Work life balance in the USA

dasdog · 22-11-2020 8:32pm

Thelonious Monk wrote: »

Actually there are very few beaches, there's golden bay on the north of the island and not much else. Healthcare is good yes, my brother just got out of hospital there. There is very little public transport and St Julian's/Valetta is just one giant traffic jam, and they all drive like lunatics. Gets unbearably hot in summer, and it's the only place in Europe with less trees than Ireland, no parks or green spaces.
It's a hard place to live in, but does have some good things going for it.

Valletta is one of a few cities I have been to that I couldn't wait to leave. The Maltese from my experience are horrible people and the UK in the sun mix is just weird. I'd never go back.

Thelonious Monk · 22-11-2020 10:21pm

dasdog wrote: »

Valletta is one of a few cities I have been to that I couldn't wait to leave. The Maltese from my experience are horrible people and the UK in the sun mix is just weird. I'd never go back.

Oh I think they're really nice, great craic and love a drink too. Obviously helps that they all speak English.

SHOVELLER · 23-11-2020 2:41am

A lot of generalities here and its not really comparable to home as it is a completely different culture.

I work for a company that is owned by its employees which is unusual here. Based on my age I have 20 days leave a year but you have to accrue them and because of covid I havent taken anything this year so looking forward to a good "vacation"!

They pay for 70% of my medical and there is a choice of what 401k you can pay into. No slavish hours either as nobody is watching your comings and goings. We are all adults and once the work is done etc. Before covid a decent social life and everybody is treated as an equal which is refreshing.

I feel from my experience here there is a certain appreciation of Irish people not because of history but because we are generally straightforward and mostly have common sense.

It also depends on where you live as it is under appreciated how big this country is with all the different state laws. In essence you could say it is 50 different countries plus DC of course!

However it is very quiet here now and is not the place it was but there's hope in the new year for relief with a potential vaccine and having an actual leader. But if anyone is thinking coming here treat it seriously. Like anywhere it is entirely visiting on hols and living here.

ShatterAlan · 23-11-2020 3:05am

SharpshooterTom wrote: »

I've long considered wanting to move to the US at some point in my life. I recognise it has some serious flaws, but my main gripe about the country is with the lack of annual leave the US (and Canada) both have. Am I right in saying the US has NO guaranteed paid leave whatsoever and it has be negotiated with an employer before hand? I also read that approximately 25% of Americans don't get ANY paid leave whatsoever? I think the average American only gets just 10 days off a year? In Canada its not much better either with 2 weeks only (and wages are also lower than the US).

AUS/NZ appear to have a similar work-life balance to that of Ireland/UK by contrast. A minimum of 4-5 weeks plus an extra 10-13 paid days for public holidays which is a pretty good deal, so I'm open to moving there also. But the lack of paid work leave is a bit of a drag about North America. I'd be ok with 3 weeks but 10 days or less would depress me.

It's a dump. Go if you want to, but the place is a kip.

Get your SS number and then enjoy you 10 days a year. Don't get pregnant though....those Americans don't play wit dat "stay home and protect a child" BS

NSAman · 23-11-2020 3:40am

ShatterAlan wrote: »

It's a dump. Go if you want to, but the place is a kip.

Get your SS number and then enjoy you 10 days a year. Don't get pregnant though....those Americans don't play wit dat "stay home and protect a child" BS

God you are lovely!

Funnily enough, living in the States has its benefits.

Yes if you have a decent job, the perks are better but you have to work.

Is it perfect? No. Tell me ireland is perfect and I shall call you a liar.

America has the best and worst of everything for employees. Employee protection is zero. Depending on the job you have, the benefits vary greatly.

I employ a few people here. They are completely covered with medical insurance on very good plans $250 deductible. They have 401ks which we match. Hours are flexible and we enjoy a good work life balance. Holidays / vacation time is worked up to a maximum of 20 days.

The one thing that Americans do that many Irish do not do, is give all to their work. They have to, otherwise it’s easy to let people go.

For the OP, you really have to consider negotiating with any employer. Making money here is easy. Tax is less. But.... you have to save and save hard. Most Americans are only a few paychecks away from homelessness. The culture of shopping is ingrained in people here. The price of living is not cheap here. Certain things that we take for granted as cheap in Ireland are expensive here. Cell phones, tv/cables/satellite are crazy. Electricity is cheaper than Ireland. Lately food costs have sky rocketed.

