Doesn't it make you want to go home?
Oct 1st 2007, 1:15 pm
#31
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 8,497
Re: Doesn't it make you want to go home?
Oh why didn't I marry a Brit? 
I probably shouldn't complain though. I get 3 weeks and our company provides an option allowing everyone with over 2 weeks to either "buy" or "sell" a week of vacation. Meaning - I take 4 weeks a year but one is actually unpaid but the cost of it is spread out throughout the year. If you didn't want all your vacation (crazy peeps) you could "sell" up to a week of vacation and receive the extra income for it. It's also easy for us to work at home.
But I still want more vacation time - with family all over the country - that would be SO nice.
Oct 1st 2007, 1:23 pm
#32
Not dead yet
Joined: Apr 2004
Location: In a world of my own where I know everyone
Posts: 15,042
Re: Doesn't it make you want to go home?
I'm so jealous - where do I sign up? Oh why didn't I marry a Brit?
I probably shouldn't complain though. I get 3 weeks and our company provides an option allowing everyone with over 2 weeks to either "buy" or "sell" a week of vacation. Meaning - I take 4 weeks a year but one is actually unpaid but the cost of it is spread out throughout the year. If you didn't want all your vacation (crazy peeps) you could "sell" up to a week of vacation and receive the extra income for it. It's also easy for us to work at home.
But I still want more vacation time - with family all over the country - that would be SO nice.
Oh why didn't I marry a Brit? I probably shouldn't complain though. I get 3 weeks and our company provides an option allowing everyone with over 2 weeks to either "buy" or "sell" a week of vacation. Meaning - I take 4 weeks a year but one is actually unpaid but the cost of it is spread out throughout the year. If you didn't want all your vacation (crazy peeps) you could "sell" up to a week of vacation and receive the extra income for it. It's also easy for us to work at home.
But I still want more vacation time - with family all over the country - that would be SO nice.
Oct 1st 2007, 1:34 pm
#34
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 8,497
Re: Doesn't it make you want to go home?
I've been talking to people here about it today and the first thing they all say is "I bet that affects productivity". I believe that productivity is probably higher (or at least just as high) because you're less likely to get burnt out, and I don't honestly believe an extra 10 days out of 1 year can make that much of a difference.
Now where do I sign up?
Oct 1st 2007, 2:25 pm
#35
Not living a 9 to 5 life
Joined: Jun 2002
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 11,061
Re: Doesn't it make you want to go home?
Oct 1st 2007, 6:53 pm
#36
Time Lord
Joined: Sep 2003
Location: Lansing, MI
Posts: 1,032
Re: Doesn't it make you want to go home?
So, anyone else think there's some truth in the old saying that, "The British work to live, and the Americans live to work"?
Oct 1st 2007, 8:15 pm
#37
Illinois Rapscallion
Joined: Dec 2004
Location: In a one bar town
Posts: 1,728
Re: Doesn't it make you want to go home?
Oct 2nd 2007, 12:33 am
#38
Just Joined
Joined: Aug 2005
Location: Leeds
Posts: 24
Re: Doesn't it make you want to go home?
You should be aware that this is not "extra" holiday time as such...
It is to make sure that everyone is on a level playing field as far as holidays are concerned.
In the UK you have a minimum paid holiday entitlement of 20 days plus you are entitled to 8 statutory bank holidays (Christmas Day, New Years day etc), but these bank holidays, whilst you have entitlement not to work those days, your employer is NOT required by law to pay you for this time off, and many small companies do just that. This is patently unfair as you can hardly say, “I’m sorry I cannot afford a day off, so please arrange to open the store/factory/office on Christmas Day and I will work” – so the government are introducing these holiday increases so that eventually there will be 28 day PAID holiday per year, but this will include the bank holidays – if your company already pays you for the bank holidays then great, but you won’t get any extra – what you have been getting already has been at the courtesy of your employer.
For most people this law change will make no difference, but in many small companies (including where my wife used to work) this will make a great deal of difference to the employees.
I hope all this makes sense
Steve
It is to make sure that everyone is on a level playing field as far as holidays are concerned.
In the UK you have a minimum paid holiday entitlement of 20 days plus you are entitled to 8 statutory bank holidays (Christmas Day, New Years day etc), but these bank holidays, whilst you have entitlement not to work those days, your employer is NOT required by law to pay you for this time off, and many small companies do just that. This is patently unfair as you can hardly say, “I’m sorry I cannot afford a day off, so please arrange to open the store/factory/office on Christmas Day and I will work” – so the government are introducing these holiday increases so that eventually there will be 28 day PAID holiday per year, but this will include the bank holidays – if your company already pays you for the bank holidays then great, but you won’t get any extra – what you have been getting already has been at the courtesy of your employer.
