World Happiness Report 2018 - Canada #7

[Northern Light]

The latest World Happiness Report is out from the folks at the UN.

While one never wishes to put too much weight on these sorts of things, they do actually contain some interesting data underlying their rankings, as well as offer a snapshot of how a country's citizens may be
feeling at a given moment.

In this year's Edition, Canada ranks #7


1. Finland (7.632)
2. Norway (7.594)
3. Denmark (7.555)
4. Iceland (7.495)
5. Switzerland (7.487)
6. Netherlands (7.441)
7. Canada (7.328)
8. New Zealand (7.324)
9. Sweden (7.314)
10. Australia (7.272)
11. Israel (7.190)
12. Austria (7.139)
13. Costa Rica (7.072)
14. Ireland (6.977)
15. Germany (6.965)
16. Belgium (6.927)
17. Luxembourg (6.910)
18. United States (6.886)
19. United Kingdom (6.814)
20. United Arab Emirates (6.774)

https://s3.amazonaws.com/happiness-report/2018/WHR_web.pdf

Canada's rank is unchanged from last year, but slightly down from earlier surveys (as high as #5)

The United States is well down from the first survey in which it was #11

Discuss.

 

[Skeezix]

Take that, Luxembourg!

 

[SunriseChampion]

Interesting (or obvious) that there seems to be a correlation between the happiest countries and those consistently ranked as being the most equal, peaceful, free, and having the highest quality of life in other such surveys.

Just look at the top 10 and compare to any other such global survey of the state of nations. Look at those Vikings: having a grand old time for over a millenium.
It's basically, Vikings, Isolated Mountain Valley Utopia (Switzerland), Hippy Holland, and three open society former British colonies.....in like every such list with maybe Austria thrown in.

I think the greatest reason for this is the level of social equality in these places which should give the lie to the idea that unbridled individualism leads to a better nation.

Edit: Wow, I'm a loser. After starting to read the report I've realised that this is just another one of those quality of life surveys as it uses many of the same variables as other such surveys which explains the usual suspects being where they are.

Edit II: Upon further reading, it does actually include a multitude of data on actual questions asked relating to all sorts of life situations.

Edit III: Whoah, Aussies don't see their extended family members much. Like on an order of magnitude less than the average of other countries cited.

Edit IV: The graph near the bottom of the report showing American GDP per capita and happiness in relation between the years 1972-2016 speaks volumes. Or Valuums.

Edit V: Oh, damn, the chart showing the growth in life expectancy (health-adjusted) shows a dismal increase for the US in relation to most other countries cited. Just make sure you keep that socialist medecine the hell out of here.

Edit VI: Migrants are happiest in countries that are more accepting of migrants, said the report obviously.

 

[Northern Light]

I think MTown covered a great deal of territory here that I would.

I think my take-away on these things is that its important not to be overly concerned about any given list, or even any one data-point, but is generally a good thing to be well-placed on these types of lists; and an upward or stable trend beats a downward one.

In respect of why these countries place where they do, I think it comes down less to narrow specific government programs or laws than it does a couple of specific questions.

1) How much do you worry for yourself or your family about a possible job loss or serious illness? (core security)

2) How much do you worry that you won't be able to have enough to eat, or money to pay the rent/mortgage this month (core security)

3) Do you feel free to change jobs if you don't like your current one, or your current boss etc? (transferabilty of health benefits, of vacation time etc.)

4) Do you have a reasonable work/life balance? (combination of work week, paid meal breaks, stat. holidays, paid vacation time, commute time to work)

5) Do you worry about the quality of education your child receives in a public school? (quality of education if you can't afford private/augmented education)

6) Do you worry about not having enough to retire (public/private pensions, retirement age, social security fallbacks if these come up short)

7) Do you live in a open society that will allow you a wide range of discretion on how you choose to live?

I think if you answer most of these favourably, you end up fairly happy.

It means you have a sense of freedom about where you work, where you live, what you do w/your free time etc.

The reason you have that choice, beyond legal rights, is the economic security that there is a low-risk to making a wrong choice.

