Perceptions of work culture on either side of the Atlantic are often shaped by stereotypes and assumptions. Some say that Europeans work to live, while Americans live to work. But how much of this is based in reality, and how much is simply a myth?
To explore these ideas further, Kickresume surveyed 1,228 respondents to gather first-hand insights into the real differences — and similarities — between American and European work cultures.
Here's a quick look at the most revealing findings:
- 40% of Americans reported they work between 41 to 50 hours per week.
- Mid-level professionals in both regions are the group most likely to work overtime daily.
- A staggering 60% of Americans never take longer holidays (2+ weeks).
- More than 33% of Americans admitted to often feeling guilty about taking time off, whereas only 18% of Europeans shared the same sentiment.
- 51% of Europeans are either happy or very happy with their work-life balance.
- Nearly 19% of American respondents said they feel pressured to avoid taking sick days.
The US tops Europe in weekly hours worked
One of the most commonly cited differences between American and European work culture lies in the amount of time spent at work. Here's what the numbers tell us!
Among our European respondents, 50% reported working between 31 and 40 hours per week, which aligns closely with the standard 40-hour workweek seen across many European countries. However, a significant portion — 26% to be more exact — said they work slightly more, clocking in between 41 and 50 hours per week.
On the other hand, the American responses paint a slightly different picture. While 33% of U.S. respondents also reported working 31 to 40 hours per week, more than 40% said they work 41 to 50 hours. Additionally, 8% of Americans reported working more than 51 hours a week, a number that is notably higher than the 5% of Europeans who said the same.
These results suggest that the stereotype of Americans being more work-focused may hold some truth as their tendency to work longer hours becomes clear from our data.
The reasons behind this may vary. For example, the U.S. is known for its "hustle" culture, where success is often tied to the number of hours you put in. This societal pressure could partially explain why more Americans report working longer hours.
But there might be another, more pragmatic, reason — differences in legislation. Many European countries have policies that protect workers' time, such as limits on maximum working hours. Legal frameworks like these create a work environment where long hours are less expected and less normalized. In contrast, the American political system offers fewer workers’ rights protection laws.
But there are signs that the tides might be turning! Interestingly, Gen Z workers (aged 18-27), represent the biggest portion of American respondents who reported working 31-40 hours per week. This younger generation seems to be embracing a more “European” approach to work, prioritizing work-life balance over long hours at the office.
But, it's not just about how many hours people spend at work; it's about how productive they are during those hours. That's why it's worth asking: How many hours do people actually work a day?
Despite the differences in working hours, both groups report that the majority of their productive time falls within the standard 6-8 hour range (57% for Europeans and 52% for Americans). This suggests that the core hours of productivity are fairly similar on both sides of the Atlantic.
Or, since all the data we work with is self-reported, we can at least say that there isn’t much of a difference in how productive both of these groups perceive themselves to be.
All in all, while there are differences between the USA and Europe in terms of how much time they spend at work, they aren't as dramatic as people might expect.
Overtime tends to be similar for both sides of the Atlantic
As we saw, American Gen Z workers may be shifting toward a more balanced workweek, but what about overtime? We asked our respondents whether they work outside regular hours, like in the evenings or on weekends. The results reveal that similarities between the two regions are striking.
In both Europe and the U.S., most people work overtime at least occasionally (32% for Europeans and 33% for Americans). Similarly, 21% of Europeans claim to never work overtime, which is only slightly more than reported by American workers (20%). However, Americans seem slightly more likely to work overtime, with a higher percentage reporting they do so daily (5% compared to 4% in Europe).
One of the most interesting findings is that mid-level workers in both regions are the group most likely to report working overtime daily. This could be due to the fact that workers at this stage of their careers face increased responsibilities but may not yet have the authority or support to delegate tasks.
In conclusion, while Americans are slightly more prone to working extra hours, the reality is that overtime is pretty common for workers on both sides of the Atlantic. This could be down to factors like job pressures, company culture, or even the way digital tools make it harder to completely switch off from work.
Europeans enjoy more time off than Americans
So far, the work cultures in Europe and the U.S. have shown some degree of similarities when it comes to working hours and overtime. However, the real differences emerge when we look at vacations.
When asked how many vacation days they took last year, Europeans reported much higher numbers overall:
- Only 9% of Europeans took five or fewer days off, compared to a striking 26% of Americans.
- At the other end of the spectrum, nearly 30% of European respondents took more than 25 vacation days, while only 6% of Americans enjoyed that much time off.
- In fact, a majority of Europeans (59%) took more than 21 days of vacation, while most Americans fell into the lower ranges, with 49% taking 10 days or less.
