Re: Work ideas?
 

Which companies, in your experience, treat employees in this way?

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You can follow the same references I've already mentioned to get names and/or figures rather than leave this forum or me open to libel naming them here. Someone has already complained when I indicated his current employer as one - although I have a signed contract to prove they wanted a minimum 80 hour week every week but only pay for 37.5.

Re: Work ideas?
 

It would not be libellous to say that my former employer, the XYZ Insurance Company, expected me to work 80 hours a week, 50 weeks a year, for $60,000/year, if it were true.

I find it far fetched because when I worked 80 hours a week for 50 weeks of the year as an employee of the then Royal Insurance Company, they paid me about $85,000 for my trouble and that was long, long, ago.

Your depiction of the computer business in the GTA bears no resemblence at all to my extensive experience of the same except inasmuch as people are expected to often be available for work. I think you had an uncommonly bad experience but there's very much missing from your story. I wonder if you are somehow associated with those ********* people.

Still, I'll stop banging on about this if you will.

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Before the banging stops, I'm curious about the 108 hours? How is that even possible. Are you referring to on call time? I have to say DBD's comments on industry norms sound far more plausible.

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Given the username, I have a feeling the poster is one of those who always feels hard done by.

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I'd just completed 5 x 12 hour days during the week when the employer demanded I work and actually be in the office for a continuous 48 hours as they needed support for all their offices world wide during a weekend release. It was not on call time but actual in-office time. As it was as you rightly question even possible I refused to do it but offered a compromise of about 20 additional hours to total 80 hours that week and got immediately fired.


Whilst DBD's comments sound plausible other posters have agreed that similar has happened to them or others they know about. Why also have most provinces got legislation in place to allow this to happen? Fact is both jobs I took, and all offers since tell me this is a very common practice to expect at least minimum 80 hours per week. That has been my experience here

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Reading all my posts you will realise I moved on to better things. Rather than allowing myself to be bullied I stood up for myself, moved on, and am doing far better. The username only reflected my feelings after my first anniversary in Canada. The one thing I didn't get in Canada that I got everywhere else was a worklifebalance.

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Would that not then just be a one-off situation, a new release. Surely that's the nature of the business that you are in, and it doesn't sound like an ongoing work requirement. People in business, law, healthcare also have to work silly hours during crunch times. Nevertheless, good that you have found a workable solution for yourself. It's madness to work the crazy hours unless you are getting something big (money/opportunity) out of it.

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If it was one off then it would not have been such a problem, however, it was on going weekly in both companies I worked. There are IT companies in the GTA who promise the customers that they can deliver to silly dates and costs based on the fact they can enforce unpaid/unlimited overtime. These are the companies I have no interest in. Trouble is these companies make big mistakes because of fatigue which always have to be corrected so the overtime is endless.

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:focus:

Soooo getting back to Tirytory's post... anyone else got any ideas for work?

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:rofl:nothing in IT ;)

My friend in Alberta has just completed an online course in medical transcription and got work remotely from home straight away. I will check with her how long the course took - but she was working at the time as well.

Check out Centric health - they have one in Bracebridge - we have one clinic that just does endoscopy - they are always advertising for casual RPNs here and I am tempted, but I don't want to completely quit my current job. I am pretty sure they would jump at the opportunity to have you in a clerical role with all your endoscopy experience. I know Centric covers many things though, so not sure how common it is to have an endoscopy clinic.

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If you were in Wales, not working in healthcare, what would you be doing? Answer that question and you have the solution to this thread

Why do you think that employment opportunities are that different to Wales?

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:thumbsup:

Err because I lived in a CITY with numerous employers and industry, now I live in a town of 15,000 people which relies on summer tourism. A lot of businesses shut for the winter as there is not enough money to make it worth their while opening... thats why employment opportunities are different. I think there's enough anecdotal evidence to suggest that it's not just me who struggles with an option to move on..

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I think the problem is and this is one that applies to the stay at home parent so certainly not unique to me. I have two in school and one at home so any future work decisions have to be based on my ability to get them from school, pay for childcare, and be flexible around the very long school holidays here. Now back home, I had the best employer who let me work what I needed, plus obviously there were employment laws for parents with children under 6. I had friends and family around to help out occasionally. My husband got more annual leave and so could take some of the responsibility. Here, with the way nursing works:- minimal annual leave until some years in service, and last to choose it with seniority makes it difficult for me to commit to a permanent position so I'm left with casual work which ultimately suits my life situation well, but it does mean that the idea of going back to university to just work casually at the end of it all is not appealing or really works out in a cost/benefit/time scenario. The university is an hour travel time a day, and I would sink a substantial amount of money into it which wouldn't be returned for probably about 10-15 yrs....

