10 Workplace Rights Other Countries Have That the US Still Lacks

Jan de Vries · 2026-07-28

The US has long prided itself on being a land of opportunity, but when it comes to workplace rights, we're actually falling behind many other nations. While the UK is rolling out its 2025 Employment Rights Act—the biggest overhaul of labor laws there in decades—Americans are still waiting for basic protections that workers in other countries already take for granted. Here's a look at ten workplace rights from around the world that could make you rethink what's possible at work. ### France: The Right to Disconnect France made headlines back in 2017 when it gave employees the legal right to ignore work emails and calls after hours. Companies with 50 or more employees have to negotiate specific times when they can contact staff electronically. Australia, Ireland, Belgium, Spain, and Portugal have followed suit. Australia's version, which took effect in August 2024, even bans employers from punishing workers who don't answer after-hours calls. In the US, we have no such protection—just the Fair Labor Standards Act, which doesn't cover this at all. ### Brazil: The 13th Month Salary Brazil's "décimo terceiro salário" has been a constitutional right since the 1960s. Employers must pay every formal employee an extra month's wage each year, split into two mandatory installments. It's meant to boost the economy and help with holiday expenses. This isn't a bonus—it's a legal wage, owed even if you're fired. Similar policies exist across Latin America and parts of Europe like Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Spain. The US has nothing like this. ### Spain: Paid Menstrual Leave In 2023, Spain became the first European country to introduce paid menstrual leave for workers with medically certified incapacitating periods. The state funds this time off from day one. It's still a hot topic in many parliaments, but no such law exists in the US. ### France: Mandatory Commute Reimbursement French employers must reimburse at least 50% of the cost of public transport season tickets for their employees' commutes. This covers everyone—full-timers, part-timers, even trainees. In the US, employers aren't required to subsidize commuting at all. ### Canada: No Interview Ghosting In Ontario, Canada, it's now illegal for employers to ghost job candidates. Companies with over 25 employees must notify candidates within 45 days of their interview whether they got the job. Failure to respond can lead to fines of up to CA$100,000 (about $74,000 USD). The US has no comparable law. ### Germany: Board-Level Employee Representation Under German law, companies with over 2,000 employees must give workers half the seats on their supervisory board. Companies with 500 to 2,000 employees must reserve one-third of seats for workers. This gives employees a real voice in top-level decisions. The US has nothing like this for most private-sector workers. ### Netherlands: Right to Request Reduced Hours The Dutch Flexible Working Act lets employees at companies with more than 10 staff request fewer hours, a different work schedule, or even a different work location. Employers must seriously consider these requests—and if they say no, they need a good reason. It's a level of flexibility most US workers can only dream of. - **Key takeaway:** These aren't radical ideas. They're proven policies that work in other countries. - **Why it matters:** The US could learn a lot from these examples to improve worker well-being. > "The US is one of the few developed nations without guaranteed paid sick leave or parental leave," says employment law expert Lisa Branker. "We have a lot of catching up to do." ### What This Means for US Workers While the US leads in many areas, our workplace protections are outdated. From paid leave to flexible hours, other countries have shown that better worker rights are possible without hurting business. The question is: when will we catch up?