Asia - Europe Business

Japanese Use Least Vacation Time; French Most

 

Although a vacation can be a good chance to get away from the stresses of work, only two-thirds of employees globally use all the holidays they are given by their organization, according to a joint Reuters/Ipsos.

The survey of about 12,500 people in 24 countries found French employees were the most likely to take advantage of the days granted, with 89 percent using up all of their days.

They were followed by Argentinians with 80 percent using all their vacation days, then Hungarians at 78 percent and Britons at 77 percent.

But at the other end of the scale Japanese workers were the least likely to use all their vacations days. Only 33 percent would take off all the time given.

They were followed by 47 percent of workers in South Africa taking their full leave entitlement, 53 percent in South Korea and 57 percent in the United States.

"There are lots of reasons why people don't use up vacation days but most often it's because they feel obligated to their work and put it over other more important things, including their own health and welfare," said John Wright, senior vice president of global market and opinion research firm Ipsos.

"Workers should remember that there are graveyards full of indispensable people," he added.

Wright said there appeared to be virtually no difference in terms of demographics when it came to taking leave with about two-third of high and low income earners taking all the days available.

Slightly more younger people would take all their leave than people aged over 50.

"But there was a slight (difference) as business owners and senior executive/decision leaders at 60 percent are the least likely to use up all of the holidays granted them," he said.

Workers most likely to use all leave:

• France 89 percent

• Argentina 80 percent

• Hungary 78 percent

• Britain 77 percent

• Spain 77 percent

• Saudi Arabia 76 percent

• Germany 75 percent

• Belgium 74 percent

• Turkey 74 percent

• Indonesia 70 percent

• Mexico 67 percent

• Russia 67 percent

• Italy 66 percent

• Poland 66 percent

• China 65 percent

• Sweden 63 percent

• Brazil 59 percent

• India 59 percent

• Canada 58 percent

• United States 57 percent

• South Korea 53 percent

• Australia 47 percent

• South Africa 47 percent

• Japan 33 percent

Lisa

Hacker To CMCC: Too Expensive

China Mobile's official website www.chinamobile.com was hacked at 8:00 am on Monday. The hacker left a note on the site asking China Mobile to lower its rates. The website returned to normal at 8:36 am. China Mobile brand M-zone's official website at m-zone.com.cn was also attacked.

Lisa

Orange France launches 3G TV Portal

Bluestreak Network announced that Orange France will launch the Orange World TV portal using bluestreak's MachBlue for Mobile platform. This is the second rich-media portal deployed by Orange that uses MachBlue technology; the first service, the Orange League 1 soccer portal, was launched at the 3GSM World Congress in Barcelonaon February 15, 2006. The new mobile TV portal delivers 52 channels across 3G and EDGE networks.

Please visit web site 3GPortal.

Lisa

Vivendi Universal SA

Good news from Vivendi ! Second-quarter revenue was 8% higher than a year earlier at €4.62 billion, reflecting strong showings of its mobile-phone division and its recovering games division. SFR’s revenue rose 23% to €2.18 billion with a strong market share and better average revenue per user.

Morocco’s Maroc Telecom, whose revenue rose 19% to € 545 million, was boosted by continued growth of its customer base. Universal Music’s revenue fell 3% to € 1.05 billion. Canal Plus booked 250,000 new subscribers in the first half, but revenue was down 10% at € 816 million. Sales of long-struggling videogame division Vivendi Games Jumped 76% to €125 million on the back of hit online game “World of Warcraft”.

Lisa