1st US Job blues
May 25th 2006, 6:05 pm
#61
Account Closed
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 8,266
Re: 1st US Job blues
Originally Posted by Englishmum
I've just resigned from my first ever job in the US this morning.
....and it's such a relief!
....and it's such a relief!
May 25th 2006, 6:06 pm
#62
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,848
Re: 1st US Job blues
Originally Posted by ladygwennie
Yo go girlie, life is too short, to be stuck in something you really don't enjoy!!!
The sad thing is.....I think I really would have enjoyed the job and would have been good at it.
The reality of it though is that when I came off the training course the terms and conditions were very different to what I was led to believe at the job interview.
What really sucks is that it is a famous British company and the Ts & Cs are far worse for the US based staff compared to those in the UK for doing the very same job.
I lasted just three days and threw in the towel.
May 25th 2006, 6:25 pm
#63
Country Member
Joined: May 2003
Location: Moved from Georgetown to Round Rock, Texas. 15 miles closer to civilization.
Posts: 936
Re: 1st US Job blues
Originally Posted by Englishmum
What really sucks is that it is a famous British company and the Ts & Cs are far worse for the US based staff compared to those in the UK for doing the very same job.
I lasted just three days and threw in the towel.
I lasted just three days and threw in the towel.
May 25th 2006, 7:24 pm
#64
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 88,022
Re: 1st US Job blues
Originally Posted by Englishmum
The sad thing is.....I think I really would have enjoyed the job and would have been good at it.
The reality of it though is that when I came off the training course the terms and conditions were very different to what I was led to believe at the job interview.
What really sucks is that it is a famous British company and the Ts & Cs are far worse for the US based staff compared to those in the UK for doing the very same job.
I lasted just three days and threw in the towel.
The reality of it though is that when I came off the training course the terms and conditions were very different to what I was led to believe at the job interview.
What really sucks is that it is a famous British company and the Ts & Cs are far worse for the US based staff compared to those in the UK for doing the very same job.
I lasted just three days and threw in the towel.
May 25th 2006, 7:35 pm
#65
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,848
Re: 1st US Job blues
...."The World's Favourite Airline"..... 
Wish I could work for them in the UK.....only joined to get the travel concessions but you don't get any time off over here to even go anywhere!
I found out at the training school at JFK (from a union rep) that in your first year you don't get the same leave allowance that they tell you at the interview - which is only two weeks (ten days) a year in any case for your first few years of employment.
The rep informed me that all the new staff would have get 1/2 a days leave for each month (the month in which you start doesn't count) so between 1 June and 31 Dec I would have got just 3 days annual leave for this year. It sucks.
You are also told how *bad* it is to go sick....even the union rep says he has amassed 300 sick days (which roll over) in 30 years FFS. He then proceeded to tell me how 'lazy' BA staff are in the UK as they have an 'appalling' sick record. Prat.
Staff doing the very same job in the UK start off with 5 weeks annual leave.
Don't get me started on how they allocated my regular shift just as I was leaving on Tuesday evening.....mulled over it yesterday but v. unhappy so I packed it in. One thing they do offer is free health care for employees (so quite a lot of single people and a few single parents working there) but I'm covered with my husband's job so don't have to rely on it. Morale is bad there though amongst the staff right now.
Wish I could work for them in the UK.....only joined to get the travel concessions but you don't get any time off over here to even go anywhere!
I found out at the training school at JFK (from a union rep) that in your first year you don't get the same leave allowance that they tell you at the interview - which is only two weeks (ten days) a year in any case for your first few years of employment.
The rep informed me that all the new staff would have get 1/2 a days leave for each month (the month in which you start doesn't count) so between 1 June and 31 Dec I would have got just 3 days annual leave for this year. It sucks.
You are also told how *bad* it is to go sick....even the union rep says he has amassed 300 sick days (which roll over) in 30 years FFS. He then proceeded to tell me how 'lazy' BA staff are in the UK as they have an 'appalling' sick record. Prat.
Staff doing the very same job in the UK start off with 5 weeks annual leave.
