Merlot

Out of the UK (or Europe/your native country) and Australia, which country do you feel you are happier in your work and why? It would be good to know your industry too.

I get better working conditions here as far as excellent sick pay and holidays (PA/Sec work), even the standard working hours better (less unpaid O/T). Australia I seemed to work longer hours yet we seemed to have more fun - morning teas, drinks after work - the team building stuff.

When I asked my boss here in the UK he found the idea of downing tools for someones Birthday for tea and cake appaulling. Made me smile that one, so we now go off for girlie bar meals after work.

Your thoughts?

M

Storini

[N.B. Bloke thing]. One of the stories I've heard about Oz working life is that if you don't go out for the regular post-work beer (or two or three) you won't become "one of the lads" and your career (ho ho) will go nowhere. How true is this?

blossom

What an interesting thread!

Having worked both here and Australia, like you the social side of work was far better in Australia. However, as I worked for local govt on both sides, the working conditions were much better in Oz, but UK have caught up and overtaken Australia in so many ways.

The best part of working in the UK now, is that women are taken far more seriously than they used to be back in the 80's (gawd I'm getting old) - and the opportunities for advancement are far greater. I doubt if I would have progressed my career as much if I had remained in Oz.

However, on another note - I cannot wait to get back there - all this sunshine has really given me a taste for returning to sunnier climate.

Blossom

DagBoy

I guess that depends on the job/company. I have been here 4 years and hardly ever go out "with the lads" after work. I prefer to go home to be with my family - so, it seems, do my colleagues here, so it does not seem to have ruined my career.

As for the original post, I work here for the same company that I worked for in the UK - doing the same job - so I am making reasonable comparisons. I find the work attitude here in Brisbane far more relaxed than I did in the UK (IT Consultant). From talking with colleagues in Sydney I gather that down there they find there is more pressure and more chance of doing overtime. For me personally, the easier commute and the flexibility means that I spend far less time at work (or travelling to and fro).

I was more likely to go for an impromptu lunchtime beer on a Friday in the UK - but that was more to do with the fact that the office was larger and there were more younger people based there.

One thing I have noticed here is that often when I am on a customer site for something like Melbourne Cup day everyone will either go to the pub for lunch (and the rest of the afternoon) or all gather somewhere near a TV with a load of beers and run the sweepstake (and insist everyone wears/makes a hat) etc. I don't remember anything similar on Derby day in England.

Anyway, all this talk of work reminds me - I had better go there

Cheers,

DagBoy

ABCDiamond

That's the first thing I thought of, from my working days

Now you've done it !!! You made me think about getting a job again !!!

I was then about to say "As Dagboy said prefer to go home to be with my family , would maybe change things,".........
but then I thought.... my wife does these things with her workmates, so I could too

Merlot

I am just finding working in the UK much "stiffer" if that is the right expression, a little too serious??? Maybe just in the wrong job.

M

Storini

And to make it less "stiff" they have those unspeakable "team-building exercises" where you have to do fatuous group assignments like making a bridge out of bits of paper. False, false, false! If the Ozzie version means going down the pub after work, that's a lot more sensible

kirsty&al

In the 15 of so years I worked in the UK (London), I noticed a big change in attitudes. Back in the late 80s it was very common for people to go out drinking at lunch and after work. This practice seems to have been replaced by endless meetings (and in particular – the pernicious lunchtime meeting). Personally I found the pub was a better place for working out problems and solutions, as meetings tend to get bogged down with personality clashes and cronyism; and they rarely lead to the best solution (think camel - a horse designed by committee).

Another thing I've noticed (in IT) is the rise of the critic. These are people, often management consultants, who seem to think they are providing value by constantly criticising things. I can accept that a little 'black hat' thinking is required from time to time, but not to the point of stifling the project.

Another thing I found risible were managers who would keep their minions in meetings all day and then complain that they hadn’t done any work. The minions were expected to work free overtime to actually do the jobs they were employed for.

You've probably guessed now, that I think most meetings, note most, are a waste of time.

With regards to Storini point about out of work socialising; I know someone in London who was sacked because they were not joining in with the rest of the team in out of hours socialising (he was the only one with kids in his team). He did win an unfair dismissal case but it meant he had to get a new career.

All my jobs in Oz have been working from home so I can’t really give a comparison.

Regards
A.

renth

A lot has do do with who you work for. I work at a university and it's pretty cushy. Gym most lunchtimes, a lot of laughs at work, good people. It was pretty similar to when I worked at the university of Sussex in the UK but with more sun, peacocks, tropical gardens and better looking undergrads

Australia is also a place where if you don't have many qualifications but are willing to work hard you can make a lot of money. Working on the mines has been a great opportunity for people here. In the UK the same people would be working just as hard, loading aircraft at Gatwick or delivering post but getting a fraction of the reward.

I'd pick Aus over UK anyday.

mlbonner

Agree with this totally. Back in the UK I worked in Business Banking for a large High St bank, I loved my job and never had a problem getting up on a Monday morning for it. Here however I have an absolute ball, the work is slightly different (funds management) and a much smaller company, but I absolutely love it and can't imagine working anywhere else at this particular time. I use to agree with the women attitude thing, about not being taken seriously, but having spent a couple of years here now, I think perhaps that it is just how the Aussies come across and most of it is tongue n cheek.... its certainly not prevented me from climbing that ladder

renth

My place of work has been named as an Employer of Choice for Women for 2 of the 3 years this award has been offered. Half the executive are women.

We have some great socials but in 2 years only twice has it been "lads down the pub" stuff.

There is no "glass ceiling" here, there are of course the usual things that disadvantage women like having to take time out for kids etc...

One thing that I do find a bit disturbing is that despite positive discrimination there are few indiginous staff here, most of these are sweeping up leaves. Not that many disabled staff either.

Stu.E

Not much in it but I'd say Oz wins. I'm in Liability Insurance and my working conditions are pretty much the same. Here it is pretty relaxed in my area (not necessarily in Broking tho), I have pretty flexible hours and the salary is almost the equivalent of what I earnt in London. I like the sick day thing here (although I bet the employers don't!) Socialising with other staff is encouraged more here but at your own expense. What I miss the most is the free lunches at top restaurants in the City I used to get as we were a client and the Lawyers we used loved to entertain us. Companies here don't seem to dish out the free jollies as much.

Shellfish

I also work for a Fund Manager
It's definitely more social here. We go out to lunch everytime it's someone's birthday (in my team) and they bring cake and we all stand around chatting for half an hour. We have a function once a quarter with the entire company -tenpin bowling or quiz night etc. Where i worked in the Uk was fairly social but definitely not on the same level. I agree though, that it has a lot to do with the company.
And yes, thank god, we have fewer meetings in Australia.

Merlot

Thanks for feedback, I have to say it took me a year or so to get into the Aussie working ways but I did enjoy them more, I do miss them.

M

glittababe

Has to be the UK! I love my job and my colleagues! Not many people can say that. Husband agrees as well. We're both very lucky. Workers rights, pay and conditions are also pretty spot on. Career development and growth, training opportunities (paid for by the NHS) and of course our nurses wages (I've never complained about mine), mean that for me, the UK is pretty hard to beat!