I guess that was part of the trade off of moving here.... I remember someone saying (Millie F) that if the whole of something suited everyone it was worth the trade off of individual members losing out a little...

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Caleo....they have a job for me in Endoscopy (RPN) trouble is it's in London:sneaky:

On second thoughts...there is a larger problem than area, namely that I'm nowhere near being qualified as an RPN yet :(

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Seems to me you know the problem and the solution, if you had moved from Cardiff to Dolgellau, you would have had the same problem except you could have continued to work as a nurse. You either have to move again to get greater options in other fields, or invest in the education that will permit you to continue as a nurse. Even if this means you have to move provinces to do so. This thread is so similar to the j smith thread that it is uncanny. You either accept your lot, or, move and get educated. No body is going to hand it to you on a plate. I like snowdonia 😃

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Makes sense. Nevertheless, not a bad idea to think a decade ahead, what will you want to be doing when the little one is more independent (or can be looked after by the elder ones). Seems a good time for some re-training. Distance learning over several years, perhaps. For example, after her first child, one friend re-trained over e number of years to become a lawyer. Not necessarily suggesting that, but just saying the long view might be different than the short view.

I hadn't seen Millie's quote before. Interesting one. Thinking about it.

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Haha - that's the one I keep looking at - you could always move out this way - we are in desperate need of good family doctors 😂😂

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What on earth are you on about? :confused:

And by the way do you actually live in Canada now or are you talking with theoretical knowledge?

The thread was actually about change in career paths..just curious in other people's experiences.

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Probably should have moved to London in the first place, but have invested too much here mentally. The only place I would move now is home.

You could go for it on a shift here and there basis, see if you like it? I would definitely go for it obviously...although it's probably lacking the spice of the emergency GI bleeds/foreign bodies side of it... I sort of assumed it was that private out patient type of work anyway.

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Definitely more sedate than a regular hospital endoscopy unit! I was sent here for mine.
I would join up for casual - but they are only open weekdays 7-4 and I work all week.
I just thought if your centric up there had something similar they may have a "non registered" job you could do while you wait

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I have a good friend here who was a high school teacher in the UK. Had been for several years. Upon moving to Canada, she was asked to do another 30 credits to prove equal eligibility to be able to teach here. That was about 10 courses, at a cost of many thousands of dollars, which would likely take her several years to complete. She was distinctly unimpressed, put out, and just a little bit insulted.

Fast forward 7 years, which has gone in the blink of an eye, and she is now 9 credits into her requisite courses to become a teacher here. She bit the bullet, swallowed a little pride and gave up her 'bit' job and is now studying like a demon while her kids are in school. The realization that her own kids would be finished school themselves in a couple of years identified that she really wanted to get back into her field.

Just another anecdote to add to the mix. ;)

All I'm thinking is that if Canada is likely a longish term home, and you truly loved your profession, find a way to do it again - even if it takes a few years. Your own kids will be in high school before you know it. :blink: You are in an enviable financial position where you can just do stuff along the way to fit in around your busy life.

On the other hand, while I really enjoyed my old job in the UK (cop), there was no way I would or could do it here - so while I have remained in a loosely public service and customer service role (which suits me deep down), I am now in a completely different field than I would ever have thought (HR and benefits). And that's OK. I have different priorities and perspectives from when I was training as a 25 year old. It's OK to move on. It's just hard to figure out what. I get it. :)

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Nice post :)

I know I am lucky to be in a good position, and in truth I will try to get to the same position in nursing. However I guess I was just curious about other people's stories like yourself who didn't carry on with a specific job and did something else instead..

I don't see why I shouldn't like doing something else too if I could hit upon the right thing..

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OK I had another idea hope your not offended but if you like pets would you enjoy working for a vet ?
Like an assistant and that's all year round and if your in a more rural location ?
You wouldn't need to be shown how to inject etc ?
Just a thought I had, actually Doctor pol just came on TV lol

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Vet Tech is as shitty a job as anyone can imagine. Reasonably dangerous, dirty, unrespected and paid peanuts; you really need to love animals to take it on and, if you do, you'll be sickened by the humans you bave to deal with.

I'd think farrier would be a better bet, reasonably dangerous, dirty, likely to do your back in over the long term but respected and well paid; if you have the right clients.