Housing (depending on where you live) can be either crazily expensive or very affordable. Take housing costs into consideration when moving and where you move to. Some states have zero personal income tax, others take a fair share. Deductions are the major difference between tax in Ireland and tax here. Use your head and you can make a nice tax refund at the end of the year.

To make money, llc’s and self employment are the way to go.

America is certainly not utopia. Then, no country on the planet is.

JustAThought · 23-11-2020 11:00am

In Ireland if you are on a good salary between PAYE deductions and the few stealth taxes you will be paying aprox 50% of your earnings in tax.

You can guarantee you will be paying another 25-30% in either a mortgage or rent - unless you bought circa 1980.

I googled the tax brackets in different states America recently and was gobsmacked - imagine keeping 80% or 90% of what you earn depending on where you live. Unimaniginble here.

What a luxury.

shopping/wasting money on crap is entirely discretionary but imagine having the chance to keep or decide what you can do with the money you earned instead of having it frittered away and wasted by government departments.
No wonder people can take
flying lessons, have second
homes and take nice holidays three or four times a year.

I’ve been for periods
of months to San Fran, Boston, Washington and Virginia ( birzarrely!) and have to say the
POSITIVITY of people really strikes you , they are not beaten down by mean weather and endless unaccountability. The public areas are properly
managed and clean , there are civic
amenities - public parks, picnic tables, managed walkways and beaches where they are clean,
beautiful to be in and have facilities -
and are not stalked out or people wanting to use them pestered by junkies or dossers. The police are visible and there is respect for
the law (or they’ll shoot ya!) but joking aside
there is accountability for peoples actions. So
you actually get service that is
prompt, professional and positive in government departments and facilities that are paid for by taxes are available, serviced,
clean and good - or the manager in charge is called to account or loses their job.

Sure there are civic problems and even moreso now but assume the OP will be getting a visa through his family and WILL have somewhere to stay and won’t be drink driving, or abusing drugs or behaving so dismally he gets fired from every job he gets - then for a few years why shoildn’t he
go and work and get to have some amazing experiences and see a country that is absolutely unlike ours in scale, climate & variety. We are so insular here now that we forget the joy of having a totally new experience right outside anything we have experienced.

Sure Australia has the beach lifestyle and chillax culture and blokey beer approach but its 40’C. Not exactly an outdoorsey 8 hour relaxzone for
the Irish. Try a few hours outdoor sport on a dustbowl sportsground or sunbathing in 38’C
After the disaster firestorms and unprecedented catastrophies and destruction in Oz of 2020 huge parts of the land is now ash. The fires were visible from space - many of the places you would typically want to go ( Kangaroo Island, Gold Cost, Blue Mountains, Arlie Beach and many other towns and previously beautiful areas ) are obliterated or fire razed disaster zones.

America has multiple climates, landscapes, natural beauty and protected wildlife parks
and the kind of lifestyle choices and opportunities you could never imagine ( or have) here. The people are friendly, speak english and once
you are helthy and work you can have incredible experiences you could never imagine here. Let the OP go and follow his dreams and experience
something entirely different. But if he plans to go
let him dream big and make it work for
him and not just be pissing it aLl away week after week in an faux Irish bar with pastic paddys and alcoholics dreaminv of the old sod and makinv some american barowner rich
like many have done in the past - not able to keep a job down or do a decent job cos they think rolling in half cut late every other day is acxeptable.

Go OP and make it happen. There are only sime times in your life you can do something like this - it sounds like it might be now. Get the family visa and have a plan - learn to helicopter pilot or fly a plane, or take up powerboating or be a crazy Redsox fan - hire a camper van and visit the willdenesses of the national parks, go to the tropics in Hawaii and watch live volcanos from your balcony, head for the hills of Vermont or Aspen and learn to ski - or hike in the Rockies and sail or camp around the great lakes of Chicago. Its an incredible country to explore and
live in - take that chance and follow that dream. If something terrible happens you can always come home - don’t let fear trample your dreams.

JimmyVik · 23-11-2020 11:19am

I worked there for a couple of years. I had 20 days holidays which was very good for over there.
But after the first year in my performance review he says to me. "I see you used all 20 days of your annual leave?. What happened?"
It was only afterwards I found out that if you dont have at least 50% of your annual leave untaken, they consider that you must not be motivated to work enough and are a slacker.

