Steerpike

Can't let this one go un-corrected

US mile and British mile are the same. The difference you are thinking about is the US gallon vs. the UK gallon - US gallon=16 pints, UK gallon=20 pints. Thus, the US gallon is smaller, and therefore you can't make direct comparisons of the price of a gallon in each country, or of 'mpg ratings'.
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Regarding the OP's post - I think the thread has value as a warning to would-be immigrants here that this place is quite different from the UK, in terms of labor laws and social security systems. While I'm a strong advocate of Universal Health coverage in the US, I'm OK with the lack of unemployment benefits, and quite favor the ease with which people can be fired. While there are abuses of the US system, the ease with which you can be fired also leads to an ease with which you can be hired. If the economy shows even a small sign of life, US companies will hire quickly because they KNOW they can fire again if the economy goes back down; in the UK, you need to be almost positive the requirement will remain long-term since it's practically impossible to get rid of people. The easy-to-get and virtually unlimited duration of unemployment benefits in the UK has led to an entire culture of people living 'on the dole'.

That said, I'm sorry the gig didn't work out for you here and wish you the best back in UK.

AmerLisa

lol - to each their own. I personally feel its an invasion of my privacy having to answer questions as to why I was sick. Perhaps privacy means nothing to you.....

Kar98

I think the poster was referring to "British miles" in the same vein as one refers to "dog years". Like, a 100 miles is faaaaaar away in Europe, and a 100 years is looooooong ago in America.

Kaffy Mintcake

I can understand that policy if it's someone who takes a lot of sick days, and appears to be abusing them. For an isolated day it seems severe.

scrubbedexpat097

...and it doesn't quite read how the OP tried to make it sound either

surly

At least he's moving back to the UK, that's a plus.
Better than hanging around and whinging about how everything is better in the UK. Well he's doing that anyway, but hey one less.
You can fly to the from SFO to the UK by BA for about $340.

AmerLisa

I assumed it was a policy to discourage taking off sick....

surly

As a self employed person I can take as many sick days as I like, I'm just not making any money.

Interesting question. Do the self employed in the UK get paid sick days?

AmerLisa

I can take as many sick days as I want as well, and neither am I making money.... But at least I don't have some ninny of a supervisor asking me why I was out sick.

surly

I haven't worked in the UK for over twenty years. Must have changed a lot, sounds like a workers paradise.

bfittler

UK is still a paradise because tax payers pay for others' luxuries there. The Luxury NHS treatment in UK is enjoyed by overseas students, their all dependants,Italians,Greek,Spanish, Tier One, Tier Two, EU etc. and all is paid by people who are working and paying taxes.


Have anybody looked into the retirement system of UK.UK is a heaven on Earth as some have to work while others enjoy the maximum out of the life.

srah

Sounds like the best $340 one can spend if it's got people like you there.

More than likely you have everything crossed that your business doesn't fold and you can no longer afford the USA healthcare resulting in you and your family crawling back to the UK as more than likely you have not renounced your UK citizenship...

surly

Nope I have enough put by to last me quite a long time.

Giantaxe

Then offer not to be paid when you are sick. Seems perfectly reasonable that if they are paying you when you claim to be sick, that you actually are.

At least in England you don't get the disgraceful situations where people end up having to "donate" sick days to some poor sod who's having chemo etc. Having to answer questions about one's sickness pales into insignifance compared to that disgrace.

srah

Wish I had a $ for the number of times I've heard that.....the US medical system will eat you alive and non of us are getting any younger.