You won't go from 5 weeks vacation to 2 if you change jobs; your child will not be at risk of a poor education if you move neighbourhoods, your pension is secure no matter who your employer etc.

 

[Northern Light]

As a follow up to my thesis that vacation time matters; the same 20 counties as above, ranked by level of mandated paid vacation.

Country Mandated Paid Vacation

1. France 5 weeks (25 days)
2. Denmark 5 weeks (25 days)
3. Sweden 5 weeks (25 days)
4. Finland 5 weeks (25 days)
5. Luxembourg 5 weeks (25 days)
6. Germany 4 weeks, 4 days (24 days)
7. Iceland 4 weeks, 4 days (24 days)
8. Austria 4 weeks, 2 days (22 days)
9. New Zealand 4 weeks (20 days)
10. Belgium 4 weeks (20 days)
11. Switzerland 4 weeks (20 days
12. Australia 4 weeks (20 days)
13. Netherlands 4 weeks (20 days)
14. Ireland 4 weeks (20 days)
15. UK 4 weeks (20 days)
16. UAE 4 weeks, 2 days (22 days)
17. Israel 2 weeks, 2 days (12 days) (Add 2 per year)
18. Canada 2 weeks (10 days) (in 9 provinces)
19. Costa Rica 2 weeks (10 days)
20. US Zero

 

[W. K. Lis]

As a follow up to my thesis that vacation time matters; the same 20 counties as above, ranked by level of mandated paid vacation.

Country Mandated Paid Vacation

1. France 5 weeks (25 days)
2. Denmark 5 weeks (25 days)
3. Sweden 5 weeks (25 days)
4. Finland 5 weeks (25 days)
5. Luxembourg 5 weeks (25 days)
6. Germany 4 weeks, 4 days (24 days)
7. Iceland 4 weeks, 4 days (24 days)
8. Austria 4 weeks, 2 days (22 days)
9. New Zealand 4 weeks (20 days)
10. Belgium 4 weeks (20 days)
11. Switzerland 4 weeks (20 days
12. Australia 4 weeks (20 days)
13. Netherlands 4 weeks (20 days)
14. Ireland 4 weeks (20 days)
15. UK 4 weeks (20 days)
16. UAE 4 weeks, 2 days (22 days)
17. Israel 2 weeks, 2 days (12 days) (Add 2 per year)
18. Canada 2 weeks (10 days) (in 9 provinces)
19. Costa Rica 2 weeks (10 days)
20. US Zero

Ontario:
Employees with less than five years of employment are entitled to two weeks of vacation time after each 12-month vacation entitlement year. Employees with five or more years of employment are entitled to three weeks of vacation time.

 

[narduch]

Ontario:
Employees with less than five years of employment are entitled to two weeks of vacation time after each 12-month vacation entitlement year. Employees with five or more years of employment are entitled to three weeks of vacation time.

This law literally just came into effect in Ontario (as part of Wynne's desperate bid to get elected).

Previously there was no actual set amount of guaranteed vacation in Ontario, only that your employer had to pay you for 2 weeks.

 

[Northern Light]

Ontario:
Employees with less than five years of employment are entitled to two weeks of vacation time after each 12-month vacation entitlement year. Employees with five or more years of employment are entitled to three weeks of vacation time.

I was aware of this change; but I presented the list as the bare minimum required by each country, excepting Israel because it adds time immediately in year 2 and each subsequent year.

I think the base-line amount is very important because its the amount someone is guaranteed to receive if they switch employers.

Right now, many longer term employees may resist switching jobs for more money or better conditions, because they would lose any extra vacation time granted by law (or their employer).

***

Saskatchewan provides for three weeks in your first year. Its the only province to do so.

 

[Northern Light]

We're also light on Statutory Holidays by world standards w/most countries between 10-13 (or roughly one per month).

At 9, Ontario is on the higher end for Canada, though both BC and Sask provide fro 10.

I would like to see the August Civic holiday go Stat. to ensure that retail workers get the same number of paid long weekends the rest of us do.

 

[narduch]

We're also light on Statutory Holidays by world standards w/most countries between 10-13 (or roughly one per month).