Colleagues were so surprised I had taken all my leave when I told them what happeded. Even they thought I was taking the p!ss by using my annual leave.

mariaalice · 23-11-2020 11:23am

JustAThought wrote: »

In Ireland if you are on a good salary between PAYE deductions and the few stealth taxes you will be paying aprox 50% of your earnings in tax.

You can guarantee you will be paying another 25-30% in either a mortgage or rent - unless you bought circa 1980.

I googled the tax brackets in different states America recently and was gobsmacked - imagine keeping 80% or 90% of what you earn depending on where you live. Unimaniginble here.

What a luxury.

shopping/wasting money on crap is entirely discretionary but imagine having the chance to keep or decide what you can do with the money you earned instead of having it frittered away and wasted by government departments.
No wonder people can take
flying lessons, have second
homes and take nice holidays three or four times a year.

That is all negated by the cost of health insurance. The Kaiser Family Foundation estimated that family insurance premiums averaged $18,142 in 2016, up 3% from 2015, with workers paying $5,277 towards that cost and employers covering the remainder.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_care_prices_in_the_United_States#:~:text=CBO%20estimates%20the%20net%20effect,and%20employers%20covering%20the%20remainder

Geuze · 23-11-2020 11:28am

JustAThought wrote: »

In Ireland if you are on a good salary between PAYE deductions and the few stealth taxes you will be paying aprox 50% of your earnings in tax.

You can guarantee you will be paying another 25-30% in either a mortgage or rent - unless you bought circa 1980.

I googled the tax brackets in different states America recently and was gobsmacked - imagine keeping 80% or 90% of what you earn depending on where you live. Unimaniginble here.

Yes, federal income taxes are well below the levels here.

But don't forget:

(1) there is also PRSI in the USA, known as FICA
(2) there may be state income taxes
(3) local county property taxes are way higher than here

But yes, overall taxes are lower than here.

A big reason for that is that healthcare is not mainly financed by taxes.

So you likely have to buy health insurance as well.

JustAThought · 23-11-2020 11:45am

Geuze wrote: »

Yes, federal income taxes are well below the levels here.

But don't forget:

(1) there is also PRSI in the USA, known as FICA
(2) there may be state income taxes
(3) local county property taxes are way higher than here

But yes, overall taxes are lower than here.

A big reason for that is that healthcare is not mainly financed by taxes.

So you likely have to buy health insurance as well.

Most good companies have a health insurance package - this is what keeps
people attracted to them and working for them.
A family member of mine moved atate borders lst
year nd reduced his overall tax bill by 15% - just by moving 10 miles up the road.
The difference in local tax rates to an Irish person and the option to move and choose is just incredible. Nowhere in Ireland is that possible. Nor to legally pay far less in tax by own choice of
location.

I bought personal annual medical insurance
here as part of my visa - both for Oz and for working in the US. The US I hd to shop around as it wasn’t a J1 visa whose insurance requirements are different but I bought a product online that covered me - and when I had to claim
off it later after I returned to Ireland there were no quibbles.

If you take your holiday day 1 or 2 at a time and bundle them with weekends as most americans do you can on a meagre 15 day holiday plan take interesting and very good 3 and 4 day breaks over the course of a year - to their ski reaorts, tropical locations, mountain reaorts, and HOT beaches - not including national days off like Labour day, Veterns day, Christmas, Thanksgiving, 4th July etc.

The world is a great big beautiful exciting place - no reason to stay at home fearful of what could or
might happen in rare aNd excepetionally unlucky circumstances. Buy medical insurance here, get a job with medical cover, and follow your dreams.

Floppybits · 23-11-2020 11:48am

Deleted User wrote: »

Apart from the hours, I could not stand the fake upbeatness American's seem to need to display. Like yay this company is great. All of the ones I work with are positively over the fuking moon to be there every day.

It is creeping in over as well. I have seen it in the a few places I worked people would be working morning noon and night and you can see that they are being taken advantage of but they wont hear a bad word said about the place. Even seen one person who was given a budget to spend on a night out and instead of using the whole budget they would cut back on things like an extra drink voucher or 2 so that they wouldn't spend the budget. After doing all that the company didn't think twice when it came to laying them off.

23-11-2020 11:52am

Deleted User wrote: »

Apart from the hours, I could not stand the fake upbeatness American's seem to need to display. Like yay this company is great. All of the ones I work with are positively over the fuking moon to be there every day.

I've worked for many American companies and that does annoy me. People giving off the impression they skip into work everyday singing Zip Da Dee Doo Da.

