Germans are not workaholics anymore, and high salaries are no longer as appealing

I noticed that Germans clearly separate work from leisure. When they work, their efficiency and productivity are very high, and once their tasks are done, they take a break. They do not engage in overtime or extra hours. Most Germans pursue jobs primarily out of passion.

For instance, my German husband worked for a company 20 years ago. He had a high salary but was required to be away from home if the company needed him. Additionally, the living conditions were not ideal, as he had to share an apartment with many other employees, each having their own bedroom. This lack of privacy caused him stress after work.

My husband requested the company to improve his living conditions, and the company arranged for him to stay in hotels whenever he traveled to a different city. Eventually, when his company had a client from a neighboring country, it wanted him to relocate, yet he refused and quit his job. He has been self-employed ever since.

In summary, high salaries are no longer a necessity for Germans. To attract employees, high salaries must be accompanied by good working conditions and shorter hours.

People sitting at a table with laptops. Illustration photo by Unsplash

My husband’s sister-in-law, also German, works at a gas station’s convenience store, where customers buy fast food and coffee while refueling. She works eight-hour shifts for three days and then has two days off. She often complains about being tired due to the workload, but the high salary prevents her from quitting.

She works only her scheduled hours and avoids overtime. After work, she does not cook, do housework, or garden. She prefers to rest and sleep, while her husband takes care of everything, including the children. This is common among German women.

Her husband is a football coach for the city’s youth team. His job usually involves morning or afternoon shifts and often requires traveling to lead the team in matches and competitions, which is exhausting and leaves little time for family.

Despite this, he still works in the garden with my husband, travels, and enjoys outdoor barbecues on weekends. He even goes fishing in Sweden with my father-in-law. He only occasionally works far from home, and since he enjoys his job and earns a decent salary, he continues with it.

My father-in-law used to be a baker, and my mother-in-law worked as a seamstress. Now retired, they receive a pension of 1,200 euros (US$1,327) each per month. Given the lower cost of living and food prices in Germany compared to neighboring countries, they live very comfortably.

My mother-in-law gardens daily. My father-in-law does as well and enjoys riding his motorcycle and sailing on the Baltic Sea to fish. These hobbies have been with him since his youth, and he pursued them after work. For decades, neither of my in-laws has worked overtime or extra hours.

Here’s why people in Germany today prefer not to work excessively:

First, according to my husband, working more leads to higher taxes and insurance costs, not to mention various expenses like fuel and housing.

Under German law, if annual income totals 10,000 euros, taxes are very low, almost negligible. With this income, working four hours a day is sufficient. I cannot share detailed personal information, but in summary, working more does not significantly increase earnings, and retirement benefits are similar to those of people who work less or not at all. Overtime is also taxed at a higher rate.

Therefore, according to my husband, this reluctance to work excessively has been evident for about the last 25 years.

Second, Germans are expected to rest with their families from Friday afternoon to Sunday. They also have a culture of taking vacations during summer and winter, known as Urlaub. In summer, they barbecue in the garden, enjoy pastries and coffee, and may even stay overnight in their well-equipped homes. They might also go boating, cycling, camping, picnicking, or swimming in lakes or the sea. In winter, they go skiing.

In summary, Germans spend time resting and recreating, with minimal addiction to social media. They work less and play more, resulting in lower stress levels, less anger, and calmer reactions to unpleasant situations.

In Germany, work hours are regulated by long-standing laws, starting at 9 a.m. and ending between 4-6 p.m. On Saturdays, shops close at 2 p.m., and most businesses are closed on Sundays, except for gas stations, restaurants, and zoos.

The goal is to ensure people spend time with their families. As a result, streets are very quiet around 6 p.m. and on weekends. The intense work culture seen in South Korea and Japan is not present here.

When I asked my husband how the state manages with people preferring not to work a lot, he explained that it relies on foreign labor. Foreign workers are accustomed to long hours or overtime from their home countries and are willing to work here because the net salary is higher than in their own countries.

Moreover, life in Germany is better, with good social benefits, low child-rearing costs, cheap food, and inexpensive goods, making such income sufficient for them to save and support relatives in their home countries.

Regarding employment, most good or key positions are filled by Germans. Today’s young people are not interested in manual jobs like nail care, construction work, roadwork, or nursing due to the heat, dirt, and demanding nature of these jobs. Cleaning jobs in companies, schools, or supermarkets are especially rare. The declining population in Germany, coupled with the aversion to these jobs, has led to a severe labor shortage, necessitating the employment of foreign workers.

Meanwhile, Germans pursue careers they are passionate about, not out of family obligations, job prestige, or external praise. For example, a German student in my son’s class, who was very passionate about becoming a firefighter, left school in the 9th grade to attend a vocational school to quickly follow his passion, despite being the top student in his class.

According to regulations, all jobs are paid 12.4 euros per hour before taxes. For 8th and 9th grade students who do internships for one to two weeks at any preferred place, the place does not pay. However, if a 9th-grade student attends a vocational school with integrated internships, the employer must pay, though usually less than 12.4 euros, depending on the company and job.

Regarding benefits, if a German or refugee does not work, the state covers monthly living expenses, insurance costs, and even provides funds for buying a car, as car prices are low. They also receive money for vacations.

Children living in Germany receive 250 euros a month from the state until they are 18. If a family has three children, the third child receives more. For children who do not live with their biological father or whose father's income is insufficient, the state provides 250 euros per month for preschool and primary school children, and nearly 400 euros per month for secondary school children, until they turn 18. Education and bus transport are free.

These benefits are provided regardless of the mother’s financial status. If a baby is born without essentials like a refrigerator, crib, or diapers, these items are also provided. If the mother has low or no income, she receives several hundred euros per child each month. This is called child support for low-income families.

On the other hand, when a couple divorces, legal and attorney fees amount to over 10,000 euros if there is no dispute. If there are disputes, the amount increases. The higher-income party pays more, while the state covers costs for the party with no income.

Women’s rights are well-protected. If a wife is a homemaker or has a low income, the entire amount of social security contributions and future pension payments for the husband is divided equally. After a divorce or if parents were never married, children receive support from the Child Protection Agency, including care or recreational activities if parents are busy or need assistance.

Low-income individuals who cannot make ends meet receive monthly government subsidies. Taxes are reduced if a worker lives with their spouse and children or has children, yet are very high for singles.

In summary, every country has its own lifestyle and viewpoints. This article shares only a small aspect, reflecting a personal perspective based on observed realities. It does not represent the majority and may differ from others’ opinions.

*This opinion was translated into English with the assistance of AI. Readers’ views are personal and do not necessarily match VnExpress’ viewpoints.