Workplace Perks the U.S. Is Missing Out On

Jan de Vries · 2026-07-28

You'd think the U.S. leads the world in worker protections, right? Not exactly. While the 2025 Employment Rights Act in the UK is making waves—starting with the removal of the earnings threshold for statutory sick pay—there are plenty of workplace rights that other countries already enjoy that we don't even talk about. Let's dive into ten of them that might make you rethink where you hang your hat. ### The Right to Disconnect (France) France made headlines in 2017 by giving employees the legal right to switch off from work emails and calls after hours. Companies with 50 or more staff must negotiate specific times when they can't contact you. Australia, Ireland, Belgium, Spain, and Portugal have similar laws. Australia's version, effective August 2024, even prevents bosses from penalizing workers who don't reply outside work hours. In the U.S., we have no such federal right—just the standard 40-hour workweek that's often stretched to 50 or 60. ### A 13th Month Salary (Brazil) Brazil's "décimo terceiro salário" has been a constitutional guarantee since the 1960s. It requires employers to pay an extra month's wage each year, split into two mandatory installments. This is a legal wage, not a bonus, and it's owed even if you're fired. It's designed to boost the economy and help with holiday expenses. Similar policies exist across Latin America and parts of Europe like Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Spain. In the U.S., we're lucky to get a holiday bonus of $50 gift card. ### Paid Menstrual Leave (Spain) In 2023, Spain became the first European country to introduce paid menstrual leave for workers with medically certified incapacitating periods. The state funds it from day one. This is a hot topic in the U.S. Congress, but we're far from passing anything like it. Some states are starting to discuss it, but it's not federal law. ### Commute Reimbursement (France) No U.S. employer is required to subsidize your commute. But in France, employers must reimburse at least 50% of the cost of public transport season tickets for home-to-work travel, covering everyone from part-timers to trainees. That could save a worker hundreds of dollars a year. Imagine that. ### No Interview Ghosting (Canada) 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 an interview about whether they got the job. Fines can reach up to CA$100,000 (about $73,000 USD). In the U.S., it's common to apply, interview, and never hear back. That's frustrating and disrespectful. ### Board-Level Employee Representation (Germany) German law (Mitbestimmungsgesetz) requires companies with over 2,000 employees to give workers half the seats on their supervisory board. Companies with 500 to 2,000 employees must reserve one-third. This gives employees a real voice in top-level decisions. In the U.S., workers are lucky to get a suggestion box. ### Flexible Working Hours (Netherlands) The Dutch Flexible Working Act lets employees at firms with more than 10 staff request fewer hours, a different schedule, or even a different workplace. Employers must seriously consider these requests and can only refuse for valid business reasons. It's a far cry from the rigid 9-to-5 we often face. ### Extra Parental Leave (Sweden) Sweden offers 480 days of parental leave per child, with 90 days reserved for each parent. It's paid at a high percentage of your salary, and it's designed to encourage both parents to share childcare. In the U.S., we have 12 weeks of unpaid leave under FMLA, and that's only for certain employers. ### Mandatory Annual Bonus (Greece) Greece mandates that employers pay a 13th and 14th salary as part of the legal wage structure, not as a discretionary bonus. This is split across the year and is a legal right. It's meant to help workers manage the cost of living and holidays. In the U.S., bonuses are often at the whim of the employer. ### Paid Sick Leave for All (Japan) Japan has a system where employees earn paid sick leave based on their work hours, even for part-time workers. It's not just for full-time staff. This ensures that even the most vulnerable workers can take time off when they're sick without losing income. In the U.S., many part-time workers get zero paid sick days. So, while the UK is making strides with its new Employment Rights Act, we're still behind on many of these. It's worth asking: why aren't we pushing for these rights here? It might start with a conversation, but it could end with a law that changes lives.