Don't get me started on how they allocated my regular shift just as I was leaving on Tuesday evening.....mulled over it yesterday but v. unhappy so I packed it in. One thing they do offer is free health care for employees (so quite a lot of single people and a few single parents working there) but I'm covered with my husband's job so don't have to rely on it. Morale is bad there though amongst the staff right now.
May 25th 2006, 7:40 pm
#66
Renegade who has it made
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Indiana
Posts: 1,077
Re: 1st US Job blues
Originally Posted by Englishmum
...."The World's Favourite Airline".....
Wish I could work for them in the UK.....only joined to get the travel concessions but you don't get any time off over here to even go anywhere!
I found out at the training school at JFK (from a union rep) that in your first year you don't get the same leave allowance that they tell you at the interview - which is only two weeks (ten days) a year in any case for your first few years of employment.
The rep informed me that all the new staff would have get 1/2 a days leave for each month (the month in which you start doesn't count) so between 1 June and 31 Dec I would have got just 3 days annual leave for this year. It sucks.
You are also told how *bad* it is to go sick....even the union rep says he has amassed 300 sick days (which roll over) in 30 years FFS. He then proceeded to tell me how 'lazy' BA staff are in the UK as they have an 'appalling' sick record. Prat.
Staff doing the very same job in the UK start off with 5 weeks annual leave.
Don't get me started on how they allocated my regular shift just as I was leaving on Tuesday evening.....mulled over it yesterday but v. unhappy so I packed it in. One thing they do offer is free health care for employees (so quite a lot of single people and a few single parents working there) but I'm covered with my husband's job so don't have to rely on it. Morale is bad there though amongst the staff right now.
Wish I could work for them in the UK.....only joined to get the travel concessions but you don't get any time off over here to even go anywhere!
I found out at the training school at JFK (from a union rep) that in your first year you don't get the same leave allowance that they tell you at the interview - which is only two weeks (ten days) a year in any case for your first few years of employment.
The rep informed me that all the new staff would have get 1/2 a days leave for each month (the month in which you start doesn't count) so between 1 June and 31 Dec I would have got just 3 days annual leave for this year. It sucks.
You are also told how *bad* it is to go sick....even the union rep says he has amassed 300 sick days (which roll over) in 30 years FFS. He then proceeded to tell me how 'lazy' BA staff are in the UK as they have an 'appalling' sick record. Prat.
Staff doing the very same job in the UK start off with 5 weeks annual leave.
Don't get me started on how they allocated my regular shift just as I was leaving on Tuesday evening.....mulled over it yesterday but v. unhappy so I packed it in. One thing they do offer is free health care for employees (so quite a lot of single people and a few single parents working there) but I'm covered with my husband's job so don't have to rely on it. Morale is bad there though amongst the staff right now.
The whole vacation issue over here is awful, I can't stand it. Hubby has to "earn" his vacation
But apparently thats fairly normal, dont think i will ever quite get used to it.
May 25th 2006, 8:11 pm
#67
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 875
Re: 1st US Job blues
Good on you for having the courage to stand up and say it wasn't for you. Have to say seems like a lot of us have packed it in lately.
May 25th 2006, 9:41 pm
#68
BE Site Lead
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,170
Re: 1st US Job blues
Originally Posted by Englishmum
I've just resigned from my first ever job in the US this morning.
....and it's such a relief!
....and it's such a relief!
May 26th 2006, 4:28 am
#69
Back where I belong!
Joined: Aug 2005
Location: Melbourne, Oz to Banbury, England to El Mirage, AZ & now back to England!
Posts: 5,989
Re: 1st US Job blues
Originally Posted by Jerseygirl
I could never work in the US. I think the way most employers treat their employees is disgracefull. I would last about 30 secs before I told them where to stick their job.
May 26th 2006, 5:29 am
#70
Powder Maggot
Joined: Nov 2004
Location: Nuevo Mexico
Posts: 4,452
Re: 1st US Job blues
Originally Posted by Englishmum
...."The World's Favourite Airline".....
[/drift]
May 26th 2006, 3:45 pm
#71
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 875
Re: 1st US Job blues
Actually I have to say that not all employers out there are bad. I was fortunate enough to encounter a decent company yesterday at an interview. They only have 180 employees in total over 4 locations, but their benefits package was so generous by US standards it is embarassing to hear what some of the big boys offer.
