OK So I have seen on these forums comments like Vancouver employers milk you for what they can, can be rude, don't respond etc.

i.e In other words it sounds like an employers' market where they can do what they want.

I just want to get opinions about whether it is pretty much the same in other major cities like Calgary and Toronto, or is it just a Canada thing, and in other words I'm screwed

Merci for any opinions, and all!

floatsy

(I know this post is a generalisation, but I am interested in trends/themes as I believe there are elements of truth to them!)

Id say it's a specific issue to Canada, my OH has been unfortunate to have had one job after another that have had really bad management.

For an example my other half is a fulltime employee for the company and her colleague has newly joined and works for an agency. He was employed to do weekends and have a day off in the week, he was employed to do the late shift. My girlfriend has now had all her shifts changed to accomdate her new colleague who at this stage is not directly employed by the company. The icing on the cake is that my OH has bent over backwards for this company doing overtime, sorting out issues with suppliers etc and this is the thanks she gets.

Some employers no matter where in the word they are will try and screw you over

Thanks Mikey for sharing your experience

My friends husband has been out of work for about 6 months he has sent about 3000 or so apllications and followed up and heard nothing. As I said I think its a gobal thing really. Its an employers market with the current world down turn and basically they can pick and choose and treat people as they wish

i will keep my fingers crossed that you have some good luck with an employer

It's an employer thing. I've had the same experiences here in Australia, in the US, and the UK. People are people no matter where they are and it's a basic fact of life that some people are wankers and others not. Since employers tend to be people, it only stands to reason that some are wankers and others are not.

Completely agree, don't think it's specific to Canada.

I like that Dorothy straight talking callling a spade a spade

True but Canada seems to have the lions share of wankers when it comes to employers

Completely agree. Employers I have come across are completely clueless. For the most part they tell you one thing to your face and do another and dont think you will notice. They expect you to be loyal to them but have no interest in returning that loyalty in any degree.

So my conclusion, is they are clueless, backstabbing, wankers.

Yep loyalty is definitely a one way street here...most company mission statements should read...'do what i say and not what i do'

And I suspect most employees adopt the position of: as soon as I am offered something better; I am off

I think if you're exceptional at what you do, then you'll be in demand and will be compensated and treated well, if you're simply a domestique then in this market its going to be hard work and an unpleasant experience.

Maybe see things from the other side of the fence sometime.

So when you go to an interview, and you discuss with your prospective employer the elements that make up the job, and what the expectations are. And you discuss what would and wouldn't work for you and your prospective employer says, oh that won't be a problem and this will be this and not that etc and offers you a job, so you quit your better paid but bored of job to try something new, only to find what was discussed at interview has been completely fabricated by the employer, who then says, well this is what it is, take it or leave it.

Would you say this is a fair and just way to treat an employee and build loyalty?

This is the second time this has happened to such an extreme since I've lived here in Canada, the first time, I didn't bother going back after two days, this time round I'm still hoping for better, but I sincerely have my doubts, we have a staff meeting tonight, we'll find out more I suppose, doubt I'll be staying though.

Many aspects of life, including employment, are crap shoots. I've hired some, who on the surface meet requirements to the tee but, in reality, turn out to be lazy and useless as teats on a bull. Thank goodness for the 6 month probationary period. It is a two way street.