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work/life balance and security in Europe and US

F

fiksi

Member
Might be an interesting thing to discuss...

I've been around the world, seen Europe(where i live) and US, also have friends and relatives in both places.

First of all, Europeans get long guaranteed and paid vacations, which Americans don't have at all guaranteed by law-was a bit shocking to em at first! So, a company can offer you, and also can refuse to do so... god forbid if you are not skilled, and work for some little company,
you may get nothing at all!

Yes, was wondering what happens when you get sick... also, few days, or nothing! Here, you get a portion of your pay if you're really sick, and have nothing to fear.

Heard a lady somewhere working as call agent couldn't get days off to CARE for her sick daughter! Also, i hear ppl are afraid of getting sick at all...

No wonder, because you can get fired anyday, for no reason at all... so, my boss is angry this morning, i get fired... nice.

Health insurance? Millions of Americans are uninsured, and afraid to fall sick... prices to be insured are enormous, and many companies don0t even offer insurance. If you lose a job, insurance is pricey as gold, GOD forbid you have some existing condition, then you're f****d.

paid Mother leave...not in America! Is there an industrialzed country that doesn't give that?
Only US... (richest country with LEAST benefits)

Oh, and i forgot, more and more Americans go belly up because of health bills.
Us health system ranks VERY bad, countries spending three times less are better off.
It is PERFECT for rich, but for whole population? I don't think so... i got dizzy when i heard costs for operations, even when you're insured.

And yes, Americans work long hours... actually, there is no limit to how much your employer can push you it seems.


Ah, YES, wages... ppl think they are higer in US. While average may be somewhat higher, median is lower than in developed Europe. Distribution is uneven, poverty is astonishing in such rich country. Slums, gangs, violence etc.

Minimum wage is a joke! I read stories of ppl getting this, no health insurance, no nothing, no vacation... do you wonder why their children might turn to streets?

Even if you are well off, you are AS good as much as you work, get sick, disabled or something, and face doom. Seems disabled/sick people here get more money than bottom 20% of Americans working their asses off like crazy(not to mention they HAVE health insurance)


Europe places stronger emphasis on family, benefits, health and wellbeing of society. Parents have time off to be with children, and overworked parents lead to children wandering around streets, early sex etc. (might explain some problems in US)

No wonder, i met Americans here in Europe... they say they like it here, and life is much better for them, for children. Quality isn't only $$$.

What use is all of my money, if i go belly up if i get a stroke?

Even more so, THERE is money to solve this problems in US, instead dealing with poverty, health etc. $$$ are spent in wars etc. Seems everything is done for corporate profits, and people are behind.

We've worked so hard to move past harsh capitalism and beginnings of industrial age, so now people can enjoy, and we can have a humane society...

I like US, especially California, but i wonder why don't people do anything about that?
As for me, i PREFER lower growth, less money and happier life...


 
Yeah the US being a rich country and all, has really crappy benefit/job/medic/etc systems. Basically if you're not a smart person with lot of money you're kinda outa luck there. Apparently they only get like 2 weeks maternity leave when they have a baby. Imagine, 2 weeks 😱 Here its like 6 months, sometimes a year, its rather flexible. But think by law its at least 6 months, going longer is up to the company which most do.

US is nice to visit, I've been there once. But would not want to live there, because of their crappy government. I'm sure we (Canada) don't have the best government ever but it sure as hell is better then US one. 😛 When our liberal government screwed up, we got the choice of re-election and it happened. You'd never see that happen in the states.
 
europeans have something like 4wks of vacation to start, more holidays, 1 year maternity leave, even months of paternity leave, etc. i need to get my transfer in soon !
 
I'd say most of the problems with this country involve alot of the lawyers, judges (taking cases that really should be thrown out because they are frivolous) but most of all our current government. Most americans do not trust our current government leaders. In my opinion, our current government cares more about big business and who is going to give them the most $$$ rather than the actual people they're supposed to represent (greed and corruption). If the government is going to be like this, I'm not surprised businesses are any different. The only way the US will change is when the things much higher up start changing. But yes, things here in the US aren't pretty to most americans living here and most want things changed but really....don't put much action behind the words. When election time comes around, most people who complain about change don't show up to vote for what they want.
 
That's right... relaxed lifestyle, without fear of bankruptcy... Children with their mothers, NO guns! These shootings in us are spreading like a fever...
A lot of Americans come to Zurich, Switzerland... i know many are in Germany, Sweden, too... Sure, there are ppl abusing the system, but that's the way it is.

In past, we ran to America, now, Americans are returning to their roots- Europe!

Can someone tell em why Americans work that much? Productivity gap between US and Europe is lowering and lowering(although Americans are working more and more!)... do Americans do that lousy work?