When we asked about longer vacations — lasting two weeks or more — the differences became even more obvious. In Europe, just over a quarter of respondents (27%) regularly take long holidays, and nearly half (47%) said they do so occasionally. In contrast, a staggering 60% of Americans said they never take long holidays, with only 8% saying they take them regularly.
When we look at these numbers by age group, the workers who take the least time off (0-5 days) are Americans aged 18-27 (Gen Z). In contrast, the group that enjoys the most vacation days (25+) are Europeans between the ages of 28 and 43.
To better illustrate just how wide the gap truly is, consider the fact that the majority of European entry-level workers (66%) reported having taken at least 16 vacation days last year. This is three times more than their American counterparts who took only 0-5 days.
Ultimately, this data shows a clear divide in how Americans and Europeans approach vacation time. While Americans may take shorter, less frequent breaks, Europeans appear to prioritize longer periods of rest.
This may be caused by the fact that in Europe, vacations are seen as an essential part of personal well-being and productivity. In some countries, it's even common for businesses to slow down or close for weeks at a time in the summer. Besides, many European countries have laws that require employers to give at least 20 paid vacation days each year.
In contrast, the U.S. is often referred to as 'No Vacation Nation' — and, as our survey proves, for good reason. With no federal laws guaranteeing paid vacation, Americans are left at the mercy of their employers’ policies. As a result, many Americans have far fewer vacation days available. Plus, the fact that more than 60% of Americans never take long holidays suggests that extended time off is not as culturally or professionally accepted.
American Gen X feels the most guilt when taking vacations
However, these attitudes toward vacations extend beyond just holiday time. When asked if they’ve ever felt guilty about taking time off in general, the contrast between American and European respondents is, once again, difficult to overlook.
Nearly half of Europeans (49%) said they don’t feel guilty at all about taking time off, compared to just 32% of Americans. On the flip side, a much higher percentage of Americans (33%) admitted to often feeling guilty about it, whereas only 18% of Europeans shared the same feeling.
And what is the most guilt-ridden group? Americans aged 44-59! This suggests that older workers in the U.S. may feel a greater sense of responsibility or pressure to always be available. On the other hand, Europeans aged 28-43 feel the least guilty.
Interestingly, both regions agree on one thing: the further in their career workers get, the less guilty they feel about taking time off. Similarly, entry-level employees are more likely to feel guilty in both Europe and the U.S.
But what do these differences tell us about the two work cultures?
In Europe, taking time off is generally seen as crucial for overall well-being. That could explain why almost half of Europeans don't feel guilty about it. In the U.S., though, there's often more pressure to always be available, and many workers could worry that taking time off might make them seem less committed. This might explain why feelings of guilt are more common. The “hustle culture” in the U.S., especially for older workers who grew up in a more traditional, work-driven environment, seems to amplify that guilt even more.
This feeling of guilt also spills over into how workers view taking sick days. In Europe, 32% of respondents said they take sick days without hesitation whenever they need to, while a slightly lower 27% of Americans said the same.
However, the largest group in both regions said they try to avoid taking sick days unless absolutely necessary — 49% of Europeans and 46% of Americans.
What stands out is the pressure felt in the U.S. to work through sickness. Nearly 19% of American respondents said they feel pressured to avoid taking sick days, even when unwell. In Europe this group makes up only 10%.
This points to a higher level of “presenteeism” in the U.S. — a situation where workers show up despite being sick, because of the possibility of falling behind or appearing uncommitted.
Interestingly, the percentage of workers who said they don’t take sick days at all might come as a slight surprise — it's about 9% in Europe and 8% in the U.S.
The data reveals that while both Americans and Europeans hesitate to take sick days unless absolutely necessary, Americans feel more pressure to power through illness. This might be due to the cultural expectation in the U.S. to always be productive. Europeans, although equally cautious about taking sick days, appear to experience less prejudice when it comes to taking a few days off for health reasons.
Over half of U.S. employees regularly witness workplace stress
Considering that respondents from both regions admit to experiencing a certain level of work-related pressure, how often does stress become noticeable in the workplace?
In Europe, nearly 44% of respondents said their colleagues sometimes appear stressed, with 28% saying they see their co-workers being stressed often. Only a small percentage (around 8%) felt their colleagues are always stressed, and just 3% said they never notice stress in the workplace.
But in the U.S., workplace stress seems to be more tangible. Over 30% of respondents said their colleagues often seem stressed, and a group of 21% (a much higher figure than in the case of Europeans — 8%) reported that their co-workers seem stressed all the time. Only about 4% of Americans said they never see stress among their colleagues.
These numbers clearly suggest that American workplaces are perceived as more stressful than European ones. More than half of U.S. respondents see stress regularly, either often or always, which could reflect the pressures of longer hours, fewer breaks, and the constant need to stay productive. In other words, the “always-on” mentality seems to be taking a toll, with stress becoming a normal part of daily work life.
