New research by William Russell has analysed data from thirty OECD countries, with the intention to reveal which of the leading countries offer the worst working conditions and benefits. To reveal the worst working conditions measurements and comparisons are required, and the new research has undertaken this methodology.
The countries with the worst overall work benefits were found to be:
| Rank | Country | Average Salary | Weeks of Maternity Leave | Average Weekly Working Hours | Annual Minimum Wage | Minimum Paid Annual Leave | Work & Employment Score /10 |
| 1 | Mexico | $16,610 | 12.00 | 41.1 | $3,266 | 6 | 0.47 |
| 2 | United States | $74,738 | 0.00 | 33.9 | $15,080 | 0 | 2.37 |
| 3 | Greece | $25,944 | 17.00 | 39.2 | $10,389 | 20 | 2.89 |
| 4 | South Korea | $44,813 | 12.86 | 38.1 | $19,619 | 15 | 3.23 |
| 5 | Israel | $42,089 | 27.00 | 36.6 | $17,842 | 12 | 3.62 |
Generally, the countries are those that have adopted a right-wing neo-liberal approach to the economy and this has transposed into more limited conditions of employment.
According to the table, Mexico has the worst work and employment score of 0.47. This is due to low wages, annual leave and public holidays, long working hours and systematic violations of workers’ rights in the country.
The U.S. is the second worst country for work conditions and benefits, with a work and employment score of just 2.37. Workers receive no guaranteed maternity leave or paid public holidays and annual leave. This is followed by Greece, a nation that has been badly affected by economic turmoil in recent years. The country has the third worst work and employment score in our study at 2.89. This is due to low salaries, long working hours and there being a poor record when it comes to the protection of workers’ rights.
In contrast to the three nations at the top of the list, Denmark is the best country for workplace benefits, with a score of 7.54. Denmark also has the lowest average weekly working hours of any country in our study at just 26.48.
There are other data variations of interest. For example, Lithuania has the highest score on the Labour Rights Index at 96 out of 100, indicating that it is a place where workers have the greatest voice and the wider use of collective bargaining provides a more balanced forum for workers to negotiate and to earn a living in decent conditions.
While the U.S. has the highest average salary in our study at $74,738, which is more than $12,000 higher than any other country, this does not translate into the optimal employment conditions overall. In addition, the wage hierarchy in the U.S. is marketed skewed, with more senior personnel being paid disproportionately. For the lower paid, New Zealand has the highest annual minimum wage of $29,051, making it the best country for low-skilled workers or those in low-paying sectors.
Looking at a different employment metric, Estonia offers the highest amount of maternity leave of any country in our study at 62 weeks. The country also has the highest minimum amount of paid annual leave at 28 days.
The regional study presents an array of different employment conditions and future proposes for the world’s workforce.
