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How many hours a week do New Zealanders work?

How many hours a week do New Zealanders work?

Old Aug 26th 2005, 2:46 am
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Default How many hours a week do New Zealanders work?

In the US, it's a Henry Ford 40 hrs; And in Europe it's 35 hrs.

What is it in New Zealand?

(and I'd like to know about Australia too while we're on the topic.)

A better question might be how many hours a year, since vacation/holiday off-time also varies from one country to the next.
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Old Aug 26th 2005, 3:29 am
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Default Re: How many hours a week do New Zealanders work?

NZ splits the difference and has 37.5 hr weeks generally. Ironically some people say NZ is half way between Uk and US culture wise, so that makes sense I guess.

Minimum annual holiday is 3 weeks, but it can be more. In the next year or so the minimum will move to 4 weeks. Normally there will be sick leave on top of up to 2 weeks.
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Old Aug 26th 2005, 3:39 am
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Default Re: How many hours a week do New Zealanders work?

Originally Posted by jgombos
In the US, it's a Henry Ford 40 hrs; And in Europe it's 35 hrs.

What is it in New Zealand?

(and I'd like to know about Australia too while we're on the topic.)

A better question might be how many hours a year, since vacation/holiday off-time also varies from one country to the next.
Watched a news feature yesterday that stated Australia works the longest hours in the developed world, that is when overtime is teken into consideration.

Rob
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Old Aug 26th 2005, 3:46 am
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Default Re: How many hours a week do New Zealanders work?

Originally Posted by Gill and Rob
Watched a news feature yesterday that stated Australia works the longest hours in the developed world, that is when overtime is teken into consideration.

Rob
We work a 45 hour week.
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Old Aug 26th 2005, 3:46 am
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Default Re: How many hours a week do New Zealanders work?

Originally Posted by Gill and Rob
Watched a news feature yesterday that stated Australia works the longest hours in the developed world, that is when overtime is teken into consideration.
Thanks for the warning! In the US we can avoid OT by contracting, and negotiating for an increased overtime rate. It tends to be enough disincentive to keep our hours down to 40, but only workers in certain careers can pull it off.

Is OT pay typically at a higher or lower rate in Australia or NZ?

BTW- thanks for the feedback Southerner.
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Old Aug 26th 2005, 3:49 am
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Default Re: How many hours a week do New Zealanders work?

Originally Posted by cornerofsilence
We work a 45 hour week.
Yikes! That's before overtime? I guess it's still not as bad as Japan, if I remember correctly (aren't they at 60 hrs/wk?). But it's a sure disincentive for working there.

I'm going to pick this thread back up over in the Australia forum.
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Old Aug 26th 2005, 6:08 am
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Default Re: How many hours a week do New Zealanders work?

NZ nurses work 40 hours a week.

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Old Aug 26th 2005, 7:06 am
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Default Re: How many hours a week do New Zealanders work?

Originally Posted by southerner
NZ splits the difference and has 37.5 hr weeks generally. Ironically some people say NZ is half way between Uk and US culture wise, so that makes sense I guess.

Minimum annual holiday is 3 weeks, but it can be more. In the next year or so the minimum will move to 4 weeks. Normally there will be sick leave on top of up to 2 weeks.
The UK has a 37.5 hour week as standard, but about 5 years ago the European 40 hour working week directive came into force and a lot of employees were strongly encouraged to sign an agreement (read - have to) that says they do not agree with the capped 40 hour week.

Personally, I do not know anyone in the UK who only works a 37.5/40 hour week. Obviously a lot of people do, but not those that I would describe as having career type jobs, working mothers with more flexible contracts aside.

Don't know from personal experience about NZ, although from the friends and family we have over there, it seems to be the same, but the environment a little bit more relaxed so I hear.
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Old Aug 26th 2005, 7:32 am
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Default Re: How many hours a week do New Zealanders work?

Standard hours for my OH in the UK - 53 hours per week but usually works 61 with overtime every week...

Hours in comparative job in NZ - 48!! Still not brill but a damn site better than 61...
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Old Aug 26th 2005, 9:14 am
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Default Re: How many hours a week do New Zealanders work?

I worked 40 hours and that didn't include lunch breaks, hubbys hours are the same
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Old Aug 26th 2005, 9:36 am
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Default Re: How many hours a week do New Zealanders work?

Hubby worked 45 hrs a week and me 20 hrs a week.
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Old Aug 27th 2005, 4:30 am
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Default Re: How many hours a week do New Zealanders work?

Originally Posted by jgombos
In the US, it's a Henry Ford 40 hrs; And in Europe it's 35 hrs.

What is it in New Zealand?

(and I'd like to know about Australia too while we're on the topic.)

A better question might be how many hours a year, since vacation/holiday off-time also varies from one country to the next.
The average working week for full time work is still 40 hours although some work more & some less. Vacations after a full years employment usually begin at 3 weeks a year but that is going up to 4 weeks next year I believe. Most places also give you an extra week after youve been there over 5 or six years etc. As far I remember the average sick leave is a week but they may have changed since I left.......interesting to see you say in the US its 40 hours a week because I know a lot of people in the town I live who work 7 days a week & many work very long hours. My hubby for example works 7 days then has 7 days off but the weeks he works he works 16 hours a day giving him a total for his working week of 112 hours That sure makes a 40 hour week sound awfully good to me
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Old Aug 27th 2005, 8:04 pm
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Default Re: How many hours a week do New Zealanders work?

Originally Posted by shepslady
My hubby for example works 7 days then has 7 days off but the weeks he works he works 16 hours a day giving him a total for his working week of 112 hours That sure makes a 40 hour week sound awfully good to me
It does sound bad, but then you have to take the 7 days off into account too, so a 40 hour week works out at 80 hours in 2 weeks. 80 to 112 hours isn't as bad, but still sounds pretty bad , but then we've all also said not many breadwinners work only 40 hour weeks. He must be pretty wacked at the end of that 112 hour week!!! Cindy what does he do?
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Old Aug 27th 2005, 9:20 pm
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Default Re: How many hours a week do New Zealanders work?

how many for a teacher????
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Old Aug 27th 2005, 10:09 pm
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Default Re: How many hours a week do New Zealanders work?

Originally Posted by JoannaD
how many for a teacher????

168 of course - the same as anwwhere else!!!!
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