Workweek and weekend facts for kids

Have you ever wondered why we have weekends? The weekdays are the days we usually spend at school or work, like Monday to Friday. The weekend is the time we get to relax and have fun, usually Saturday and Sunday. These two parts make up our seven-day week.

In most places around the world, the workweek is from Monday to Friday. This means the weekend is Saturday and Sunday. A weekday is also called a workday. Schools and many other places follow this same pattern. Sometimes, people even think of the time after work on Friday as part of the weekend!

For many people who follow Christian traditions, Sunday is a special "day of rest and worship." In Judaism, the Shabbat (or Sabbath) is from sunset on Friday until dark on Saturday. Because of this, the weekend in Israel is Friday and Saturday. Some countries where most people are Muslim used to have Thursday and Friday as their weekend. But now, many of them have changed to Friday and Saturday, or even Saturday and Sunday, to make it easier to do business with other countries.

The idea of having a longer "weekend" with two days off really started in Britain in the early 1800s. Factory owners and workers agreed that if workers had Saturday afternoon off, they would be more refreshed and ready to work on Monday. Over time, this idea grew, and the total number of hours people worked each week started to go down. A day off is simply a day when you don't work, and it doesn't always have to be on the weekend.

Some countries still have a six-day workweek with only one day off. For example, in Djibouti, Iran, Somalia, and Libya, Friday is the only day off. In Nepal, it's Saturday, and in countries like Mexico and India, it's Sunday. However, most countries now have a five-day workweek with two days off. These two days can be Friday and Saturday (in many Muslim countries and Israel), or Saturday and Sunday (in most countries). There are even ideas for a four-day workweek to help people have a better balance between work and life.

How the Weekend Started

World map showing the days of the work week by country. Different colors show different workweek patterns: light blue for Monday-Friday, orange for Monday-Saturday, dark gray for Sunday-Thursday, green for Sunday-Friday, red for Saturday-Thursday, purple for Monday-Thursday and Saturday, and light blue for mixed.

The idea of a regular seven-day cycle with a special day for rest likely began with Judaism around 600 BC.

In Ancient Rome, which existed from 753 BC to 476 AD, they had a market day called nundinae every eight days. On this day, children didn't go to school, and farmers came to the city to sell their goods or take part in religious events.

Later, during the French Revolution (1793–1805), they tried a calendar with ten-day weeks. One day out of ten was a day for rest. The Soviet Union also used different calendars from 1929 to 1940, with five or six-day workweeks.

In ancient China, during the Han dynasty, government officials had a day off every five days. This day was called hsui-mu, which meant "a day for rest and for washing one's hair."

The modern idea of a longer "weekend" with two days off first appeared in the industrial north of Britain in the early 1800s. Factory owners started letting workers have Saturday afternoons off. This was because they believed workers would be more alert and ready for work on Monday if they had more time to rest. The word "weekend" was first used in a British magazine in 1879.

In the United States, the push for shorter workweeks grew. In 1908, a cotton mill was the first to try a five-day workweek so that Jewish workers wouldn't have to work on their Sabbath (Friday evening to Saturday evening). In 1926, Henry Ford, who made cars, started closing his factories on both Saturday and Sunday. He realized that giving workers more time off would encourage them to do more fun things like going on vacations and shopping, which would help the economy.

By 1929, a clothing workers' union was the first to successfully get a five-day workweek. The rest of the United States slowly followed. By 1940, a law called the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 made the two-day weekend common across the country by setting a maximum 40-hour workweek.

Over the next few decades, many more countries started to adopt either a Friday–Saturday or Saturday–Sunday weekend. This helped them work better with international businesses. Today, the International Labour Organization (ILO) says that working more than 48 hours a week is too much.

How Long is a Workweek?

This calendar shows weekdays as white boxes and weekend days as light blue boxes.

The number of hours people work each week has generally gone down in many developed countries. In the United States, for example, the workweek slowly became shorter from the 1800s until the early 1900s. There was a big drop between 1913 and 1919, when weekly hours fell by about eight percent.

During the Great Depression, President Herbert Hoover even suggested reducing work hours instead of laying people off. Later, President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. This law set a five-day, 40-hour workweek for many workers.

In the 21st century, some experts have suggested even shorter workweeks, like a three-day workweek. They argue that this could lead to a better balance between work and life, more family time, improved health, and even help the environment by reducing carbon emissions. Studies have shown that after working about 25 hours in a week, people's thinking skills can start to decrease, and they might feel more tired and stressed.

Different Kinds of Weekends

While Saturday and Sunday are the most common weekend days, some countries have different arrangements based on their traditions or needs.