Meanwhile they're all coffee addicts because they left the house at 6am, won't get home til 7pm and after work beers are generally unheard of.

Also regarding living there, the tipping culture starts to get really grating.

Floppybits · 23-11-2020 12:05pm

Deleted User wrote: »

I've worked for many American companies and that does annoy me. People giving off the impression they skip into work everyday singing Zip Da Dee Doo Da.

Meanwhile they're all coffee addicts because they left the house at 6am, won't get home til 7pm and after work beers are generally unheard of.

Also regarding living there, the tipping culture starts to get really grating.

The worst is that you are walk into a shop and you get big false smile and welcome yada yada, then you are looking around and they are over can I help you with anything, would you like me to set up a changing room for you, I'm shirley or whatever if you need me I will be just over here. I have to bite my tongue to stop from saying "F**k Off and leave me alone, I'm just having a look" and the whole "have a nice day now". Drive ya mad and it is every shop or restaurant you go into. Said to my sister I don't know how you do it and she said you get use to it.

JustAThought · 23-11-2020 12:06pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I've worked for many American companies and that does annoy me. People giving off the impression they skip into work everyday singing Zip Da Dee Doo Da.

Meanwhile they're all coffee addicts because they left the house at 6am, won't get home til 7pm and after work beers are generally unheard of.

Also regarding living there, the tipping culture starts to get really grating.

Y well you don’t have to eat out 7 days a week. Only I guess in Amedica the food is so varied, reasonably priced and attractive that you can afford to. Unlike here. Where we also mostly tip.

23-11-2020 12:10pm

JustAThought wrote: »

Y well you don’t have to eat out 7 days a week. Only I guess in Amedica the food is so varied, reasonably priced and attractive that you can afford to. Unlike here. Where we also mostly tip.

The food in Dublin is very varied as well, and no, we don't mostly tip not even close to the extent of the US, where everyone from the taxi driver to the guy who opens the door for you expects a tip.

Thelonious Monk · 23-11-2020 12:13pm

I had to do a few weeks onboarding for a new job, in Indianapolis, a few years ago and yes the upbeatness doesn't fly with me personally. How am i supposed to get as enthused as you about digital marketing.
During meetings they would say things like "Can I get a whoop whoop" and they'd all do it and start raising the roof with their hands etc. I was just scarleh the whole time.
Or when they'd announce that we have a very special guest speaker and we're so lucky and it would turn out to be the head of accounts or something and they'd all be gasping with excitement.
Give me cold hearted cynicism every day over that.

Invidious · 23-11-2020 12:17pm

Floppybits wrote: »

The worst is that you are walk into a shop and you get big false smile and welcome yada yada...

I'd prefer a big smile and a welcome to a surly grimace from some bored shop assistant who couldn't care less about helping me.

Thelonious Monk · 23-11-2020 12:21pm

Invidious wrote: »

I'd prefer a big smile and a welcome to a surly grimace from some bored shop assistant who couldn't care less about helping me.

I think there's a more natural friendliness somewhere in between the two that Irish people are pretty good at when they want to be

Snotty · 23-11-2020 12:22pm

Didn't see anyone mention the lack of job security, which is one of the biggest negatives. I work for a US company and go over regularly, I can't tell you the amount of times a meeting would get cancelled and when I ask why, its because that person was let go, it actually happened during a meeting once, the guy got a tap on his shoulder, needed to step away for a moment to talk to his boss and was escorted out of the building.
However this company are very generous on the holidays, starts at 20 days, max out at 30 now, but I think staff who stared over 15 years ago can get a max of 45 days!
But the biggest issue I would have living and working in this US is the healthcare, us Irish take it for granted, if you are sick, your will get treatment here, you may have to wait, it "might" be too slow, but for the majority of illnesses you'll only worry about the illness and not how you could lose your family home because of the bills. One girl I work with in the US has arthritis, she has great health insurance from our company but she still has to pay $3000 a month for her injections and that is already subsidised.

Floppybits · 23-11-2020 12:23pm

Invidious wrote: »

I'd prefer a big smile and a welcome to a surly grimace from some bored shop assistant who couldn't care less about helping me.

At least the surly one is honest. It is the fakeness that is the head wrecker all this pretending to be happy to see you and all that crap. Then in the restaurants and you ask for bread and the server rattles of 10 to 15 different breads which you don't get the names of over half of them and just say one of the few that you did catch not knowing what it is and god forbid don't tell them it's your birthday.

