TruBrit

yes i know...i'd not be having any if i lived here and had to resort to childcare at that age for my baby, i don't think it's fair on the little one. but yes they survive ok it's just me, i don't think it's much of a start in life.

Bob

yup...not much fun....child care ain't cheap either around here...almost cheaper not to work and there won't be much left over after which is a chore.

katesbackagain

Just one of the many reasons why I'm planning to go back early next year. I'm working class, but under no circumstances will I remain a workaholic and be okay with it.

katesbackagain

I know what you mean about them frowning on taking time off in the US. I worked for a company that offered 10 sick days per year. That's awesome. I booked a week off sick as I was having surgery and knew I'd need at least that amount of time to recover. Then, later in the year, I got sick with a very bad cold (almost unheard of since I've been in the States) and had another 4 days off sick. I was called into the office when I returned and got a bollocking for having so much time off. They didn't say it, as it'd be illegal, but I got the impression I would be fired if I took any more time off. Well, excuse me all over the place for feeling like shite on your precious clock. It's not like I was out shopping or at the pub.

People who are well rested definitely perform much better. The last year or so, I feel tired every day and really don't want to get up in the morning, and my lifestyle hasn't changed otherwise, so I know it isn't that.

Titchski

I got the exactly the same "talking to" at my last job. I tried to explain that they REALLY didn't want me touching keyboards, mice, monitors etc with my cold/flue germ filled hands. They took no notice and gave me a formal warning for too many "unscheduled absences" so for the next three years whenedver I was sick, I made sure I hacked, coughed, sneezed and spluttered as much as possible around the HR departments computers. Not the most mature thing to do, but screw 'em

Dan725

The HR department definately deserve it, being that they are generally the spawn of Satan in this country.

katesbackagain

Good one!

The place I work now is a little more lenient. They would even let people bring kids in during the time they were off school. Well, up until one kid was sick, and puked all over the office. Turns out he had meningitis. Never seen so many disinfectant wipes in one place at one time after that. Thankfully, he recovered, but still. Don't think most workplaces here give a shit how sick their employees are, as long as you still have a pulse and can do "something", you're golden.

cindyabs

On the contrary, my job is insisting I stay home since I have had the mother of all colds for almost a week. Guess they don't want Typhoid Mary around.

Redlippie

Aw cindy. Hugs and hope you're up and at 'em soon

Big D

HR being abosolute shite and a waste of everyone's time is a disease the world over and nothing country specific.

In my humble opinion!

snowbunny

All three of us work (me, my husband, and my kids' dad). It SUCKS. I have no paid vacation as a contractor (and I do not get paid substantially more than an employee), Toon has no vacation yet (not any til after one year) but my ex has four weeks cos he works at a good company.

Toon and I are about to drop from exhaustion.

Dan725

Yep, you'd be right. But even worse here than anywhere else!

surly

Is anyone else here self employed, because as a self employed person, customers don't pay for your days off.
How about you take your car for service and the mechanic asks you to pay for the days he was off sick and unable to work on your car. Would you be OK with that.

lanky spoken here

if anyone needs help making babies, lol, but seriously, the self-employed and mums with young kids have a raw deal.

Why can't there be proper healthcare and maternity benefits?

Tootsie Frickensprinkles

Not sure about the good ole US of A but in the UK you do pay for their days off .. you pay in there hourly rate. I would pressume that the calculation of day rates in the US is the same ... but, you never know.