Friday–Saturday Weekend

Many countries with a large Muslim population have Friday and Saturday as their weekend. This is because Friday is an important day for weekly prayers in Islam. Some of these countries include:

• Algeria
• Afghanistan
• Bahrain
• Bangladesh
• Egypt
• Israel
• Iraq
• Jordan
• Kuwait
• Libya
• Maldives
• Oman
• Palestine
• Qatar
• Saudi Arabia
• Sudan
• Syria
• Yemen

In Malaysia, some states like Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu also follow a Sunday to Thursday workweek, making Friday and Saturday their weekend. The state of Johor also used to have Friday-Saturday weekends, but it officially switched to Saturday-Sunday weekends starting January 1, 2025.

Saturday–Sunday Weekend with Friday Arrangements

Some countries with many Muslim people still have Saturday and Sunday as their weekend, just like most of the world. However, they often make special arrangements on Friday to allow time for prayers.

• Indonesia: Except for one province, the lunch break on Fridays is longer (2 hours or more) for prayers.
• Malaysia: In most states, lunch breaks on Fridays are longer (12:15pm–2:45pm) for Muslim prayers.
• Morocco and Tunisia: The workweek is Monday to Friday, but many businesses close for an extended lunch break on Friday afternoons for prayers.
• Pakistan: While the standard workweek is Monday to Friday, Friday is often a half-day in many schools and businesses.
• United Arab Emirates: Friday is a half working day, ending at noon, to allow time for prayers.

One-Day Weekend

A few countries have a six-day workweek with only one day off:

• Iran: Thursday is a half-day for many public offices, but Friday is the main day off.
• Djibouti: Many offices close early on Fridays, especially in summer, due to the heat.
• Nepal: Saturday is the only day off, with the workweek running from Sunday to Friday.

Non-Continuous Workweek

This is very rare!

• Brunei Darussalam is the only country with a workweek that is not all in a row. People work Monday to Thursday, and then again on Saturday. Friday is a day off for prayers, and Sunday is also a day off.
• In Indonesia, the province of Aceh also uses this non-continuous workweek: Monday to Thursday, plus Saturday. Friday and Sunday are days off.

Special Hours During Ramadan

During the holy month of Ramadan, many Muslim-majority countries change their working hours. Workdays are often shorter to help people who are fasting. This happens in countries like:

• Algeria
• Bahrain
• Bangladesh
• Egypt
• Indonesia
• Iran
• Iraq
• Jordan
• Kuwait
• Lebanon
• Maldives
• Malaysia
• Morocco
• Oman
• Pakistan
• Qatar
• Saudi Arabia
• Syria
• Tunisia
• United Arab Emirates

Weekends Around the World

Africa

• Ethiopia: The official workweek is Monday to Friday, 8 hours a day, except Friday which is 7 hours. Saturday and Sunday are public holidays.
• Morocco and Tunisia: Even though they are Muslim countries, their standard workweek is Monday to Friday, with Saturday and Sunday off.
• South Africa: Traditionally, the workweek was Monday to Friday with a half-day on Saturday. Now, there are different workweek options, but the maximum hours someone can work in a week is 45.

Americas

• Brazil: The usual workweek is 44 hours, Monday to Friday, with Saturday and Sunday off. However, laws allow for different schedules, especially for places like malls and supermarkets, as long as the 44-hour limit is met.
• Chile: The workweek averages 45 hours, usually Monday to Friday, but working on Saturdays is also common.
• Colombia: As of July 2025, the workweek is 44 hours. A law passed in 2021 will gradually reduce this to 42 hours by 2026.
• Mexico: Officially, it's a 48-hour workweek (Monday to Saturday), but many industries work a half-day on Saturdays. Government employees often work Monday to Friday.
• United States: The traditional workweek is Monday to Friday, 40 hours, with Saturday and Sunday off. However, many people work more than 40 hours. Some jobs, like in healthcare or retail, often require working on weekends.

Asia and Australia

• Australia: A five-day, 40-hour workweek was introduced nationally in 1948. Shops are open seven days a week in most states, with some having "late night trading" until 9 pm on Thursdays and Fridays.
• China: China started the two-day Saturday–Sunday weekend on May 1, 1995. Before that, working on Saturday was common. The government sometimes shifts weekend days around public holidays to create longer breaks.
• Hong Kong: Many businesses now have a five-day workweek, Monday to Friday. However, working long hours is still common in some industries. Shops and public places are usually open on weekends.
• India: Most office jobs work Monday to Saturday, 48 hours a week, with Sunday off. However, government offices and the software industry often have a five-day workweek (Monday to Friday).
• Israel: The standard workweek is 42 hours, usually Sunday to Thursday. Most businesses are closed on Saturday, but some shops and entertainment places are open.
• Japan: The standard workweek is Monday to Friday, 40 hours. This became common between 1980 and 2000. Before that, working a half-day on Saturday was normal.
• Lebanon: The workweek is Monday to Friday, 40 hours. Some places also work 4 hours on Saturdays.
• Mongolia: The workweek is Monday to Friday, with a maximum of 40 hours. Many shops are open on weekends.
• New Zealand: The typical workweek is Monday to Friday, but working a half-day on Saturday is common in some industries like construction. Shops are often open seven days a week.
• Philippines: Workers must have at least one rest day a week, usually Sunday. Government offices and banks often have a Monday to Friday workweek.
• Singapore: The common workweek is Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 5-6 pm. Some companies work a half-day on Saturdays. Shops are open seven days a week.
• South Korea: The maximum working hours per week is 40 hours, with up to 12 hours of overtime allowed.
• Thailand: The workweek is Monday to Friday, with a maximum of 44 to 48 hours. Some government offices and private companies now follow a Monday to Friday schedule.
• Vietnam: The standard is a 48-hour, six-day workweek (Monday to Saturday, with Saturday being a partial day). Government offices and banks work Monday to Friday.