JustAThought · 23-11-2020 12:24pm

Thelonious Monk wrote: »

I think there's a more natural friendliness somewhere in between the two that Irish people are pretty good at when they want to be

Service Industry and Irish just don’t mix.
And thats even when they’re paid to
it it and incentivised by tips.

I’d take a happy american smiling and willingly wanting to help any day over the sulry, bored, disinterested or slap-hazzard Irish any day.

Invidious · 23-11-2020 12:26pm

Thelonious Monk wrote: »

I think there's a more natural friendliness somewhere in between the two that Irish people are pretty good at when they want to be

Irish people don't have a monopoly on natural friendliness ... Americans can be pretty good at it too. Many Americans are naturally warm, open, positive people ... it's not some fake act they're putting on just because they're terrified to lose their jobs, or whatever the prevailing narrative is here.

Invidious · 23-11-2020 12:27pm

Floppybits wrote: »

At least the surly one is honest.

Why do you assume that surly = honest and positive = fake?

Thelonious Monk · 23-11-2020 12:29pm

Invidious wrote: »

Irish people don't have a monopoly on natural friendliness ... Americans can be pretty good at it too. Many Americans are naturally warm, open, positive people ... it's not some fake act they're putting on just because they're terrified to lose their jobs, or whatever the prevailing narrative is here.

I know, but you don't have quite the same amount of "Hi I'm Kaycee I'll be your server today XD XD XD" over here as you do there, and that can be a bit annoying.

23-11-2020 12:31pm

JustAThought wrote: »

In Ireland if you are on a good salary between PAYE deductions and the few stealth taxes you will be paying aprox 50% of your earnings in tax.

You can guarantee you will be paying another 25-30% in either a mortgage or rent - unless you bought circa 1980.

Aside from health insurance, I know a friend whose property tax there is $16000 a year. This isn't unusual. In fairness though he has a massive house.

Invidious · 23-11-2020 12:32pm

Thelonious Monk wrote: »

I know, but you don't have quite the same amount of "Hi I'm Kaycee I'll be your server today XD XD XD" over here as you do there, and that can be a bit annoying.

I've eaten in many US restaurants and honestly can't say I've ever been annoyed by someone being open, warm, welcoming, and helpful. It's generally the absence of those qualities that annoys me.

Thelonious Monk · 23-11-2020 12:34pm

Invidious wrote: »

I've eaten in many US restaurants and honestly can't say I've ever been annoyed by someone being open, warm, welcoming, and helpful. It's generally the absence of those qualities that annoys me.

I prefer a more subtle approach personally

OEP · 23-11-2020 12:39pm

"Professional" jobs pay a lot more over there too - an engineer, developer etc. . In my company, a person on my team in the US that is the exact same level as me is getting paid 30% - 40% more. And then they generally pay a lot less tax on that too.

JustAThought · 23-11-2020 12:40pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Aside from health insurance, I know a friend whose property tax there is $16000 a year. This isn't unusual. In fairness though he has a massive house.

And massive in America is something else.

Ofd because I was asking about
mortages and I understood that property tax, and federal taxes for the duration of the mortgage were things that were typically automatically factored in as port of the mortgage borrowing - thou no doubt companies are different.

At least over there if your tenant dosn’t pay the rent they can’t sit in your house for two years running up bills and rent debts they will never lay - police in, 2 day eviction - freeloaders out. I guess thats part of the services they get for their taxes - an efficient, functioning police system and consequences for breaking the law or contracts.

I’d love to see the gaurds policing the streets here, or taking criminals to task. or arresting half I’Connell St for drug dealing or defecating or shooting up on the footpath. I guess thats why so many of American towns and main thoroughfares are so clean, feel safe and are
pleasant places to be. Unlike the dark hole that is much of Dublin city centre.

Nermal · 23-11-2020 12:42pm

OEP wrote: »

"Professional" jobs pay a lot more over there too - an engineer, developer etc. . In my company, a person on my team in the US that is the exact same level as me is getting paid 30% - 40% more. And then they generally pay a lot less tax on that too.

People simply don't realise this. This difference is not explained by health insurance, or longer working hours. Living standards are vastly higher in the US, full stop.

https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/why-britain-is-poorer-than-any-us-state-other-than-mississippi

Invidious · 23-11-2020 12:50pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Aside from health insurance, I know a friend whose property tax there is $16000 a year. This isn't unusual. In fairness though he has a massive house.

