I moved to Germany in 1999 and my first full-time job was a 35 hour / week contract. So my first thought was I can go and get another for my regular “American” experience of working a long week.
Sorry pal, not allowed. Then I learned that the 30 days of vacation only applied to work days. Not like when I was in the Navy with 30 paid days off which included Saturday and Sunday plus holidays.
And living and working in Munich at the time we got 13 instead of the normal 10 holidays.
It took me a few years to get used to working only 35 hours a week and taking a lot of time off, but, it being a tough thing to do, I rose to the occasion and managed to adjust.
My current job is a 38 hour / week contract, with 30 days vacation but only 10 holidays. I feel cheated.
Enjoy,
Lowbuck
A former co-worker had a similar frustration after taking an assignment in France. The pace is so slow he had difficult staying motivated, and wasn’t allowed to get a 2nd job. When his co-workers found that he was working on things at home during his “off time”, he was ridiculed.
Learn to be lazy and unproductive, I guess.