Why can Germany afford a three day weekend?

There’s actually some government institutions (in the states) that have three day weekends. Instead of five eight-hour days, they work four ten-hour days. This reduces the overall carbon footprint of the institution.

The entire staff doesn’t drive their cars back and forth to work. Utility bills tend to cost less. I guess people are less inclined to work late when they are working ten hours a day. If the buildings are cooled/heated for 10 hours a day anyway, It should cut the utility bill by 1/5.

Because they are the economic hub of Europe they could probally have a four day weekend and still make money.

What’s the context of this question? I can tell you there are plenty of people in Germany working Monday – Friday.

You pay people less, but hire more employees. It’s a mild form of socialism without looking like socialism. It would never fly in the US. People love to be seen to be totally hard workers too much.

@daloon, try going to China.

Those guys will work in the winter with windows open and coats on… so as to be visible by supervisors from a distance as saving the company money by not using the heater.

@rob, yeah, I know. That’s going the wrong way, though, as far as I’m concerned.

I’m doing research for my speech at school on why canada (i’m canadian) should have 3 day weekends.
do you know any other countries besides Germany that have 3 day weekends?

Aren’t schools running on Saturdays in Germany?