Are We Having Too Many Holidays?

Tomorrow is a public holiday for Malaysia. Again? For the first time in the history of Malaysia, we are celebrating Malaysia day. For those that had enjoyed an off day on Monday and on a five-day working week, they only need to clock in 3 days this week.

I did a bit of counting and noticed I am enjoying a whopping 18 public holidays this year!

Are we having too many vacation days? I did a google search immediately and guess what, Malaysia is not at the top of the list, not even close.

According to a survey from Mercer Consulting which was published in CNBC.com, the two countries that had the most overall holidays are Brazil and Lithuania. Brazil enjoys a statutory minimum of 30 days for vacation and 11 days for public holidays. And Lithuania has a statutory annual minimum of 28 days off and 13 days in public holidays. Some of the countries and their vacation days are listed below.

Austria has a statutory mimimum of 25 days for vacation and 13 days off for public holidays.

United States doesn't have a mandatory requirement for vacation days, but typically gives 15, according to Mercer. The US has 10 public holidays.

France has a statutory minimum of 30 days for vacation and 10 days of public days off.

India only has 12 days as its minimum, but has a high amount of public holidays with 16.

Russia has a statutory minimum of 28 days leave, plus 12 days for public holidays.

United Kingdom has a statutory minimum of 28 days off, but only 8 public holidays.

Poland has a statutory miminum of 26 vacation days and 10 days for public holidays.

Greece has a statutory minimum of 25 days for workers to take time off.

Singapore has 14 days off as a minimum and 11 public days.

Finland has a statutory minimum of 30 days for vacation, plus 10 days of public holidays.

Denmark has a statutory minimum of 25 days for vacation and 9 days for public holidays.

The statutory minimum number of vacation days in Switzerland is 20, but the alpine state also has 9 public holidays.

New Zealand has 20 days vacation as its statutory minimum, but 11 days off as public holiday.

South Korea has 19 minimum vacation days, but enjoys 15 days in public holidays.

Taiwan only has 15 days as its statutory minimum, but has 13 public holidays.

Hong Kong has 14 days mandatory vacation, plus twelve days off as public holidays.

Canada has the least number of overall days off with only 10 as its statutory minimum and 9 in public holidays.

China matches Canada with the lowest number of vacation days at 10, but has 11 public holiday days.

In Malaysia, employees typically enjoy an average of 14-18 days of annual leave (vacation days) and about 15-18 days of public holidays (depending on the state you are working and may I also add, the company you are attached with as not all companies observe all the gazetted holidays).

Are we having too many holidays? Nay... Ask any employee - no one will send a note to complain they are sick of the long holidays ahead…:)

Well, to all Malaysians, Happy Malaysia Day!

Take the Friday off and you can enjoy another "4 days 3 nights" vacation somewhere... (life is good, eh)