Denmark

Average hours per week: 33

Average annual wages: $46,000

Overall rank: 2

Denmark, which has the highest social mobility in the world, has one of the highest per capita incomes in the globe.

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Tags: Denmark

Tired of working long hours in office? Try these countries

Image: Royal Palace at the end of Karl Johans Gate in Oslo, Norway.
Photographs: Suzanne Plunkett/Reuters

Norway

Average hours per week: 33

Average annual wages: $44,000

Overall rank: 3

Norway, which has large oil and gas reserves, has been ranked top in human development index.

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Tags: Norway

Tired of working long hours in office? Try these countries

Image: A man looks at a window display of jewellery on Grafton Street, Dublin, Ireland.
Photographs: Cathal McNaughton/Reuters

Ireland

Average hours per week: 34

Average annual wages: $51,000

Overall rank: 4

Ireland, which has been ranked the seventh most developed nation in the world, provides excellent standard of living, infrastructure and economic freedom.

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Tags: Ireland

Tired of working long hours in office? Try these countries

Image: Tourists Caro and Anna from Munich lie in a bed mounted to a rental bike as they ride along Friedrichstrasse in central Berlin, Germany.
Photographs: Thomas Peter/Reuters

Germany

Average hours per week: 35

Average annual wages: $40,000

Overall rank: 5

Germany, which is the fourth-largest economy in the world, has an excellent social security system, high living standard and high per capita income.

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Tags: Germany

Tired of working long hours in office? Try these countries

Image: A view of the Swiss mountain resort of Davos.
Photographs: Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters

Switzerland

Average hours per week: 35

Average annual wages: $50,000

Overall rank: 6

Switzerland, one of the richest nations in the world, is a major financial powerhouse and exporter.

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Tired of working long hours in office? Try these countries

Image: People rest in the Parc du Cinquantenaire of Brussels, Belgium.
Photographs: Sebastien Pirlet/Reuters

Belgium

Average hours per week: 35

Average annual wages: $44,000

Overall rank: 7

Belgium, which has a highly skilled workforce, depends largely on exports and services industry.

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Tags: Belgium

Tired of working long hours in office? Try these countries

Image: Children try out a skateboard park built under a concrete viaduct in Ralambshov Park in central Stockholm, Sweden.
Photographs: Bertil Ericson/Scanpix/Reuters

Sweden

Average hours per week: 36

Average annual wages: $38,000

Overall rank: 8

Sweden, which has the eighth-highest per capita income in the world, has been ranked the best governed nation in the globe.

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Tags: Sweden

Tired of working long hours in office? Try these countries

Image: A surfer watches a group of dolphins leap in the waters of Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia.
Photographs: Daniel Munoz/Reuters

Australia

Average hours per week: 36

Average annual wages: $45,000

Overall rank: 9

Australia, one of the wealthiest nations in the world, has excellent standard of living, education and healthcare.

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Tags: Australia

Tired of working long hours in office? Try these countries

Image: A view of Garibaldi's square in downtown Parma, northern Italy.
Photographs: Alessandro Garofalo/Reuters

Italy

Average hours per week: 36

Average annual wages: $34,000

Overall rank: 10

Italy, one of the major manufacturing centres of the world, is the ninth-largest economy.

Tags: Italy