Well, the average property tax bill in the US as a whole is around $2,500 a year. So paying $16,000 would not exactly be typical ... I assume your friend lives in a high-tax and/or affluent jurisdiction.

Wibbs · 23-11-2020 1:06pm

JustAThought wrote: »

I’d love to see the gaurds policing the streets here, or taking criminals to task. or arresting half I’Connell St for drug dealing or defecating or shooting up on the footpath. I guess thats why so many of American towns and main thoroughfares are so clean, feel safe and are
pleasant places to be. Unlike the dark hole that is much of Dublin city centre.

And yet America is well ahead of Ireland on crime rates in general and far ahead on violent crime.

JustAThought · 23-11-2020 2:18pm

Yes.
This is not a gun law or civil rights thread.

OP - have a look at any of the american multinationals with HQ in Dublin amd then look at
the lists of varied, interesting, extremely well
paid management roles and the salaries
they are offering in America. There is no comparison. Makes you wonder
how they are allowed get awY with paying practically zero company taxes here on a Global headquarters basis and yet pay the Irish staff poorly by comparison and retain the majority of the progressive senior level extremely well paid jobs in the states - all of which stTe their packGes and holiday entitlements. Worth travelling for. Especiially as an educated, qualified, experienced professional.

MsStote · 23-11-2020 2:23pm

SharpshooterTom wrote: »

I've long considered wanting to move to the US at some point in my life. I recognise it has some serious flaws, but my main gripe about the country is with the lack of annual leave the US (and Canada) both have. Am I right in saying the US has NO guaranteed paid leave whatsoever and it has be negotiated with an employer before hand? I also read that approximately 25% of Americans don't get ANY paid leave whatsoever? I think the average American only gets just 10 days off a year? In Canada its not much better either with 2 weeks only (and wages are also lower than the US).

AUS/NZ appear to have a similar work-life balance to that of Ireland/UK by contrast. A minimum of 4-5 weeks plus an extra 10-13 paid days for public holidays which is a pretty good deal, so I'm open to moving there also. But the lack of paid work leave is a bit of a drag about North America. I'd be ok with 3 weeks but 10 days or less would depress me.

Canada you get time off and you have good healthcare. You may make a lil more in the US but have to remember they must pay their own health insurance or you risk ruin. Cost of living in higher as well.

Wibbs · 23-11-2020 2:26pm

JustAThought wrote: »

Yes.
This is not a gun law or civil rights thread.

You were the one who referenced America's "efficient, functioning police system", and with a straight face to boot.

OEP · 23-11-2020 2:52pm

Nermal wrote: »

People simply don't realise this. This difference is not explained by health insurance, or longer working hours. Living standards are vastly higher in the US, full stop.

https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/why-britain-is-poorer-than-any-us-state-other-than-mississippi

Using GDP to compare is quite misleading though

NSAman · 23-11-2020 4:32pm

Wibbs wrote: »

And yet America is well ahead of Ireland on crime rates in general and far ahead on violent crime.

Amazingly enough, check out where the crime is happening and what areas of crime areas they are happening in.

I do not even lock my doors here. My front door has been open for 7 years at this stage, never being locked once. (I am not even sure I have a key for the door).

Would I do this in metropolitan areas? Nope.

Here, nothing happens without someone seeing it. Community watch, community welfare, community help and support is something that they pride themselves on. Some people may find that intrusive, I personally never have. I like living in a community where they help each other.

ShatterAlan · 23-11-2020 4:52pm

JimmyVik wrote: »

I worked there for a couple of years. I had 20 days holidays which was very good for over there.
But after the first year in my performance review he says to me. "I see you used all 20 days of your annual leave?. What happened?"
It was only afterwards I found out that if you dont have at least 50% of your annual leave untaken, they consider that you must not be motivated to work enough and are a slacker.

Colleagues were so surprised I had taken all my leave when I told them what happeded. Even they thought I was taking the p!ss by using my annual leave.

And Americans and others who lick America's arse will try to tell you that tis kind of sheepish, blind devotion to the job is actually a virtue when in fat they are all a bunch of lemmings who slave away, stay late, come in on weekends etc, just to protect themselves from being canned.

It's disgusting.

ShatterAlan · 23-11-2020 6:07pm

NSAman wrote: »

God you are lovely!

Funnily enough, living in the States has its benefits.