Also, tell me about education? Want to be something? Sure, if you're rich kid-elite university... if you have much $$$$$$, then it's ok... here it's FREE.
Scr*w wages if i have to repay debt for another ten years!

Also, taxes in US are NOT low. Taxes in US(higher wages, when i account medicare, state taxes etc close to 40%) are higher than in UK, much higher than in Switzerland, and close to German etc.
 
Thanks but I'll pass on the loving embrace of mommy government and enjoy the freedom to negotiate those benefits with my employer on my own.
 
Think about what you just said, America is richer. Why is that, because Americans aren't as lazy as everyone thinks they are. You Europeans get all this vacation time and time off and don't have to worry about loosing your job. where is the incentive to good at your job? There is none.
You think health care is expensive here in the US, well it is, but it's expensive in Europe and every other developed country as well, the reason you don't think it is as expensive is that you are still paying for it in taxes. I pay $200 a month for health insurance for me and my GF, w/ $5 million limit.

You obviously are speaking out of your ass as you don't know anything about America other than what you've read. Ever since I got a full time job making $12/hr almost 10 years ago, I've had sick days to use, personal days to use, vacation time and a flexible schedule. I make a lot more now and have even better perks, but I'm not rich by any means. The only people that don't get sick time or vacation time are people with part time jobs.
As far as ghetto/slums/ect, those people represent a small portion of the population and they are not there because of a lack of job benefits, they are there due to a lack of motivation to make themselves better.

Also, don't forget that when Terrorist attack America, America fights back. I wouldn't want to live in any of your pansy ass Eurpean countries that just turns the other cheek. (Spain).
 
Hmm, I have a good, well-paying job with reasonable taxes and decent health insurance. I'm also able to enjoy my freedom away from an oppressive nanny-state.

I'll pass on your utopia, thanks though.
 
Originally posted by: kevnich2
I'd say most of the problems with this country involve alot of the lawyers, judges (taking cases that really should be thrown out because they are frivolous) but most of all our current government. Most americans do not trust our current government leaders. In my opinion, our current government cares more about big business and who is going to give them the most $$$ rather than the actual people they're supposed to represent (greed and corruption). If the government is going to be like this, I'm not surprised businesses are any different. The only way the US will change is when the things much higher up start changing. But yes, things here in the US aren't pretty to most americans living here and most want things changed but really....don't put much action behind the words. When election time comes around, most people who complain about change don't show up to vote for what they want.
Click to expand...


Why don't you ppl do something? I mean... who works in those companies? Who, in the end, runs the economy? it is you-ppl!
remember early 60s, we worked more than you do now... but now it's reversed. We chose to enjoy our wealth, work to LIVE, not the other way around.

There was a comparison in EU news i found, minimum wage.

Could you tell me if this data is allright?

http://europa.eu/rapid/pressRe...uage=EN&guiLanguage=en

USA-SO low! Compare this to any western country in Europe... Even those without minimum wage have it much higher, Germany and others. Switzerland, too.
 
Where DID i say Americans are lazy? I never said anything... like that! I think they are hardworking, decent people, very friendly... i never was attacking anyone!

And yes, i've been to America... didn't just read. I like US, but i think ppl should fight back...

America IS richer, but top 10% are extremely rich. Bottom 10% are much poorer than in Europe... wealth distribution is uneven.

@JeffreyLebowski
What if your GF gets a baby? benefits? Yes- back to work.
 
Yes, well you are not forced to work anywhere. With the competitive nature of American countries the extra work has to be done with extra man-hours, you do the math.
 
Originally posted by: fiksi
That's right... relaxed lifestyle, without fear of bankruptcy... Children with their mothers, NO guns! These shootings in us are spreading like a fever...
A lot of Americans come to Zurich, Switzerland... i know many are in Germany, Sweden, too... Sure, there are ppl abusing the system, but that's the way it is.

In past, we ran to America, now, Americans are returning to their roots- Europe!

Can someone tell em why Americans work that much? Productivity gap between US and Europe is lowering and lowering(although Americans are working more and more!)... do Americans do that lousy work?

Also, tell me about education? Want to be something? Sure, if you're rich kid-elite university... if you have much $$$$$$, then it's ok... here it's FREE.
Scr*w wages if i have to repay debt for another ten years!

Also, taxes in US are NOT low. Taxes in US(higher wages, when i account medicare, state taxes etc close to 40%) are higher than in UK, much higher than in Switzerland, and close to German etc.
Click to expand...

No guns? WTF are you smoking, there are more major gun companies in Europe than there are in the US. Sig Saur, Berreta, Glock, Styr, Einfield, H&K, Walther, CZ, and most of the former Eastern Block countries are still building and selling to the middle east, AK-47s. Oh and speaking of Guns, lets not forget what the gun grabbing, don't let the civlians have guns, Nazi's did.

