Going Home
#91
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 12,830
Re: Going Home
Some owners do and and some don't I guess.
#92
Re: Going Home
Going back to the earlier point about H&S laws, we're a worldwide company and all our employment conditions are set by our province of residence, unless we're working in California, who have a much higher minimum standard than everywhere else
I wish we could book business class flights, I find it difficult to even use my upgrade points these days as there's such a long wait list unless I get in 3-4 days before the flight...most of my travel is booked maximum 2 days in advance
I wish we could book business class flights, I find it difficult to even use my upgrade points these days as there's such a long wait list unless I get in 3-4 days before the flight...most of my travel is booked maximum 2 days in advance
#93
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,232
Re: Going Home
I knew of one technical service representative who became indispensible to his company.
Nobody is indispensable except in their own mind.
Nobody is indispensable except in their own mind.
#94
Re: Going Home
Just curious as to why you think we should give it more time? Judging by your own experience we would be delaying the inevitable? If we go home sooner rather than later my son can go back to the nursery he was at and then go on to school next year with his friends, rather than wait and potentially up-root him again!
A few things that strike me on your posts & on your OP in this thread. I don't get the winging POM syndrome
- In your OP it was 'we wanted to come to Canada, OH got a job, yet everything is so expensive' - is that it, the climate, or are you homesick?
- Hubby can go back & get a job
Right then, why delay, pack your bags, book the flight & go home
#95
Re: Going Home
Continuing the fred drift....
I work for a Canadian company. My job involves a certain amount of travel. In 2012 I did two trips to HK / Singapore (which is a bloody long way from St John's Nfld) in economy because that was the company policy. We were then absorbed into the mother company, which is a UK PLC & the travel policy changed to anything over 8 hours in Biz class. Us Canucks raised a cheer for the enlighted 'elf and safey policies of the mother company.
I work for a Canadian company. My job involves a certain amount of travel. In 2012 I did two trips to HK / Singapore (which is a bloody long way from St John's Nfld) in economy because that was the company policy. We were then absorbed into the mother company, which is a UK PLC & the travel policy changed to anything over 8 hours in Biz class. Us Canucks raised a cheer for the enlighted 'elf and safey policies of the mother company.
#96
Re: Going Home
Are any of you lucky enough to gain by being able to use airmiles (or something similar, like discounts) accrued on work travel for personal travel/hotels?
#97
Re: Going Home
I get less points now because WebEx and subsequent products pretty much wiped out the need to travel.
#98
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2012
Location: Calgary,AB
Posts: 337
Re: Going Home
Obviously ultimately it's your choice and it sounds like you've made up your mind already.... We came over here 3 years ago, I was working full time commuting into London and my husband did shifts. Our childcare costs were extortionate and they weren't even full time. When we moved here the plan was for me not to work but after7 months I went back to work part time driving a school bus as I could take my kids with me. My youngest starts school in September so I may plan to return full time, but it pays well and I get all the holidays off. It may be something to consider while your kids are young. Also we don't live in the city , but in a town outside Calgary where everything is cheaper, including childcare. My husband drives into Calgary for work and loves coming home west towards the mountains and getting outbid the city. In Alberta you will be eligible for universal child benefit as soon as you arrive., which may help with your childcare costs...
After one month I cannot really understand how you can make a rational decision to leave. The first month here is crazy getting all the admin done. No time to enjoy it. After 3 years we have stopped comparing and even call Canada home. We loved it from day 1 and never looked back. You said you researched it so why not give yourselves time to appreciate all this amazing country has to offer
After one month I cannot really understand how you can make a rational decision to leave. The first month here is crazy getting all the admin done. No time to enjoy it. After 3 years we have stopped comparing and even call Canada home. We loved it from day 1 and never looked back. You said you researched it so why not give yourselves time to appreciate all this amazing country has to offer
#99
Re: Going Home
Obviously ultimately it's your choice and it sounds like you've made up your mind already.... We came over here 3 years ago, I was working full time commuting into London and my husband did shifts. Our childcare costs were extortionate and they weren't even full time. When we moved here the plan was for me not to work but after7 months I went back to work part time driving a school bus as I could take my kids with me. My youngest starts school in September so I may plan to return full time, but it pays well and I get all the holidays off. It may be something to consider while your kids are young. Also we don't live in the city , but in a town outside Calgary where everything is cheaper, including childcare. My husband drives into Calgary for work and loves coming home west towards the mountains and getting outbid the city. In Alberta you will be eligible for universal child benefit as soon as you arrive., which may help with your childcare costs...
