The United States is one of about 10 countries that do not require employers to grant employees paid annual leave, and it is the only Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) country to not require paid annual leave. About one-fourth of American workers have no paid annual leave or paid holidays. Other countries that do not require paid annual leave include Myanmar, Nepal, Bhutan, Suriname and Guyana.
More about annual leave:
- Although paid annual leave is not required in the U.S., many employers do offer paid annual leave — about 15 days, on average. That is less than in the majority of developed nations.
- Employers in most European Union countries offer employees about 20 days paid annual leave, plus paid holidays. In countries such as France and Finland, employers offer as much as 30 days paid annual leave, plus paid holidays.
- The U.S. also is one of about 15 countries that do not require time off every week — others include Argentina, Australia and Georgia — as well as one of about the few that do not require paid maternity leave. Others include Papua New Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.