Yes if you have a decent job, the perks are better but you have to work.

Is it perfect? No. Tell me ireland is perfect and I shall call you a liar.

America has the best and worst of everything for employees. Employee protection is zero. Depending on the job you have, the benefits vary greatly.

I employ a few people here. They are completely covered with medical insurance on very good plans $250 deductible. They have 401ks which we match. Hours are flexible and we enjoy a good work life balance. Holidays / vacation time is worked up to a maximum of 20 days.

The one thing that Americans do that many Irish do not do, is give all to their work. They have to, otherwise it’s easy to let people go.

For the OP, you really have to consider negotiating with any employer. Making money here is easy. Tax is less. But.... you have to save and save hard. Most Americans are only a few paychecks away from homelessness. The culture of shopping is ingrained in people here. The price of living is not cheap here. Certain things that we take for granted as cheap in Ireland are expensive here. Cell phones, tv/cables/satellite are crazy. Electricity is cheaper than Ireland. Lately food costs have sky rocketed.

Housing (depending on where you live) can be either crazily expensive or very affordable. Take housing costs into consideration when moving and where you move to. Some states have zero personal income tax, others take a fair share. Deductions are the major difference between tax in Ireland and tax here. Use your head and you can make a nice tax refund at the end of the year.

To make money, llc’s and self employment are the way to go.

America is certainly not utopia. Then, no country on the planet is.

I always hear the "America's not perfect but no country is..." trope when you point out the glaringly obvious shortcomings of the place.

Never any acknowledgement or attempt to address the very addressable shortcomings. This bollocks of you work 9 to 5 but god forbid you stick to that and don't devote your every waking hour to the poxy job is pathetic.

And 10 days holiday a year is Dickensian. The French with their shorter work week and generous holiday allowance are actually 16% more productive than American workers.

Stone Deaf 4evr · 23-11-2020 6:34pm

JustAThought wrote: »

A lot of people I went to college with including family members (who didn’t go to college) emigrated to the states and all of
them have good lives, great houses and lifestyles, go on holidays and trips overseas several times a year, most have second homes - bought not inherited, and their kids have the kind of outdoors,BBQ, family friendly littleball lives we see on TV. Its certainly not the deerhunter kind of squalor and hardship painted here.

another poster may have pointed this out, but I havent read the whole thread, but likely, none of your mates were saddled with the insane student loans that kids in the states get.

The Floyd p · 23-11-2020 6:59pm

JustAThought must be on commission from some USA multinationals with the amount of gross generalisations they're making about how the USA is this paradise with low crime, wonderful employers and superb tourist destinations.

Sounds like something you'd hear in an advertisement from the USA tourism board ffs.

Invidious · 23-11-2020 7:21pm

The Floyd p wrote: »

JustAThought must be on commission from some USA multinationals with the amount of gross generalisations they're making about how the USA is this paradise with low crime, wonderful employers and superb tourist destinations.

As opposed to the gross generalizations about how the US is some kind of dystopian hellhole.

Crime in the US is highly correlated with income, race, the drug trade, etc. There are very safe areas, and then there are very unsafe areas.

Wonderful employers? The US has many, just as it has bad employers. US companies are probably more aggressive when it comes to weeding out under-performing employees ... but that's a good thing for everyone else.

Superb tourist destinations? Of course it has those. Millions of people go to the US in a normal year, including thousands of Irish people.

NSAman · 23-11-2020 7:56pm

ShatterAlan wrote: »

I always hear the "America's not perfect but no country is..." trope when you point out the glaringly obvious shortcomings of the place.

Never any acknowledgement or attempt to address the very addressable shortcomings. This bollocks of you work 9 to 5 but god forbid you stick to that and don't devote your every waking hour to the poxy job is pathetic.

And 10 days holiday a year is Dickensian. The French with their shorter work week and generous holiday allowance are actually 16% more productive than American workers.

I'm sure you are a shining employee.

Like I said no place is utopia. If you know somewhere that is, please inform us all.

I enjoy my work here, as I'm sure my employees do too. I doubt with your obvious attitude you would fit in here.

ShatterAlan · 23-11-2020 8:26pm

Invidious wrote: »

I'd prefer a big smile and a welcome to a surly grimace from some bored shop assistant who couldn't care less about helping me.

I'd prefer a smile if they meant it. I'd prefer honesty over fakery.

And a surly grimace isn't the only alternative to phoney bubbliness.