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This thread is just getting weirder by the minute...

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Truth right there. I see ads for vet tech and the pay is about the same as I make now, you really need to love animals as you say, not a well paid job at all from what I can see.

I had looked into it, but eh if the pay isn't more, the debt from the education really isn't worth it.


The OP sounds to be in a similar town, small, not much industry and no school nearby and can't exactly move because of a spouse and/or other family commitments.


Are there any admin municipal jobs in your town? Any small motels or ice cream shops you can operate? (if you had the resources and desire to be self employed.)

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Some of these suggestions (Not the farrier ;) ) have crossed my mind and then when I think about the finer details I feel they are not possible. It's not trying to be negative just realistic about my limitations. I really like the B&B one not least because it would be a great reason to buy waterfront if the right property came up... It's one for the future though...

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Did you investigate the clinical trials - I think being UK trained would not be an issue. Some of these positions are open to people with clinical background - not necessarily nursing.

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I agree with you, an idea might be good, but not always feasible for where one lives or the resources one has available to them, I don't see it as being negative, just realistic but other posters tend to think people can up and move to take a job when reality is not possible sometimes. (as one as example.)

Being in a smaller town also adds a whole new set of hurdles because well small towns/city's don't have as varied economies and may not offer much employment wise and just far enough away from larger city to make commuting not viable if the income isn't high.

I could commute to Vancouver, but I'd need something 25+ per hour to make it worthwhile for the gas, parking, time on the road etc.

Sounds like your far enough away from a larger city to where commuting is a hurdle more then an option.

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Non starter I'm afraid but thank you. I'm back to the original problem of having a recognizable in Canada qualification such as nursing and having no clinical research background too. Truthfully I have no interest in it either- bit dry for me. Have always wanted to be hands on. Also the ability to travel would leave me a bit stuck.

Husband is the main breadwinner and anything that compromises his ability to work ie looking after our children definitely needs to earn more money than we lose per hour with childcare or him not working or cutting his work day short.

It comes across as horribly negative... No to this, no to that. As ever I am a horribly practicle person... It needs to slot. Nursing would do this. Anyhow It looks like I have the rest of the year to study for an exam. That's assuming they actually pass me to apply for the one in October for January....

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To me nursing is in the blood - I could never see myself doing anything but. I think that is probably your ultimate aim - a long slog and waiting impatiently, but you will get there. The problem is finding something in the meantime that will keep you sane and pay enough to pay for the childcare and other expenses associated with working.

Sadly, even to work as a ward clerk (as they are known in the UK) or receptionist in a Dr surgery etc. you need to have a certificate (medical office). I looked at the course and of course it covers medical terminology, customer service, computer skills, etc - all of which would be transferable skills - but you need that little bit of paper that says you did the course!!!! THAT is what is frustrating!

Keeping everything crossed the CNO sort things out for the October cutoff!!!!

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Canada loves their certificates and you can have every single skill taught and employers will still overlook you because of not having the stupid certificate.


Some jobs get into the blood and can be hard to be happy in anything else.

Airline runs through my blood, and I know deep down I would never be truly happy in any other kind of job, but with the mass outsourcing over the last decade, it's no longer a viable option if your not a pilot, or F/A or maintenance or management, airport jobs are almost all outsourced now.

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Hi everyone,

I am still a student in Sociology but I am going to finish my studies in September. Before starting my working life in Belgium, I really would like to get the opportunity to travel and work. Do you know any corporation that could be interested in getting any young worker with a sociological approach? Any other plan could be great as well. Thanks

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For Canada, your best bet is an IEC visa which would give you a 2 year open work permit.

But please do start your own thread, rather than hijacking the OP's. Have a read of the link in my signature, which is a great guide for newbies. Thanks and good luck.

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Hey Tirytory,
I wonder if you can help me? My husband and I are looking into immigrating to British Columbia - he is a senior nurse working in Quality and Safeguarding as a band 8b but is diploma trained, i'm a degree trained adult nurse. My husband is the earner of the family, it is him who would be applying for the visa through the skilled worker program. I'm not sure I have the desire to try and get my own registration sorted simultaneously to him. We also have two young children aged 2 1/2 and 5. In your experience, do we stand a hope? I've been reading as much as I can, but I'm concerned as my husband trained pre degree so 'just' has the diploma. It seems ridiculous that he would be penalised for this given his wealth of experience far beyond my own and my degree.
Thanks, Kirsty