The inherent frustrations suffered as an expat working in France are balanced out by a bonanza of vacation days. Rumor has it that Spain, as a more adherent Catholic country, is even more decadent. Saints Days are all over the calendar there. But I come from the American work-is-life culture. Two weeks can be a contractural perk, you’re suspect for claiming them and arguing for downtime has become a business plan. So five weeks — the legal minimum for all salaried employees — is virtually reason enough to become an expat in Paris.
But, there’s more.
Jesus Likes Vacation
France may not be Spain but it does still have a thing for God. Joan of Arc and Saint Denis and Notre Dame aren’t just tourist flytraps, after all. So, in addition to those five weeks of secularly-regulated vacation days, the French get the standard European religious holidays. These days have to do with births and deaths and various biblical milestones about which I can never keep track. Six days in all (including Christmas, of course).
War Days
Then there are the days to commemorate the Wars. Around here, there is no need to clarify which wars, despite the fact that France has fought in 50 since 1500. The scars from World War I and World War II are still red for the older generations now offering precious chocolate to their great-grandkids.
When you sum up the French national holidays which usually land during the week, you can add an additional 14 days of escape.
Reducing Work Time
And just like a perfect macaron, the French have created an additional vacation opportunity: RTT. Réduction du Temps de Travail (reduction of the time for work) is a decadent little gift for executives and functionaries. It was created around Y2K, to combat the new world order. Anything to help those forced to work more than 35 hours a week, don’t you know. Depending on your job, this means an additional two-to-five weeks of vacation days. They accumulate month-by-month and may have some restrictions not associated with other down time. But, who’s quibbling?
Do the math. Most French salary-holders have between two and three MONTHS of vacation per year, with some clocking in at four.
As an individual, this is the best thing ever. As a manager or business owner needing to organize a meeting or advance on a project, this creates the very hell that necessitates a vacation.
There is always someone on vacation.
The key to survival is to make sure that someone is you.
Just as I thought about my week of vacation that I need to use sometime… Hard to figure out when the best time actually is for taking a vacation. Sounds like you are finding this adventure to be very rewarding! Makes me think of the European lifestyle as the way to go! 🙂
Take care my friend!