After one month I cannot really understand how you can make a rational decision to leave. The first month here is crazy getting all the admin done. No time to enjoy it. After 3 years we have stopped comparing and even call Canada home. We loved it from day 1 and never looked back. You said you researched it so why not give yourselves time to appreciate all this amazing country has to offer
After one month I cannot really understand how you can make a rational decision to leave. The first month here is crazy getting all the admin done. No time to enjoy it. After 3 years we have stopped comparing and even call Canada home. We loved it from day 1 and never looked back. You said you researched it so why not give yourselves time to appreciate all this amazing country has to offer
#100
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Feb 2013
Location: BC, Canada
Posts: 3,874
Re: Going Home
I was lucky, I was a Research Technician / Research Assistant for a professor in a university, and the job was unionized, albeit we were in the same union as the truck drivers, tradesmen, secretaries, gardeners, etc, which could be a bit fraught at negotiation time. Most of the technicians in the union were paid from grants obtained by their professor, and grants are a limited amount of money over 1, 2 or 3 years, and do not have allowances for increased salary and benefits. Several times, my professor and I had to negotiate a reduction in my hours to fit the amount of money he had available, or lay me off. At those times, it was lucky that I was the second earner in the house.
But, being in a union did mean that I got good holidays and benefits ........... I started at 2 weeks for 1 year, then it went up to 3 weeks the next year. By year 10, we got 6 weeks annual plus all stat holidays. Those who had to work a stat got time and a half, double time, or time off in lieu.
I got more holidays than did my husband, a faculty member. He was only allowed 4 weeks off campus without permission.
He did get to travel, both because of his job and because of his research interests, and I could often go with him, as long as we paid all my costs. We never tried to get me on trips for nothing. He was allowed to keep any air miles or points that accrued, and could use it for personal travel.
So some of us were very lucky.
For the OP .............. I will have been in Canada 48 years in August, we spent the previous year in Austin, Texas, and that WAS most definitely a culture shock.
I've never been happier than I have been in Canada. We could never have achieved what we have in Britain, and have never been sorry that we left.
I honestly cannot see that you have given Canada a long enough trial ............ but it's your decision, and it's best that you go quickly if you are so desperate.
How does your husband feel about it? After all, he is the one who came out to a position here.
But, being in a union did mean that I got good holidays and benefits ........... I started at 2 weeks for 1 year, then it went up to 3 weeks the next year. By year 10, we got 6 weeks annual plus all stat holidays. Those who had to work a stat got time and a half, double time, or time off in lieu.
I got more holidays than did my husband, a faculty member. He was only allowed 4 weeks off campus without permission.
He did get to travel, both because of his job and because of his research interests, and I could often go with him, as long as we paid all my costs. We never tried to get me on trips for nothing. He was allowed to keep any air miles or points that accrued, and could use it for personal travel.
So some of us were very lucky.
For the OP .............. I will have been in Canada 48 years in August, we spent the previous year in Austin, Texas, and that WAS most definitely a culture shock.
I've never been happier than I have been in Canada. We could never have achieved what we have in Britain, and have never been sorry that we left.
I honestly cannot see that you have given Canada a long enough trial ............ but it's your decision, and it's best that you go quickly if you are so desperate.
How does your husband feel about it? After all, he is the one who came out to a position here.
#101
Re: Going Home
Yep, my husband is. He travels a lot with work, mainly just day trips to Scotland/Ireland/Europe, and gets a lot of Avios points. So far, in the past year all 4 of us have gone to Milan, Paris, Geneva, and 3 of us to California (he was already out there) all with Avios flights.
#102
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2014
Location: Oxford
Posts: 205
Re: Going Home
And starting meetings at your body clock's 1am is not a lot of fun.
#103
Binned by Muderators
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: White Rock BC
Posts: 11,682
Re: Going Home
A friend in the UK worked for multi-national and traveled the world on business. A different continent every day of the week did not happen every week, but when it did it was not remarkable. He accrued hundreds of thousands of air miles.
His idea of a holiday was to pitch a tend in a camp site 10 miles up the road. The thought of flying somewhere and staying in a hotel for pleasure was incomprehensible to him.
His idea of a holiday was to pitch a tend in a camp site 10 miles up the road. The thought of flying somewhere and staying in a hotel for pleasure was incomprehensible to him.
#104
Re: Going Home
I know you can cash in air miles for a number of things. What did he do with his, buy a tent and just leave it behind and buy a new one for the next time?
#105
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2013
Location: Maple Ridge, Super Natural British Columbia
Posts: 2,071
Re: Going Home
Yep, my husband is. He travels a lot with work, mainly just day trips to Scotland/Ireland/Europe, and gets a lot of Avios points. So far, in the past year all 4 of us have gone to Milan, Paris, Geneva, and 3 of us to California (he was already out there) all with Avios flights.
These were nearly all earned at Tesco however (retail price of flights exceeds money spent at Tesco by quite a margin - actually used to keep a tally!!) via various cunning shopping exploits and only shopping elsewhere if they didn't sell it.
Although some were actually earned by flying - mainly GLA to SYY...(not the most glamorous of routes!) when this route was still in BA colours.
Now my stock of 'Miles' is mainly Amex points, some Aeroplan and a growing WestJet credit card fund.
Last edited by withabix; May 27th 2016 at 7:17 pm.