For most people this law change will make no difference, but in many small companies (including where my wife used to work) this will make a great deal of difference to the employees.
I hope all this makes sense
Steve
Oct 2nd 2007, 12:48 am
#39
Not here much
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: Highland Park, NJ
Posts: 2,452
Re: Doesn't it make you want to go home?
You should be aware that this is not "extra" holiday time as such...
It is to make sure that everyone is on a level playing field as far as holidays are concerned.
In the UK you have a minimum paid holiday entitlement of 20 days plus you are entitled to 8 statutory bank holidays (Christmas Day, New Years day etc), but these bank holidays, whilst you have entitlement not to work those days, your employer is NOT required by law to pay you for this time off, and many small companies do just that. This is patently unfair as you can hardly say, “I’m sorry I cannot afford a day off, so please arrange to open the store/factory/office on Christmas Day and I will work” – so the government are introducing these holiday increases so that eventually there will be 28 day PAID holiday per year, but this will include the bank holidays – if your company already pays you for the bank holidays then great, but you won’t get any extra – what you have been getting already has been at the courtesy of your employer.
For most people this law change will make no difference, but in many small companies (including where my wife used to work) this will make a great deal of difference to the employees.
I hope all this makes sense
Steve
It is to make sure that everyone is on a level playing field as far as holidays are concerned.
In the UK you have a minimum paid holiday entitlement of 20 days plus you are entitled to 8 statutory bank holidays (Christmas Day, New Years day etc), but these bank holidays, whilst you have entitlement not to work those days, your employer is NOT required by law to pay you for this time off, and many small companies do just that. This is patently unfair as you can hardly say, “I’m sorry I cannot afford a day off, so please arrange to open the store/factory/office on Christmas Day and I will work” – so the government are introducing these holiday increases so that eventually there will be 28 day PAID holiday per year, but this will include the bank holidays – if your company already pays you for the bank holidays then great, but you won’t get any extra – what you have been getting already has been at the courtesy of your employer.
For most people this law change will make no difference, but in many small companies (including where my wife used to work) this will make a great deal of difference to the employees.
I hope all this makes sense
Steve
Oct 2nd 2007, 1:02 am
#40
Militant Ginger
Joined: Feb 2007
Location: Wrong Side of the Hudson River
Posts: 2,311
Oct 2nd 2007, 1:15 am
#41
Not here much
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: Highland Park, NJ
Posts: 2,452
Re: Doesn't it make you want to go home?
Serves me right for not looking it up before posting, but having said that even looking around the BBC website for the last two days this article is hardly any clearer: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7021247.stm
Oct 2nd 2007, 1:23 am
#42
Just Joined
Joined: Aug 2005
Location: Leeds
Posts: 24
Re: Doesn't it make you want to go home?
Serves me right for not looking it up before posting, but having said that even looking around the BBC website for the last two days this article is hardly any clearer: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7021247.stm
Yes, they are doing something which is good and the right thing to do - but don't for Christ's sake let them spin it into something it isn't Grrrrr
Steve
Oct 2nd 2007, 1:35 am
#43
Not here much
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: Highland Park, NJ
Posts: 2,452
Re: Doesn't it make you want to go home?
Yeah but that's a politician making a statement - notice how easily it makes him look as though the government are giving more time at home for everyone?
Yes, they are doing something which is good and the right thing to do - but don't for Christ's sake let them spin it into something it isn't Grrrrr
Steve
Yes, they are doing something which is good and the right thing to do - but don't for Christ's sake let them spin it into something it isn't Grrrrr
Steve
Oct 2nd 2007, 1:53 am
#44
Just Joined
Joined: Aug 2005
Location: Leeds
Posts: 24
Re: Doesn't it make you want to go home?
Some of the people in my office were actually scanning online holiday sites to see where to go with their "extra" days.
Many people are going to find out the hard way about this
Steve
Oct 2nd 2007, 2:50 am
#45
Unmitigated Gall
Joined: Dec 2006
Location: it's still too dark to tell
Posts: 16,162
Re: Doesn't it make you want to go home?
I get 4 weeks vacation in addition to regular holidays like Columbus day, MLK day, Presidents day etc... And a "Diversity day" during which I am supposed to "celebrate diversity". If I stay at this job another 5ys I'll get my 5th week, dunno if I'll make it though.