At 9, Ontario is on the higher end for Canada, though both BC and Sask provide fro 10.

I would like to see the August Civic holiday go Stat. to ensure that retail workers get the same number of paid long weekends the rest of us do.

Add Remembrance Day as well

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

Add Remembrance Day as well

Not a big fan of mixing it up with a holiday.

AoD

 

[SunriseChampion]

Not a big fan of mixing it up with a holiday.

AoD

Yeah......I'm not sure which way to lean on this one.

November Day a week later then!

Also a necessity: Summer Solstice Day in celebration of the life-bringer and life-taker and the heart of the sky.

That holiday thing is important to me. We're allowed unlimited holiday time but are only paid for 3 weeks. I wish it were 4. Take July off like a civilised person. That would perfectly split the year in two and when you throw in the basically mandatory 2 weeks off at Christmas, you're good to go. The Christmas thing is standard in custom construction....I think it should be standard in society as a whole. Some people continue to work during the two weeks but sites usually shut down. There's no service to them, no deliveries, no one in charge is anywhere near the place, etc.

I rarely work a 40 hour week. I'd say I average about 34 hrs a week throughout the year (winter is less hours, summer more). I remember a conversation I had with a dude in the lift at my last building in Davisville: It was a Friday and we got to talking about the work week and how we're glad it's over. At some point the bloke mentions how many hours he had to work to which I replied that I prefer to keep it French and mentioned that I had my 35hrs for the week, thanks, I'm good. His look of.....astonishment? Surprise? Disgust? hahaa.....poor guy retorted with "I can't afford that!".
Well, I'm sure you can, bud. Make some adjustments. Sure, I could try to work that extra 10 hours a week to pay my debts a few months sooner, but that would make my life hugely unbalanced. I don't know....do you need a new phone every year? A 60" TV? A car? That car? 10 pairs of shoes? To eat out three times a week?

Life isn't all about work and anyone who tells you it is is a fool. Sure, you can't just live off air and luck but you sure as hell can work hard enough to not have to work too hard.
I refuse to work week-ends and holidays, I take an hour lunch. In summer sometimes I leave work at lunch to go to the beach for a couple of hours and then go back to work and work an hour later than normal. Fridays? Everyone leaves early. In summer? Even earlier. Long week-ends? Many don't even show up. My quality of life vs a desk-chained drone? I'm sure you can guess.
This shouldn't be about how I have it good, blah, blah, blah....why am I an exception to the general rule? Why isn't what I get to enjoy (and more!) the general rule?
I think we in Canada are generally overworked and psychologically handicapped into believing that we have to kill ourselves to make money all the bloody time. Imagine our position on that chart if we had a European holiday attitude? Damn, top three, for sure!
A lot of it is related to cost of living, sure....well, cost of borrowing to be more exact....or cost of keeping up with the Joneses. That's a joke in and of itself though.

A lot of it is also related to how people have no patience and want everything almost immediately. I'm sure some of you have witnessed the dumb **** (I refuse to pick a different descriptor) at a Timmy's wigging out because they have to wait 2 minutes for a coffee to be made fresh. The horror! Think of the children!
This causes people to get pushed into working more and longer just to get things done by largely arbitrary deadlines.
I work slowly to begin with because I take time to craft my work to a degree of excellence that I can be happy with (I care more about me in this regard than the client who usually can't tell the difference) so am sometimes caught on the wrong side of "deadlines". Well, with the right attitude proselytising and quality work you can get most anyone off your back, let me tell you. That or they can get someone else for the job, best of luck.

Sorry, I could drone on about this for days (under a tree at the beach, preferably).
I just think more people need to live life and not chase money.

Money /= A Life Worth Living

 

[SunriseChampion]

As a follow up to my thesis that vacation time matters; the same 20 counties as above, ranked by level of mandated paid vacation.

