hammersmith_cockney

I will be returning to UK in July 2007, and will not be getting my US citizenship. Why? you ask, well, its many little things, working conditions, vacation time is the biggest thing. Just one week off in nearly 2 years working, and having to work over Christmas, New Year and Easter is the last straw.

I admire my American colleagues who work very, very hard and little vacation time to show for all their endeavours. I'm now 43 and I have decided to turn back to UK after nearly 3 years in USA, I'm going to enjoy 6 weeks a year PAID vacation, and Bank Holidays and a guaranteed State Pension, and more importantly...Free National Healthcare.

America is a very beautiful country and the people I have nothing but praise and kindness for, The Americans, they are terrific people.

There is a culture shock, if you are thinking about emigrating to USA, please please do your homework first.

Cheers!

Tegwyn

I gather matrimonial bliss to USC has gone to pot as well then?!?!

hammersmith_cockney

LOL Tegwyn, my American wife is thinking of freelancing in Europe! She can make mega bucks over there.

ian-mstm

Wow... I didn't think this was possible. Imagine, instant CPR status when you got married!

Ian

ian-mstm

This isn't the diplomat thread, is it?

Ian

Rete

It would appear on the surface that you are without a higher education and/or special skill and therefore have to work a menial jobs.

Much depends on your career options, experience, place of residency, etc. I don't have problems with holidays, vacations, sick time, etc. and never have through my 40-1/2 years of working full time. I'm just a lowly legal secretary/para and even when I was just a plain old administrative assistant, I received a minimum of 10 days vacation, all holidays, 5 to 10 sick days. Today and for the last 18 years I have enjoyed 20 days vacation, 12 sick/personal days, all holidays. So that is equal to a bit more than a month off per year from the office.

But you are 100% correct, for too many people, Americans and non-Americans alike, in the US these perks are non-existent. One suggestion is go back to school, get a decent degree and upgrade yourself in the workforce. This holds for all who reside in the US and not just US Citizens.

Lycanthrop

Lends to an interesting situation.........decades ago the HS Diploma was the average qualification and over the passage of time the standard has raised to an Associates and now a Bachellors degree. I have seen in my field many are finding that in order to remain competitive in the workforce and ensure career growth (money) the Masters is gaining ground........see all those who chase the MBA at mid-career.

Point is.......depending on type of work and personal goals, you may find yourself having to chase the next level of education in order to stay in the field and/or get ahead. Unless you are well placed and have some insulation..........

TruBrit

all the best back in blighty, at least you have tried this side of the pond and realise that all is not what it seems.

ian-mstm

The owls are not what they seem!

Ian

jjmb

I have a degree and a masters but because I was unable to work for 5 yrs ( no work permit) it means those qualifications are cr** over here. Best I can hope for is $8 an hour in some shop. Thats a good salary in TX because the minimum wage is the fed limit of $5.15.

Big D

Not unheard of anymore - just depends on what you do - lots of shops and eateries are open all Easter weekend.

Sounds like you've had some bad experiences and its good advice to anyone thinking of coming out to do research - but many have great experiences too. There are crap jobs and crap conditions in the UK as well!

TruBrit

so true ian...they can appear as many things.

snowbunny

Yes, unless one has a degree and work experience that will allow them to find highly paid work in the US, they are almost always better off in Europe. We've found that one out the hard way; my husband is European and has the degrees but not the work experience.

The one thing I would add is that you're lucky to have a country to return to that will allow you the above. Most people here are Americans (no country to "return" to, this is it) or come from countries where people work even harder.

hcj1440

I see the OP's point. Not that I have any experience with the life of an hourly wage worker in the UK but apparently he does, and if he thinks it's better in the UK then I accept that as fair warning.

I also agree with the other posters that the "haves" in the US have a very different lifestyle than the "have nots". I for one have never had to work on a single holiday, unless I was crazy enough and young enough to want to brown-nose and work on a new business pitch or something. Even as a person just starting out with my first job fresh out of college I had a minimum of 2 weeks paid vacation plus personal days and sick leave and of course all the public holidays -- certainly not the one week of vacation in two whole years that the OP speaks of. But then again, not the same category of work.

I do have to say, from where I sit, that if we compare similar jobs it seems the ones in the UK are a bit more relaxed and have more perks. My (American) sister has worked in the UK since graduating from (American) university a few years ago. She has 5 weeks of vacation I think? I think I only had a maximum of 3 weeks of vacation when I had been working about as long as she had. Also she seems to have more reasonable work hours compared to an equivalent position in the US.

My husband (from Sweden) also had much more vacation when he was over there -- 5 or 6 weeks I think -- but he also said his line of work (biotech) was much more demanding over there, apparently customers actually expected their equipment to work LOL. I guess things work and trains run on time in Sweden and that is the expectation. Whereas, he says over here the customers are more relaxed and he likes that better. Also the pay is better here. But, I am a bit jealous of the 17 month paid maternity leave.

dukeynorton

What are you talking about? I was working Easter Sunday at ASDA years ago during my degree studies, whilst people probably like you were food shopping.