The Workplace Rights Other Countries Have That the US Still Lacks

Jan de Vries · 2026-07-28

By Lisa Branker, Head of Employment Law at employment law solicitors, Beecham Peacock Over the course of the year — and continuing into 2027 — the 2025 Employment Rights Act is coming into effect in the UK. Beginning in April of this year with the removal of the earnings threshold for statutory sick pay, the new Act represents the most significant overhaul of UK workplace law for decades. The changes brought about by the Act will increase workers' rights across the country, boosting job security and expanding family rights. Though we might see the US as a leading nation when it comes to labor laws, you might be surprised to hear that we're still lagging behind in a number of other areas. So, here are ten examples of workplace rights held by other countries that could inspire change here. ### France: Right to Disconnect France legislated that employees had the legal right to 'disconnect' from work communications outside working hours in 2017. This means that companies with 50 or more employees are forced to negotiate specific hours during which staff can be contacted electronically. They're not alone: Australia, Ireland, Belgium, Spain, and Portugal also give their workers the right to disconnect. Australia's version, effective August 2024, also bars employers from punishing workers who don't answer calls or emails out of hours. The US has no such right — only the 48-hour average working week, under the Working Time Regulations. ### Brazil: Statutory 13th Month Salary Brazil's décimo terceiro salário has been a constitutional right since the 1960s. This law obliges employers to pay every formal employee an extra month's wage each year, split across two mandatory installments. Intended to boost the economy, assist with end-of-year expenses, and ensure employees are comfortable over the holiday periods, this is considered a legal wage, rather than a discretionary bonus, and is owed pro-rata even on dismissal. Other countries offer similar policies. It is mandatory across most of Latin America and parts of Europe (Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain); the US has nothing comparable. ### Spain: Paid Menstrual Leave In 2023, Spain became the first European country to introduce menstrual leave, giving paid time off to workers experiencing periods that are medically certified as incapacitating. This paid time off is funded by the state from the first day of absence. No such provision exists in US law, but this continues to be a hot topic in Congress. ### France: Mandatory Commute Reimbursement No US employer is legally required to subsidize commuting — so France is putting us to shame here too. French employers must reimburse at least 50% of the cost of employees' public transport season tickets for the home-to-work commute, covering all staff including part-timers and trainees. ### Canada: No Interview 'Ghosting' In Ontario, Canada, recent law provisions have made it illegal for employers to 'ghost' candidates who have applied for a role with them. Companies with over 25 employees must notify candidates within 45 days of their interview, informing them whether they have been successful. Employers who fail to respond could face fines of up to CA$100,000 (around $75,000 USD). The US has no comparable law. ### Germany: Board-Level Employee Representation According to German law (Mitbestimmungsgesetz), large companies with over 2,000 employees are required to give workers half of the seats on their supervisory board. Meanwhile, companies with 500–2,000 employees must reserve one-third of the available seats. This ensures that members of the workforce have a representative voice in all top-level business discussions. The US, meanwhile, has nothing comparable as yet. ### Netherlands: Right to Request Reduced Hours In the Netherlands, the Dutch Flexible Working Act allows employees at firms with more than 10 staff to request fewer hours, a different working schedule, or a change in location. Employers must consider these requests seriously and can only refuse on valid business grounds. - This gives employees incredible flexibility to balance work and life. - It's a model many US workers would love to see adopted. ### The Bottom Line While the US has made progress in some areas, these examples show there's still room to grow. From the right to disconnect to mandatory commute reimbursement, other countries are leading the way. The question is: will we follow?