Americans are returning to their roots? Maybe for vacation or for a business trip.

If you think your university system is so superior then why are all the top schools in the US? Why do 10's of thousands of people from across the globe come to the US to get their higher education?

WTF, where are you getting 40% from?
I pay something in the neighborhood of 20% on Income tax, SS, medicare, ect. And come tax time, I get back about $3000. So in essence I pay maybe 13% of my income to taxes, other than sales tax. And don't forget you pay sales tax to, it's just already included in the price of the items you buy.

Oh and as long as you have the French you will be second fiddle to the US.
 

@JeffreyLebowski

i was talking about streets, not manufacturers...! RECENT shooting in us, every now and then, there are shootings... NO such thing here.

Yes, i think your universities are TOP-for those who can AFFORD them.

http://www.paycheckcity.com/ne...c/netpaycalculator.asp

Put in California, and put in 100 000$. And think again, you get almost NO benefits
for that taxes...

And yes- what if your GF gets pregnant? What are the benefits?



 
Originally posted by: fiksi
Where DID i say Americans are lazy? I never said anything... like that! I think they are hardworking, decent people, very friendly... i never was attacking anyone!

And yes, i've been to America... didn't just read. I like US, but i think ppl should fight back...

America IS richer, but top 10% are extremely rich. Bottom 10% are much poorer than in Europe... wealth distribution is uneven.

@JeffreyLebowski
What if your GF gets a baby? benefits? Yes- back to work.
Click to expand...

We have 2 kids, both have benefits. My older child has a severe case of Autism and her health care is provided for by Medicaid since she is disabled. Since she is disabled, her sister is also eligible for Medicaid coverage and she has that as well.
See you bash us in our Gov funded health care coverage, but if you know how to use it it isn't bad at all.

When she had the kids, she got 6 weeks off each time, full pay for those 6 weeks.

The list you posted about minimum wages suggest that less people in the Us are making minimum wage per capita, than in Europe? Shit, France has 16.8% making minimum wage. That graph is pointless as it doesn't include purchasing power equivalents.

 
What a bunch of jingoistic drivel.

Yeah, things are just so great in europe. Us people in the US should take a page from their book. I mean you never have any riots in poverty stricken areas that last days or weeks and require a state of national emergency to be declared all because police chased two kids into an electric fence.
 
Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski
Originally posted by: fiksi
Where DID i say Americans are lazy? I never said anything... like that! I think they are hardworking, decent people, very friendly... i never was attacking anyone!

And yes, i've been to America... didn't just read. I like US, but i think ppl should fight back...

America IS richer, but top 10% are extremely rich. Bottom 10% are much poorer than in Europe... wealth distribution is uneven.

@JeffreyLebowski
What if your GF gets a baby? benefits? Yes- back to work.
Click to expand...

We have 2 kids, both have benefits. My older child has a severe case of Autism and her health care is provided for by Medicaid since she is disabled. Since she is disabled, her sister is also eligible for Medicaid coverage and she has that as well.
See you bash us in our Gov funded health care coverage, but if you know how to use it it isn't bad at all.

When she had the kids, she got 6 weeks off each time, full pay for those 6 weeks.

The list you posted about minimum wages suggest that less people in the Us are making minimum wage per capita, than in Europe? Shit, France has 16.8% making minimum wage. That graph is pointless as it doesn't include purchasing power equivalents.
Click to expand...


Ok, one question... IF, for instance, your older child was disbled, and still capable to work something- she would lose benefits if she started working, right?

6 weeks? Is this a joke... ? How can a mother care for kids in six weeks?

NO, LOOK better, see PPS? It is purchasing power standards... Look better! In purchasing power, developed countries in Europe, have almost twice the minimum wage as in us!
 
I worked at an international corporation when I was in college and I couldn't believe the stuff people in the UK would call in sick with. Example: A tech support guy (in the UK) emails the whole IS department (in every country) to explain that he will not be in today because he was out drinking last night and is now hung over. I read this and laughed. A few seconds later I hear my boss say, "Only in Europe."

You would never get away with that in the states (and in my opinion you shouldn't).
 
Originally posted by: tw1164
JeffreyLebowski, don't bother feeding the troll
Click to expand...


What? Did you read anything here at all?

Can't you accept that not everything you do is BEST, and the best way...

In teh end-ppl themselves have to fight for benefits.
 
Originally posted by: fiksi
Originally posted by: tw1164
JeffreyLebowski, don't bother feeding the troll
Click to expand...


What? Did you read anything here at all?

Can't you accept that not everything you do is BEST, and the best way...

In teh end-ppl themselves have to fight for benefits.
Click to expand...

Pot meet kettle. You come here and tell us that your way is best. Maybe you need to take a second and reflect that perhaps your way isn't best and everything you do isn't necessarily the best either.
 
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