"Americans just work harder"

[Jolly]

https://www.businessinsider.com/americans-just-work-harder-than-europeans-nicolai-tangen-norges-bank-2024-4?IR=T

[Doctor Phibes]

Yes, he's probably right.

I think they work harder still in Asia, or at least the parts I work with - China and Japan.

[taiwan_girl]

In Asia, I certainly that people work longer hours, but the productivity/hr is probably less than in the US. The long hours may make up for it.

It wasnt too long ago that Taiwan had a six day work week. Then we went to a 5 1/2 day workweek (half day on Saturday). Then 5 1/2 day workweek every other week. Finally a 5 day work week.

[Axtremus]

In Chian they call it the 996 - 9 AM to 9 PM six days a week.

Still, the last time I looked into the statistics, on average the Americans work more hours than all other nationals except the South Koreans.

[taiwan_girl]

@Axtremus said in "Americans just work harder":

Still, the last time I looked into the statistics, on average the Americans work more hours than all other nationals except the South Koreans.

I am not sure how to rephrase, but I would say that South Koreans spend more time at work than any other country, but I am not sure that they are actually "working" more. In ROK, you basically cannot leave work until your boss leaves. So, if the top guy works very late, it "cascades" down such that no-one below him can leave. LOL

But, often time, the lower level people will be sitting at their desk playing video games, etc. rather than doing actual work.

[Horace]

The importance of hard work is a very prominent and differentiated part of cultural programming.

[xenon]

People from developing countries do work harder - but for different reasons. That comes from experiencing material deprivation on basic needs.

Americans are driven to work harder - but it doesn't come from this place of risk aversion. It's something cultural.