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Originally published:
Jul-25-2009
View More Articles on Business Operations
 by Vanessa Bersani
ABC-Amega Account Executive – International
“Our offices will be closed for one month. We will contact you again after our holidays.”
Have you ever gotten that kind of response when dealing with a European-based business or organization? If so, it’s not at all unusual. Many routinely close for a company-wide vacation for an entire month (usually August) during the summer.
For Americans accustomed to offices being in operation year round – including some holidays – dealing with this general shut down of operations can be quite frustrating. It can definitely play havoc with your agenda if you’ve got an urgent matter to discuss with a firm “on holiday” that (from your perspective) simply cannot wait for a whole month.
In some countries, such as France, holidays may be staggered, with some companies closing in July and others in August. They may also extend for shorter periods of time, closing for only two or three weeks in a row. But for the most part, one month in August is the norm.
So what’s the rationale behind closing down operations and giving all employees the same month off?
While odd from an American point of view, this practice has been a long-standing custom of European businesses. And there are underlying reasons that support the practice.
The Law
Most countries in the European Union allow employees five full weeks of holiday (vacation) per year. In many cases, this is not merely custom but is, in fact, enforced by law.
Necessity
In some countries, such as Spain, August gets incredibly hot. Going to work in temperatures that reach more than 90 degrees Farenheit by 8:00 AM can be unbearable. This is especially true in the non-office sectors (i.e. welders, warehouses, etc.) that don’t have the convenience of air conditioning.
Family Matters
Providing one month of continual vacation for employees is also considered a courtesy to parents, who can then spend that time with their children during their school summer holidays.
Business Considerations
Since most employers follow the tradition of a month long, operational shutdown during either July or August, business activity is very low during these months. As a result, it only makes sense for most employers to join in the custom, rather than try to maintain “business as usual” when many of the companies they deal with will be closed. It’s more cost effective to have employees working during high activity peaks rather than low ones.
Some employers also see the practice as a cost cutting measure. If a company shuts down for one month, there are no electricity, gas, water, etc. expenses. This can add up to considerable savings in certain industries (i.e. automobile manufacturers).
Downside?
While some Americans find this tradition irksome, others view it with envy. A full month of paid vacation sounds pretty good. As with most things, however, it also has its downside. There are many Europeans that would prefer not to be told when they should take their time off – especially if that implies having to take their vacation when travel costs are most expensive. And for the Europeans that live there, not being able to get certain administrative paper work done for a whole month, or having their near-by shop closed most of the summer, is not really convenient either. Proponents, however, argue that it’s just a question of planning and of getting used to the idea.
Conclusion
One thought does emerge from considering this tradition. Perhaps “emergencies” may be more a question of the priority we give them…rather than their actual urgency. So, don’t forget to give a high priority to enjoying your summer this year – especially if you’re located in colder parts of the country where summer only lasts a few weeks!
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Vanessa Bersani, ABC-Amega Account Executive – International, holds a post-graduate degree in Business Management Sciences from the University of Paris IX Dauphine in France. She has lived, worked and traveled throughout Europe and is fluent in English, Spanish, French and Italian.
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This information is provided by ABC-Amega Inc. ABC-Amega Inc. has provided commercial receivables collection services since 1929 and collects in more than 200 countries worldwide, including in France. For further information, contact info@abc-amega.com.
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