Global Work Hours Guide

Comprehensive guide to working hours, business practices, and cultural norms across different countries and regions worldwide.

Current UTC Time

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 07:23:09 GMT
15
Countries
5
Regions
40h
Avg Weekly Hours
16
Avg Vacation Days
Showing 15 of 15 countries

United States

Western
Standard Hours
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Weekly Hours
40 hours
Work Days
Monday - Friday
Lunch Break
1 hour (12:00 PM - 1:00 PM)
Vacation
10-15 days
Holidays
10-12 days
Culture & Practices
Punctuality valued, overtime common
North AmericaEST/PST

United Kingdom

Western
Standard Hours
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Weekly Hours
37.5-40 hours
Work Days
Monday - Friday
Lunch Break
1 hour (12:30 PM - 1:30 PM)
Vacation
25-28 days
Holidays
8 days
Culture & Practices
Work-life balance emphasized
EuropeGMT

Germany

Western
Standard Hours
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Weekly Hours
35-40 hours
Work Days
Monday - Friday
Lunch Break
30-60 minutes
Vacation
24-30 days
Holidays
9-13 days
Culture & Practices
Efficiency and punctuality crucial
EuropeCET

France

Western
Standard Hours
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Weekly Hours
35 hours
Work Days
Monday - Friday
Lunch Break
1-2 hours (12:00 PM - 2:00 PM)
Vacation
25 days
Holidays
11 days
Culture & Practices
Long lunch breaks, work-life balance
EuropeCET

Japan

Asian
Standard Hours
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Weekly Hours
40 hours
Work Days
Monday - Friday
Lunch Break
1 hour (12:00 PM - 1:00 PM)
Vacation
10-20 days
Holidays
16 days
Culture & Practices
Long working hours, group harmony
AsiaJST

China

Asian
Standard Hours
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Weekly Hours
40-44 hours
Work Days
Monday - Friday
Lunch Break
1-2 hours (12:00 PM - 2:00 PM)
Vacation
5-15 days
Holidays
11 days
Culture & Practices
996 culture in tech, hierarchy important
AsiaCST

South Korea

Asian
Standard Hours
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Weekly Hours
40-52 hours
Work Days
Monday - Friday
Lunch Break
1 hour (12:00 PM - 1:00 PM)
Vacation
15 days
Holidays
15 days
Culture & Practices
Long hours, respect for seniority
AsiaKST

India

Asian
Standard Hours
9:30 AM - 6:30 PM
Weekly Hours
48 hours
Work Days
Monday - Saturday
Lunch Break
1 hour (1:00 PM - 2:00 PM)
Vacation
12-21 days
Holidays
18 days
Culture & Practices
Flexible timing, relationship-focused
AsiaIST

Australia

Western
Standard Hours
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Weekly Hours
38 hours
Work Days
Monday - Friday
Lunch Break
30-60 minutes
Vacation
20 days
Holidays
10-13 days
Culture & Practices
Casual, work-life balance important
OceaniaAEST

Brazil

Latin American
Standard Hours
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Weekly Hours
44 hours
Work Days
Monday - Friday
Lunch Break
1-2 hours (12:00 PM - 2:00 PM)
Vacation
30 days
Holidays
12 days
Culture & Practices
Relationship-focused, flexible timing
South AmericaBRT

Mexico

Latin American
Standard Hours
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Weekly Hours
48 hours
Work Days
Monday - Friday
Lunch Break
1-2 hours (2:00 PM - 4:00 PM)
Vacation
6-12 days
Holidays
7 days
Culture & Practices
Family-oriented, siesta tradition
North AmericaCST/MST

Canada

Western
Standard Hours
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Weekly Hours
37.5-40 hours
Work Days
Monday - Friday
Lunch Break
1 hour (12:00 PM - 1:00 PM)
Vacation
10-25 days
Holidays
9-13 days
Culture & Practices
Polite, work-life balance valued
North AmericaEST/PST

Sweden

Nordic
Standard Hours
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Weekly Hours
40 hours
Work Days
Monday - Friday
Lunch Break
30-60 minutes
Vacation
25 days
Holidays
11 days
Culture & Practices
Fika breaks, work-life balance
EuropeCET

Netherlands

Western
Standard Hours
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Weekly Hours
36-40 hours
Work Days
Monday - Friday
Lunch Break
30-60 minutes
Vacation
20-25 days
Holidays
8 days
Culture & Practices
Direct communication, part-time common
EuropeCET

Singapore

Asian
Standard Hours
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Weekly Hours
44 hours
Work Days
Monday - Friday
Lunch Break
1 hour (12:00 PM - 1:00 PM)
Vacation
7-21 days
Holidays
11 days
Culture & Practices
Multicultural, efficiency-focused
AsiaSGT

Understanding Global Work Cultures

Key Considerations

  • • Time Zones: Plan meetings considering global time differences
  • • Cultural Norms: Respect local business practices and customs
  • • Communication Styles: Adapt to direct vs. indirect communication preferences
  • • Holiday Calendars: Be aware of national and religious holidays

Business Tips

  • • Scheduling: Use overlap hours for international collaboration
  • • Flexibility: Accommodate different work-life balance expectations
  • • Respect: Honor local lunch break and meeting preferences
  • • Planning: Account for vacation periods when planning projects

Note: Work hours and practices can vary significantly within countries and industries. This guide provides general information and should be supplemented with specific local knowledge.