If I get the job, not only is the salary great, but they pay car allowance, gas, cell phone, dental, life & disability insurance, 2/3 of medical, anything worked over 40 hours can be taken as time off or they will pay you out once a month. 7 public holidays, 12 days sick leave, 4% match on 401k, only 2 weeks vacation for the first 5 years, but with the comp time it would be easy to get that to 4 weeks. Comp time is so unusual because of the salary level being offered.
So there are good employers out there, just have to be lucky enough to find them.
The encounter has given me some hope that a decent job does exist out there for me. I am going to try looking for employers that have been voted as being a "Best Employer in whatever category" and see if I can get lucky.
If I get the job, not only is the salary great, but they pay car allowance, gas, cell phone, dental, life & disability insurance, 2/3 of medical, anything worked over 40 hours can be taken as time off or they will pay you out once a month. 7 public holidays, 12 days sick leave, 4% match on 401k, only 2 weeks vacation for the first 5 years, but with the comp time it would be easy to get that to 4 weeks. Comp time is so unusual because of the salary level being offered.
So there are good employers out there, just have to be lucky enough to find them.
The encounter has given me some hope that a decent job does exist out there for me. I am going to try looking for employers that have been voted as being a "Best Employer in whatever category" and see if I can get lucky.
May 26th 2006, 4:00 pm
#72
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 88,022
Re: 1st US Job blues
Originally Posted by Vicky88
Actually I have to say that not all employers out there are bad. I was fortunate enough to encounter a decent company yesterday at an interview. They only have 180 employees in total over 4 locations, but their benefits package was so generous by US standards it is embarassing to hear what some of the big boys offer.
If I get the job, not only is the salary great, but they pay car allowance, gas, cell phone, dental, life & disability insurance, 2/3 of medical, anything worked over 40 hours can be taken as time off or they will pay you out once a month. 7 public holidays, 12 days sick leave, 4% match on 401k, only 2 weeks vacation for the first 5 years, but with the comp time it would be easy to get that to 4 weeks. Comp time is so unusual because of the salary level being offered.
So there are good employers out there, just have to be lucky enough to find them.
The encounter has given me some hope that a decent job does exist out there for me. I am going to try looking for employers that have been voted as being a "Best Employer in whatever category" and see if I can get lucky.
If I get the job, not only is the salary great, but they pay car allowance, gas, cell phone, dental, life & disability insurance, 2/3 of medical, anything worked over 40 hours can be taken as time off or they will pay you out once a month. 7 public holidays, 12 days sick leave, 4% match on 401k, only 2 weeks vacation for the first 5 years, but with the comp time it would be easy to get that to 4 weeks. Comp time is so unusual because of the salary level being offered.
So there are good employers out there, just have to be lucky enough to find them.
The encounter has given me some hope that a decent job does exist out there for me. I am going to try looking for employers that have been voted as being a "Best Employer in whatever category" and see if I can get lucky.
Mmm.....I rather think that's what Englishmum thought too after her interview.
Obviously there are some good jobs and employers out there, but there seems to be a lot that treat their employees like crap.
May 26th 2006, 6:01 pm
#73
Back where I belong!
Joined: Aug 2005
Location: Melbourne, Oz to Banbury, England to El Mirage, AZ & now back to England!
Posts: 5,989
Re: 1st US Job blues
Originally Posted by Jerseygirl
Mmm.....I rather think that's what Englishmum thought too after her interview.
Obviously there are some good jobs and employers out there, but there seems to be a lot that treat their employees like crap.
Obviously there are some good jobs and employers out there, but there seems to be a lot that treat their employees like crap.
May 26th 2006, 6:08 pm
#74
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 88,022
Re: 1st US Job blues
Originally Posted by Partystar
I think it all comes down to one simple thing here - it's because they can get away with it.
May 26th 2006, 6:47 pm
#75
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2005
Location: USA
Posts: 1,865
Re: 1st US Job blues
Just goes to show that it pays to ask questions when at interview and do a lot of research about jobs/vacancies.
Sometimes, things are not quite what they seem.
Sometimes, things are not quite what they seem.