Labor Laws: Cross-Cultural Comparisons

Paper Summary:

A nation's labor laws, stipulating work hours, job security, vacations, retirement age, compensations, employment opportunities, and chances for advancement for protected groups are intrinsically connected to that country's espoused politico-economic ideology. The paper shows that the United States, in which the capitalist market ideology prevails, has a set of labor laws, which differ in several significant areas from those that operate in many Northern European countries, such as Germany, where democratic socialism shapes national politico-economic ideologies. In comparing between several key aspects of German and American labor policies and laws, the paper concludes that, while Germany furnishes its population with a more positive work atmosphere, empowering it vis-a-vis corporate owners and establishing a legal framework that would guarantee job security, the fact remains that some perceive this as having curtailed the growth and the more efficient/effective operation of native organizations/firms. In an overall analysis, this paper illustrates that it is better to be a worker in Germany than in the United States.

From the Paper:

"The point here is that, in comparison to the United States where the power of labour unions is steadily declining, German labour unions have remained consistently powerful and are in charge of negotiating practically all employment contracts, ensuring that equitable terms are offered to all workers, irrespective of gender, race, or age (Boldt, 2003). Thus, the power of the labour unions in Germany has negated the need for those laws which emphasize equitable employment terms, which are so prevalent in the United States."

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