Europe

In Europe, the standard full-time workweek is Monday to Friday. Most shops are open on Saturday, and in some countries, large shopping centers are also open on Sunday.

• Austria: Workweek is Monday to Friday, 8 hours a day. Shops are open on Saturday but almost never on Sunday, except for special cases like bakeries or shops at train stations.
• Belgium: Workweek is Monday to Friday, usually 38 hours. Very few shops are open on Sunday.
• Bulgaria: Workweek is Monday to Friday, 8 hours a day. Many shops and restaurants are open on Saturdays and Sundays.
• Croatia: Workweek is Monday to Friday, about 37.5 hours. Most shops and restaurants are open on Saturday and Sunday.
• Czech Republic: Full-time work is usually Monday to Friday, 8 hours a day. Many shops and restaurants are open on weekends.
• Denmark: Has an official 37-hour workweek, Monday to Friday.
• Estonia: Workweek is Monday to Friday, usually 40 hours. Most shops are open on weekends.
• Finland: Workweek is Monday to Friday. A full-time job is usually 32 to 40 hours. Banks are closed on weekends, but most shops are open on Saturdays.
• France: The standard workweek is 35 hours, Monday to Friday. Shops are also open on Saturday.
• Germany: Workweek is Monday to Friday, 8 hours a day. Shops are generally not allowed to open on Sunday, with some exceptions like bakeries or shops in train stations.
• Greece: Standard workweek is Monday to Friday. Shops are open longer hours on weekdays and Saturdays.
• Hungary: Workweek is Monday to Friday, usually 40 hours.
• Ireland: Workweek is Monday to Friday. Shops are generally open all day Saturday and shorter hours on Sunday.
• Italy: Workweek is Monday to Friday, 40 hours. Sunday is always a holiday, and Saturday is usually free, except for some high schools.
• Latvia: Workweek is Monday to Friday, up to 40 hours. Shops are mostly open on weekends.
• Lithuania: Workweek is Monday to Friday, up to 40 hours. Shops are mostly open on weekends.
• Luxembourg: Standard workweek is 40 hours, Monday to Friday. Many shops are open on Saturdays, but Sunday trading is very limited.
• Netherlands: Standard workweek is Monday to Friday (36–40 hours). Shops are almost always open on Saturdays and often on Sundays.
• Poland: Workweek is Monday to Friday, 8 hours a day. Since 2020, most shops are closed on Sundays, with very few exceptions.
• Portugal: Workweek is Monday to Friday, 8 hours a day (or 7 hours for civil servants). Shopping centers are typically open every day.
• Romania: Workweek is Monday to Friday, 8 hours a day. Shops are open on Saturday and Sunday.
• Russia: Workweek is Monday to Friday, 8 hours a day. Shops are open on Saturday and Sunday.
• Serbia: Workweek is Monday to Friday, 8 hours a day. Shops are open on Saturday and Sunday.
• Slovakia: Workweek is Monday to Friday, 8 hours a day. Large malls are open on weekends, but many small shops are closed on Sunday.
• Spain: Workweek is Monday to Friday, 8 hours a day. Most shops are open on Saturday mornings, and larger malls are open all day Saturday and sometimes on Sundays.
• Sweden: Workweek is Monday to Friday, usually 8 hours a day. Shops are almost always open on Saturdays and often on Sundays.
• Switzerland: Maximum working hours are 45 hours per week for industrial and retail companies, and 50 hours for others. The workweek is usually Monday to Friday.
• Ukraine: Workweek is Monday to Friday, 8 hours a day. Shops are open on Saturday and Sunday.
• United Kingdom: The traditional workweek is Monday to Friday (35 to 40 hours). Many shops are open on Saturdays and Sundays. The maximum average workweek is 48 hours, but people can choose to work more if they want.

Images for kids

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  This day planner chart (which can be used for any months) shows the workweek days as white boxes and the weekend days as light blue-coloured boxes.