Gozit

5 weeks + public hols as a starting point! I'll take it

Like Tirytory said, here in Canada the starting point is nothing!

Tirytory

Well you say that, but public sector workers make up a large percentage of workforce in UK, plus I'm not comparing public sector to private, I'm comparing public sector UK to public sector Canada so it's a mute point really.

6 1/2 weeks was including my bank holidays but the longer you work there, your al increases. Plus I could use my bank holidays as part of my annual leave and take them when I want.

christmasoompa

Every one I've ever worked in, every one my husband has ever worked in, and every one my friends/family work in. I don't know anybody with less than 5 weeks hols?

Almost Canadian

I accept that public sector workers make up a large percentage of the workforce in the UK and I accept you may believe it is a moot point, but the simple fact is that those links suggest that the average (including public sector workers) is considerably less than the 5 weeks plus public holidays suggested.

Almost Canadian

Any which professions are they? It's a relatively simple question. I never did achieve, nor did anyone I know achieve, 5 weeks plus public holidays. I don't doubt that some do, but to suggest that 5 weeks plus public holidays is the norm is, I believe, somewhat misleading. The links I posted suggest it is too.

christmasoompa

Far too many professions to mention, but PA, legal secretary, project manager, surveyor, are just a few of the jobs hubby and I have done. Even working as a barmaid I got 5 weeks hols! I've also worked for the tightest man in the world (Bernie Ecclestone, who only allowed us two cups of tea a day and monitored our loo roll usage - no joke), even he gave 5 weeks hols.

I'm guessing it was quite a while ago you left the UK, but 5 weeks is certainly the norm in the South East at least, for all jobs I know of. I personally would go with my own experience rather than what a link on a website in the US called 'cheezburger' states.

Tirytory

All hospital workers start off on five weeks plus bank holidays...

GP surgeries allocate what they want but their staff get what hospital workers get. Where my husband works now, I was talking to a nurse and she got a mandatory week off at Christmas as none of the doctors wanted to work. That's it...for the year....the owner of the clinic is actually rolling in it too- makes me feel very sorry for the workers.

I used to work for the council in the UK...tbf I cannot actually recall what I got but it was good, plus I used to get flexi time there and of course bank holidays too, plus incremental pay too.

I inherently thinks it's much better to work for a UK employer than a Canadian one from my experience anyway!

Gozit

Yes.
Here it seems to be sort of a "who the hell do you think you are" attitude if you go requesting holidays or other benefits. Its sort of a "you're lucky you have this job, now get on with it!"

In the UK it seems employers appreciate their employees more and as such give them more benefits, like holidays.

Almost Canadian

Fair enough. I left the UK some time ago, but most of my family and many of my friends still live there.

Almost Canadian

I don't disagree that, generally, more vacation is provided in the UK than in Canada.

Almost Canadian

What jobs have you held, in Canada or elsewhere?

Gozit

None
Just what I know from knowing people in the workplace, and my mum and dad, and people on BE

JonboyE

The labour standards for Ontario say that two weeks a year is the minimum. Are you seriously suggesting that nurses have a contract that gives them less vacation than the law requires?

Novocastrian

I read Tirytory's post to mean that the person involved started work in April and had to battle to get some holiday time in the first calendar year. I know this can happen (Ontario). Two weeks per year is the norm, but you often have to serve the year before qualifying.

MarylandNed

There's always a risk. There have been school shootings in Canada.

That's your choice. I'm not sure where you have visited but the US is a vast country. Canada is geographically bigger but the inhabited part is much smaller (mostly confined to an area with 100 miles of the US border). I have lived in Canada and the US and traveled all over both countries. There are many areas I could live quite happily and many I would want to avoid - that goes for both. Overall, I don't think there is very much difference in lifestyle although the US is more diverse in terms of climate and geography.