BACK STORY May Day
In most of the world, today is a public holiday, the May Day celebration of workers. But not in the U.S., which waits until September for its Labor Day.
Before you Americans roll your eyes about all the days off in other countries, you’ll want to know who actually gets the most national holidays.
It’s not France, despite its reputation.
India and Colombia, at 18, celebrate the most public holidays, according to Mercer, a management consulting company. Mexico, with seven, has the fewest.
At 15 days, Finland leads Europe (France has 11), and Morocco has the most in the Middle East and Africa (14).
The United States is indeed on the low end with 10, one fewer than Canada.
May Day is a day off for 80 percent of the 64 countries Mercer surveyed.
The other leaders are New Year’s Day (94 percent), a nation’s independence day or constitution day (92 percent), and Christmas (80 percent).
Mercer notes that public holidays can be an issue for multinational companies. Portugal, for example, canceled four of its holidays in order to help its economy and send a message to investors.
May Day, though, survived the cuts.
Victoria Shannon contributed reporting.
