China Working Weekends

One thing to be aware of when looking at moving to China and your vacation schedule is “working weekends.” This is something that Tractor Man and I were not told about until we got here, so I really want to make sure that I share this information with you. Its always easier when you are a little more informed going in than not. 

Working weekends, in essence, is a way of making up some of the holidays that the company gives. For each holiday on the calendar there is a weekend day that will have to become a working day. I’m still not completely sure of the reasons behind this, but here is the little bit I have learned. The Chinese people tend to work in another provence than where their family lives so they would rather have a longer holiday to be able to travel to see their family. Then they will make up those days by working other days. 

A good question to ask the company you are coming over with is what holidays from your home country they honor, if any. For example, China does not celebrate Christmas, so that is a day you would have to take as a vacation day if you only get the Chinese holidays.  

Below is the complete holiday schedule for 2013 in China as put out by the government. 

New Year’s Day: Holiday from the 1^st of January to the 3^rd of January, three days in total. Jan. 5^th (Saturday) and Jan.6^th (Sunday) will then become working days.

Spring Festival: Holiday from the 9^th to 15^th of February, seven days in total. Feb.16^th (Saturday) and Feb.17^th (Sunday) will then become working days.

Tomb-sweeping Day: Holiday from the 4^th to 6^th of April, three days in total. Apr.7^th (Sunday) will then become working day.

Labor Day: Holiday from the 29^th of April to the 1^st of May, three days in total. Apr.27^th (Saturday) and Apr.28^th (Sunday) will then become working days.

Dragon Boat Festival: Holiday from the 10^th to 12^th of June, three days in total. Jun.8^th (Saturday) and Jun.9^th (Sunday) will then become working days.

Mid-Autumn Festival: Holiday from the 19^th to 21^st of September, three days in total. Sep.22^nd (Sunday) will then become working day.

National Day: Holiday from the 1^st to 7^th of October, seven days in total. Sep.29^th (Sunday) and Oct.12^nd (Saturday) will then become working days

                                                                                         

 Always,

 Southern Belle