Education, Debt and Work Benefits in America
Oct 10th 2011, 5:53 am
#16
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jun 2005
Location: Oz -> UK -> San Diego
Posts: 9,912
Re: Education, Debt and Work Benefits in America
"Sick days" is a safety net, not an entitlement to ensure it is used up every year.
Oct 10th 2011, 5:56 pm
#17
Ping-ponger
Joined: Jul 2002
Location: Dreich Alba
Posts: 12,010
Re: Education, Debt and Work Benefits in America
I have never understood people that get given vacation and are scared to use it?
I had 8 sick days when I was in San Francisco per year. So I used them. My boss got annoyed about me using them.
I told him that if you don't want me taking off days sick....then don't give me paid sick days to use. Same goes or vacation allowance. It's just stupid.
It's like buying a car for my wife and then getting annoyed every time she drives it. It's total BS.
I loved standing up to my boss and pointing out the obvious, of which he cannot argue against.
I had 8 sick days when I was in San Francisco per year. So I used them. My boss got annoyed about me using them.
I told him that if you don't want me taking off days sick....then don't give me paid sick days to use. Same goes or vacation allowance. It's just stupid.
It's like buying a car for my wife and then getting annoyed every time she drives it. It's total BS.
I loved standing up to my boss and pointing out the obvious, of which he cannot argue against.
Oct 10th 2011, 6:45 pm
#18
Ping-ponger
Joined: Jul 2002
Location: Dreich Alba
Posts: 12,010
Re: Education, Debt and Work Benefits in America
Well, I have been tryi ng for a while, with varying success, but in the meantime making the most of things here. Nowhere is perfect, including the US.
There'll eventually come a time when, if I haven't found a suitable position in the US, I'll probably look for a permanent move down to England.
There'll eventually come a time when, if I haven't found a suitable position in the US, I'll probably look for a permanent move down to England.
Oct 10th 2011, 9:22 pm
#19
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Joined: Feb 2011
Location: Salt Spring Island, BC, Canada
Posts: 2,060
Re: Education, Debt and Work Benefits in America
Well, I have been tryi ng for a while, with varying success, but in the meantime making the most of things here. Nowhere is perfect, including the US.
There'll eventually come a time when, if I haven't found a suitable position in the US, I'll probably look for a permanent move down to England.
There'll eventually come a time when, if I haven't found a suitable position in the US, I'll probably look for a permanent move down to England.
Oct 10th 2011, 9:46 pm
#20
Ping-ponger
Joined: Jul 2002
Location: Dreich Alba
Posts: 12,010
Re: Education, Debt and Work Benefits in America
(The thought had crossed my mind - seen it so many times, and we never, never know what it will be like until we are living it). I'll be very careful before I move again, I tell you.
I'm also being more picky (select few universities in the southeast) - when there's so much on the line, there's no point compromising or taking too much of a chance. If I end up stuck here, I'll try to work in some scholar visits and other ways to get my US "fix"
Oct 11th 2011, 12:26 am
#21
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2010
Location: North East Ohio, USA
Posts: 1,933
Re: Education, Debt and Work Benefits in America
Or I could join the ranks of the ping-pongers crying to come back.
(The thought had crossed my mind - seen it so many times, and we never, never know what it will be like until we are living it). I'll be very careful before I move again, I tell you.
I'm also being more picky (select few universities in the southeast) - when there's so much on the line, there's no point compromising or taking too much of a chance. If I end up stuck here, I'll try to work in some scholar visits and other ways to get my US "fix"
(The thought had crossed my mind - seen it so many times, and we never, never know what it will be like until we are living it). I'll be very careful before I move again, I tell you.
I'm also being more picky (select few universities in the southeast) - when there's so much on the line, there's no point compromising or taking too much of a chance. If I end up stuck here, I'll try to work in some scholar visits and other ways to get my US "fix"
Oct 11th 2011, 2:18 am
#22
BE Site Lead
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,170
Re: Education, Debt and Work Benefits in America
Yes, but people get sick with a cold or the flu all the time and are still expected to work through it, even if they have sick days...all very annoying as everyone then gets sick.
Oct 12th 2011, 5:38 pm
#23
Ping-ponger
Joined: Jul 2002
Location: Dreich Alba
Posts: 12,010
Re: Education, Debt and Work Benefits in America
It's a comfort zone thing, really. I know the region well, and it's pretty huge (so not as if I'm restricting myself to one city), plus I really enjoy the culture, climate, and way of life in the Southeast, plus it's more accessible to UK flights than the midwest and west. From a professional perspective also, I am pretty well known in that region and know most of the major professional players in the Southeast (so attending regional conferences is a bit like an annual reunion, whereas in other regions I would have less of an established professional "family").
I think that about sums it up.
Oct 12th 2011, 9:37 pm
#24
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2010
Location: North East Ohio, USA
Posts: 1,933
Re: Education, Debt and Work Benefits in America
Sorry, I missed your question and just came across it.
It's a comfort zone thing, really. I know the region well, and it's pretty huge (so not as if I'm restricting myself to one city), plus I really enjoy the culture, climate, and way of life in the Southeast, plus it's more accessible to UK flights than the midwest and west. From a professional perspective also, I am pretty well known in that region and know most of the major professional players in the Southeast (so attending regional conferences is a bit like an annual reunion, whereas in other regions I would have less of an established professional "family").
I think that about sums it up.
It's a comfort zone thing, really. I know the region well, and it's pretty huge (so not as if I'm restricting myself to one city), plus I really enjoy the culture, climate, and way of life in the Southeast, plus it's more accessible to UK flights than the midwest and west. From a professional perspective also, I am pretty well known in that region and know most of the major professional players in the Southeast (so attending regional conferences is a bit like an annual reunion, whereas in other regions I would have less of an established professional "family").
I think that about sums it up.
Oct 12th 2011, 9:48 pm
#25
Ping-ponger
Joined: Jul 2002
Location: Dreich Alba
Posts: 12,010
Re: Education, Debt and Work Benefits in America
Oh yes, and the weather!
Employment seems to be drying up a little (I'm surprised it's taken this long) - much more job ads are for entry-level, and it's simply not worth it or feasible for me to take that big a salary hit. In the right place and position, I'd take a reasonable drop in return for the quality of life and professional satisfaction, but I'm becoming more sanguine about the whole thing - if it doesn't work out, que sera. Maybe I can work out an exchange or two before I retire...
Employment seems to be drying up a little (I'm surprised it's taken this long) - much more job ads are for entry-level, and it's simply not worth it or feasible for me to take that big a salary hit. In the right place and position, I'd take a reasonable drop in return for the quality of life and professional satisfaction, but I'm becoming more sanguine about the whole thing - if it doesn't work out, que sera. Maybe I can work out an exchange or two before I retire...
