Germany sours on the Protestant Work Ethic

Germany now leads the OECD in working the least number of hours per year.

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{{ In June, Tesla launched a pilot program introducing a bonus at its German plant near Berlin for workers who show up particularly often, according to people familiar with the plan. Tesla didn’t respond to a request for comment. }}

intercst

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Even less than the French, which are known for taking August off?

I doubt the “Protestant work ethic” anywhere else is what it is presented as being in Shiny-land; “work until you drop, because you are nothing unless you work”.

Steve

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They’ve always been that way. When they work, yes, they get it together and get it done. But that’s it. Mostly it’s days off. Holidays. Festivals. When I lived there they used to laugh at the Americanos and Canadians and their custom of leaving work early and getting drunked up on Fridays. In Germany the custom is - you do that on Tuesdays because if you miss work on Wed what’s the big deal? But who wants to have a hangover on a weekend? One neat custom they had was two days off for certain Saints. This week Protestant St Swithin’s Day is Tuesday. Everything closed. Next week Catholic St Swithins day is Thursday. Everything closed. If I’m not mistaken I think the relevant labor unions are on the board of directors of the company too.

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