A simple "Can I help you sir/mate?" with perhaps a raised eyebrow works for me.

ShatterAlan · 23-11-2020 8:50pm

JustAThought wrote: »

And massive in America is something else.

Ofd because I was asking about
mortages and I understood that property tax, and federal taxes for the duration of the mortgage were things that were typically automatically factored in as port of the mortgage borrowing - thou no doubt companies are different.

At least over there if your tenant dosn’t pay the rent they can’t sit in your house for two years running up bills and rent debts they will never lay - police in, 2 day eviction - freeloaders out. I guess thats part of the services they get for their taxes - an efficient, functioning police system and consequences for breaking the law or contracts.

I’d love to see the gaurds policing the streets here, or taking criminals to task. or arresting half I’Connell St for drug dealing or defecating or shooting up on the footpath. I guess thats why so many of American towns and main thoroughfares are so clean, feel safe and are
pleasant places to be. Unlike the dark hole that is much of Dublin city centre.

You're looking at the place through rose-tinted spectacles and cherry picking the good. There are countless areas in the US that would make O'Connell Street look like the finest thoroughfare in Singapore. I lived there for 7 years. Worked in Manhattan. Some parts of the city looked and smelt like Calcutta. I've also visited sterile, cookie-cutter Stepford Wives cities like Reston, Virginia where everyone looks the same. All government type employees with Polo shirts and Chinos and identical non-descript haircuts. Even the dive bar lacked character. A testament to blandness.

And this thread isn't really about comparing the US to Ireland. But I suppose that can be unavoidable. Take public transport in the US. It's the pits. Uncomfortable, unreliable and in some cases dangerous due to bus or train drivers being so overworked that they fall asleep at the wheel. People would harp on about how the Long Island Rail Road was the epitome of luxury because the seat had cushions rather than the McDonald's style plastic seating that you get on the New York subway. The usual response to this is that "America is so rich that everyone has a fancy car and doesn't need public transport". What bollocks. You could be a wealthy commuter in New York and still have to endure appalling public transport compared to your counterparts in Berlin or Stockholm or Tokyo.

riclad · 23-11-2020 8:55pm

i,d prefer the irish attititude, honest conversation if they want to speak to me,
rather than staff being trained to say have a nice day to everyone who comes into the shop.
Also some places in america expect to get tips so they will tend to be very polite to everyone they serve.
i prefer staff to be honest than people who are trained to pretend to be delighted to see anyone who might spend a few dollars in the business

Invidious · 23-11-2020 8:57pm

ShatterAlan wrote: »

And this thread isn't really about comparing the US to Ireland. But I suppose that can be unavoidable. Take public transport in the US. It's the pits.

Is Irish public transport anything to get excited about?

Every country has its good points and bad points. You seem incapable of acknowledging anything good about the USA — fair enough, but your biases are glaringly obvious.

Alejandro68 · 23-11-2020 8:58pm

What is the allure of the USA?I have never been but always wanted to be the tourist. I never thought of living there as it doesn't appeal to me to. Now London, that is my dream.

23-11-2020 9:14pm

Invidious wrote: »

Wonderful employers? The US has many, just as it has bad employers. US companies are probably more aggressive when it comes to weeding out under-performing employees ... but that's a good thing for everyone else.
.

It's not really as it puts everybody under more pressure. And besides all that the worry of financial ruin is very common over there, particularly if there are any health issues. The low number of days off is horrible too.

It is great for people who have made their millions. Very little of that is being made in the young generation though. Millennials own 4% of the wealth, and the oldest millennial are now pushing 40.

So maybe a generation ago Ireland was worth leaving for a normal job in the US, now it isnt. Unless you are top level IT, it isnt worth it.

riclad wrote: »

i,d prefer the irish attititude, honest conversation if they want to speak to me,
rather than staff being trained to say have a nice day to everyone who comes into the shop.
Also some places in america expect to get tips so they will tend to be very polite to everyone they serve.
i prefer staff to be honest than people who are trained to pretend to be delighted to see anyone who might spend a few dollars in the business

On the other hand the least bad thing about the US is friendly staff.

23-11-2020 9:15pm

Alejandro68 wrote: »

What is the allure of the USA?I have never been but always wanted to be the tourist. I never thought of living there as it doesn't appeal to me to. Now London, that is my dream.

The US is a great tourist destination all the same. Do you mean London to live in? Thats not all wine and roses either.

Work life balance in the USA

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