Country Mandated Paid Vacation

1. France 5 weeks (25 days)
2. Denmark 5 weeks (25 days)
3. Sweden 5 weeks (25 days)
4. Finland 5 weeks (25 days)
5. Luxembourg 5 weeks (25 days)
6. Germany 4 weeks, 4 days (24 days)
7. Iceland 4 weeks, 4 days (24 days)
8. Austria 4 weeks, 2 days (22 days)
9. New Zealand 4 weeks (20 days)
10. Belgium 4 weeks (20 days)
11. Switzerland 4 weeks (20 days
12. Australia 4 weeks (20 days)
13. Netherlands 4 weeks (20 days)
14. Ireland 4 weeks (20 days)
15. UK 4 weeks (20 days)
16. UAE 4 weeks, 2 days (22 days)
17. Israel 2 weeks, 2 days (12 days) (Add 2 per year)
18. Canada 2 weeks (10 days) (in 9 provinces)
19. Costa Rica 2 weeks (10 days)
20. US Zero

That 20th position sure is sad. Land of the free, or whatever. (This isn't even getting into incarceration rates....land of the free, or whatever).

 

[Northern Light]

Yeah......I'm not sure which way to lean on this one.

November Day a week later then!

Also a necessity: Summer Solstice Day in celebration of the life-bringer and life-taker and the heart of the sky.

That holiday thing is important to me. We're allowed unlimited holiday time but are only paid for 3 weeks. I wish it were 4. Take July off like a civilised person. That would perfectly split the year in two and when you throw in the basically mandatory 2 weeks off at Christmas, you're good to go. The Christmas thing is standard in custom construction....I think it should be standard in society as a whole. Some people continue to work during the two weeks but sites usually shut down. There's no service to them, no deliveries, no one in charge is anywhere near the place, etc.

I rarely work a 40 hour week. I'd say I average about 34 hrs a week throughout the year (winter is less hours, summer more). I remember a conversation I had with a dude in the lift at my last building in Davisville: It was a Friday and we got to talking about the work week and how we're glad it's over. At some point the bloke mentions how many hours he had to work to which I replied that I prefer to keep it French and mentioned that I had my 35hrs for the week, thanks, I'm good. His look of.....astonishment? Surprise? Disgust? hahaa.....poor guy retorted with "I can't afford that!".
Well, I'm sure you can, bud. Make some adjustments. Sure, I could try to work that extra 10 hours a week to pay my debts a few months sooner, but that would make my life hugely unbalanced. I don't know....do you need a new phone every year? A 60" TV? A car? That car? 10 pairs of shoes? To eat out three times a week?

Life isn't all about work and anyone who tells you it is is a fool. Sure, you can't just live off air and luck but you sure as hell can work hard enough to not have to work too hard.
I refuse to work week-ends and holidays, I take an hour lunch. In summer sometimes I leave work at lunch to go to the beach for a couple of hours and then go back to work and work an hour later than normal. Fridays? Everyone leaves early. In summer? Even earlier. Long week-ends? Many don't even show up. My quality of life vs a desk-chained drone? I'm sure you can guess.
This shouldn't be about how I have it good, blah, blah, blah....why am I an exception to the general rule? Why isn't what I get to enjoy (and more!) the general rule?
I think we in Canada are generally overworked and psychologically handicapped into believing that we have to kill ourselves to make money all the bloody time. Imagine our position on that chart if we had a European holiday attitude? Damn, top three, for sure!
A lot of it is related to cost of living, sure....well, cost of borrowing to be more exact....or cost of keeping up with the Joneses. That's a joke in and of itself though.

A lot of it is also related to how people have no patience and want everything almost immediately. I'm sure some of you have witnessed the dumb **** (I refuse to pick a different descriptor) at a Timmy's wigging out because they have to wait 2 minutes for a coffee to be made fresh. The horror! Think of the children!
This causes people to get pushed into working more and longer just to get things done by largely arbitrary deadlines.
I work slowly to begin with because I take time to craft my work to a degree of excellence that I can be happy with (I care more about me in this regard than the client who usually can't tell the difference) so am sometimes caught on the wrong side of "deadlines". Well, with the right attitude proselytising and quality work you can get most anyone off your back, let me tell you. That or they can get someone else for the job, best of luck.

