CNN’s “World Ranking of Paid Time Off” lists China at the bottom

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　　On July 30, CNN released a \"Global Ranking of Paid Leave\", with China ranking last at 21 days. For busy Chinese people, enjoying a relaxing and pleasant holiday has become a luxury. 　　The statistics listed in this ranking are based on employees in companies across various countries who work 5 days a week and have 10 years of work experience. The total duration of \"paid leave\" consists of the minimum annual paid leave plus **legal paid holidays. At the top of the list are Brazil and Lithuania, with a total of 41 days of vacation time; France offers 35 days of paid leave per year, while the United States and Singapore provide 25 days. China provides a minimum of 10 days of paid annual leave per year; there are 11 statutory paid holidays, for a total of 21 days throughout the year, which is the lowest figure among various countries. 　　Starting from January 1, 2008, China began to implement the Regulations on Paid Annual Leave for Employees, which stipulate that employees who have worked for 1 to 10 years are entitled to 5 days of annual leave; those who have worked for 10 to 20 years are entitled to 10 days of annual leave; and those who have worked for 20 years or more are entitled to 15 days of annual leave. Very few companies actually manage to do this. Professor Niu Wenyi, deputy head of the Department of Social Medicine and Health at Peking University School of Public Health, said in an interview with a reporter from Life Times: “Apart from school teachers, it is very difficult for most office workers to meet this standard. Some workplaces not only have no holidays but also do not allow time off on weekends; working overtime has become the norm there.” ”A survey conducted by China Youth Daily showed that nearly 60% of people have never taken paid leave, and 46.3% of them have been working for over 10 years. The \"2010-2011 China Leisure Green Book\" (hereinafter referred to as the \"Green Book\") recently released by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and the **Tourism Bureau also shows that 33.1% of the Beijing residents surveyed said they had never taken paid leave; 17.85% of the respondents did not have fixed weekends. “With too much working time, there is less time for rest and relaxation, and even no time to schedule medical check-ups. Being under stress every day can lead to a range of physical and mental problems. Reduced communication with family members also affects the relationships among them, and all of this leads to a **decline in the happiness levels of people in that country**. ”Niu Wenyi pointed out. 　　Why has paid leave become the most luxurious desire for office workers? In Niu Wenyi’s view, many people are simply forced into this situation. Although employees receive their basic salary while on leave, they do not get the part of their pay that is tied to performance evaluations. Data from the Green Book shows that over 80% of those surveyed are willing to give up their leave in order to earn more money. Furthermore, many people give up taking vacations in order to keep their jobs; it’s not a problem to take few vacations, but what’s worrying is not having any at all. High employment pressure, fierce competition, the need to maintain a job while paying mortgage bills, fear of displeasing the boss, worry about lower salaries, and even the risk of being fired for various reasons all prevent people from taking time off voluntarily. 　　Niu Wenyi calls on smart modern business managers to prioritize employee health management, as ensuring employees’ health and optimal working conditions is essential for creating more value. Office workers should slow down their pace of life and make the most of the few days of vacation they have each year. They can also arrange more leisure activities in their daily lives, such as watching movies or going hiking, and learn to enjoy life appropriately and live in the present moment.