However, in Europe, while stress is still present, it doesn’t seem to be as overwhelming. Fewer people report seeing constant stress in their co-workers. Given what we've learnt about habits and attitudes surrounding vacations or sick days, European workers might have more opportunities to reset and manage work-related stress before it becomes too much to bear.
Europeans are generally happier with their work-life balance
As it turns out, stressed-out colleagues aren’t the only consequence of workplace pressure — personal happiness and satisfaction with work-life balance are also heavily affected.
But why does work-life balance matter?
At its core, work-life balance is about finding enough time and energy for both your job and your personal life. It’s making sure that work doesn’t take over to the point where there’s no time left for family, friends, hobbies, or simply unwinding. A good balance helps people avoid burnout, stay motivated, and feel more fulfilled overall.
In Europe, 51% of people said they were either happy or very happy with their work-life balance, compared to only 34% in the USA. Conversely, only 17% of Europeans said they were unhappy or very unhappy with their work-life balance, while the same sentiment was shared by a notable 31% of Americans.
While the levels of happiness and dissatisfaction vary, results from both sides of the Atlantic show that many workers feel the strain of balancing their jobs and personal lives. Our survey reveals that although Europeans seem to be managing better, dissatisfaction is far from uncommon in both regions.
Still, it’s clear that a larger portion of European workers enjoys a better balance between work and personal time. Again, this could also be linked to policies that advocate for shorter working hours, longer vacations, and more flexibility. Meanwhile, the higher dissatisfaction seen in American respondents might reflect the country’s culture of longer working hours, fewer vacation days, and a stronger emphasis on productivity.
Therefore, the data from our survey shows that while work-life balance is a challenge everywhere, Europe seems to be doing a better job of creating an environment where workers feel content.
Millennials feel the most Depresso in both Europe and the US
While work-life balance plays a key role in shaping how content people feel, it’s only one part of the bigger picture. To better understand overall job satisfaction, we also asked respondents to assess the overall pace and demands of their work.
To do this, we asked them to describe their work using three coffee metaphors:
- Espresso – Balanced work with some high-paced moments
- Depresso – Stressful work that's exhausting
- Latte – Calm and balanced work
In Europe, most workers — 68% — chose Espresso, meaning they feel their jobs are generally well-balanced with some busy moments. A significantly smaller portion, just 18%, described their work as Depresso, meaning they find it both stressful and exhausting. And lastly, 14% said their work is calm and steady, or Latte, as we decided to name it.
In the USA, the picture shifts a bit. While most American workers (58%) also went with Espresso, more than 31% chose Depresso. The Latte option was selected only by 11%. This points to significantly more Americans feeling stressed and exhausted by their jobs compared to European respondents.
Interestingly, on both the European and American sides, most people in the Depresso category were professionals aged 28-43.
What can we take away from this?
The similarities are clear: both European and American workers mostly feel their jobs are manageable, with occasional bursts of intensity. However, the differences are hard to ignore. American workers are much more likely to feel stressed and exhausted at work compared to their European counterparts, with nearly one-third describing their jobs as Depresso.
In summary, while workers in both regions face a mix of calm and fast-paced moments, Europeans appear to have a better handle on stress, with fewer people feeling overwhelmed by their jobs compared to those in the USA.
Final thoughts
Our survey sheds light on some clear differences — and a few surprising similarities — between American and European work cultures.
While both sides of the Atlantic report feeling the pressure to work hard, Europeans seem to fare better in maintaining a healthier work-life balance.
Americans tend to work longer hours, take fewer vacations, and feel more stressed, with 31% describing their jobs as exhausting. In contrast, Europeans take more time off, experience less stress, and express higher satisfaction with their work-life balance.
Ultimately, these findings highlight the importance of balancing work and personal life for overall happiness and productivity. While there’s no one-size-fits-all solution, policies that protect workers' time could make a big difference, particularly for those struggling with burnout and exhaustion.
Demographics:
- Age: The largest age group was 28-43 (Millennials) with 46%. The second largest group was 44-59 (Generation X) with 26.1%. Third largest group was 18-27 (Generation Z) with 25.3%. The remaining groups were 60-69 (Baby Boomers) with 2.2%, and 70 and above (Silent Generation) with 0.4%.
- Gender: The survey did not collect data about any respondent’s gender.
- Location: Respondents were located in The United States of America (53%) and Europe (47%).
Note
This anonymous online survey was conducted by Kickresume, from September 24 to October 2, 2024. 1,228 participants aged 18-79 in Europe and The USA were surveyed to better understand the work culture differences.
About Kickresume
Kickresume is an AI-based career tool that helps candidates source jobs and raise salary with powerful resume and cover letter tools, skills analytics, and automated job search assistance. It already helped more than 6 million job seekers worldwide.