Sorry, I could drone on about this for days (under a tree at the beach, preferably).
I just think more people need to live life and not chase money.

Money /= A Life Worth Living

I share much of your take.

Mine would be to push government vacation benefits that more closely align w/OECD norms.

But there is a practical limit to how much change can happen at once.

Right now only Saskatchewan has 3 weeks paid vacation in year one. I'm hopeful we may see some improvement from Quebec in the next provincial budget; and BC is currently updating employment standards under the NDP.

If both of those provinces go to three weeks, it should be straight forward for Ontario to follow suit.

***

On Stat. holidays, one more at a time. What makes Aug Civic my 1st choice, is that many businesses already provide this as a paid day off, the people who tend to get shafted are low-wage, hourly workers.

Its lower-resistance option vs a completely new holiday.

At least we're not Nova Scotia which has only six paid holidays, there Thanksgiving and Victoria Day are un paid! (by law) :O

***

Compressing the 40-hour work week is more of a challenge, even much of Europe isn't there yet.

For now, I'd like to see 2 changes in Ontario.

One is moving overtime from 44 hours to 40. The object being to more fairly distribute hours to those who need them and reduce over-work for others.

While introducing a shift-premium for overnight work 11pm-7am as Australia does.

You don't want to set it so high there are mass layoffs, but I think reducing some necessary work hours overnight (with work shifting to days) while more fairly compensating those who make sacrifices to get by or feed their families seems reasonable to me. Maybe a 10-20% premium.

But I don't see that happening anytime soon.

So long as we can get tangible, continuous improvement I'd be fairly pleased.

 

[SunriseChampion]

Those would be good changes indeed.

However, I think it would take a massive change in societal attitudes as well as wholesale managerial and organisational changes to transition to a less hectic work-life balance. I'm not sure it can be legislated into being. Nudged, yeah, but you'll still end up with people working like dogs for whatever reason. Some less reasonable than others.

It's interesting to read about companies that offer unlimited paid holiday as a perk and see workers taking an average of only about 2-3 weeks off anyway.

I'm always happy to see shops and restaurants that close so that workers and/or proprietors can have an hour lunch. Why can't that be the norm? Why does everything have to be always and now? It's not a healthy attitude to expect the world to revolve around oneself.

Regarding the civic holiday, I think many of my friends who work in retail-level jobs already get paid holiday pay on that day. Or at least overtime pay (1.5 or somesuch).

You're right about legislative changes having to be gradual, but I'd be happy to see us move into a direction that is more human.

I feel bad for people who have to work too much. It's not fair. I'm not about to start skipping my beach lunches in solidarity, mind. I work hard enough and deserve what I get...and sort of give myself. There's a balance, but right now we haven't found it.

It's a tough one. Commute times play into it as well and the way we've designed our cities here is detrimental to achieving healthy work-life balance because vast multitudes of people simply can't live close to work. Work is too geographically concentrated while residential is too widely spread. Then again, you have people who simply must own a house and are forced to buy where they can afford, go into debt to pay for it, and then spend countless weeks of their life getting to and fro and paying for it and....man, it makes my head hurt.

I think people are too easily misled by salespeople who sell them all sorts of lies. If someone tells me that they're genuinely happy spending almost 15 hours a week in their car because they get to own a house my eyes glaze over and I think they're lying to me....no, themselves.
I remember a guy at a site a couple of years ago who lived in Ajax. The site was in central Etobicoke. He was there for almost two years. This guy said he was happy sitting in the traffic to and fro because it was his personal time alone, away from his family and everybody else. In traffic. On the 401. That's just sad. I've done the 401 commute to and from Pickering and can honestly say that it isn't the most quality alone time I've ever spent. In fact, using quality in this context is a lie. You're too busy concentrating on driving to thing grand thoughts or to plan any escapades or adventures, really. It isn't exactly the most soothing environment. I honestly think this guy was mentally ill. Not in a diagnosable DSM kind of way, but his soul was tired and worn. Though, it must be a negative mental condition to thoroughly enjoy torturing oneself.
Maybe the means justify the ends...but even that seems like a bad deal in this context.