By Here is some news that probably will not be a shock to anyone who has lived in Korea:
People in Seoul work longer hours than residents of any other major city in the world except Cairo.
According to a report by the Swiss financial group UBS, people in Seoul worked an average 2,312 hours a year, ranking second among residents of 73 major cities around the world. Cairenes were first with 2,373 hours a year on average.
The people of Lyon, France worked the least at 1,582 hours. The average was 1,902 hours a year.
By region, Asians worked the longest hours with 2,119 followed by Africans with 2,087. People in the Middle East worked 2,063 hours. North Americans worked less than South Americans, with 1,890 hours to 1,950. Western Europeans worked 1,745 hours, the shortest among the regions surveyed. [Chosun Ilbo]
Now who is the most productive? I’m sure Korea would not rank high on that list.
2:15 pm on August 24th, 2009 1
Productivity is 35% that of the US.
Reminds me of field grades who drink coffee and BS all day long with an extended corporate lunch and then create a sudden flurry of activity after 1600 which compels them to work well past retreat, much to the chagrin of subordinates, for misery loves company. Productivity of such organizations is usually below that of organizations which respect a healthy dose of daily personal and/or family time.
3:33 pm on August 24th, 2009 2
Why try to get the job done, and done well, when you know you are stuck there regardless. Regular long hours is a motivation KILLER.
8:11 pm on August 24th, 2009 3
"Productivity is 35% that of the US."
Not many illegal Mexican workers in South Korea, I guess.
8:19 pm on August 24th, 2009 4
Nope just a bunch of hungover and/or drunk Koreans sleeping at their desks, the men trying to forget how much they spent in the room salon on the girls there and thinking of excuses to tell their wives about where the 30 percent of their income went.