civilservant

It's a simple legacy of a non-unionised work force. No collective bargaining means the emplyer can offer what they want - because there is always someone else who will take the job.

old.sparkles

I worked for an American co in the UK - they had lots of rules about time off and hours worked - is that just because it's in the UK then?

Welshgator

My wife is a teacher. She is off for the summer months but does not get paid during that time. There is an option to take less pay over the working months and spread the remainder over the summer. Even after twenty years, I consider her wages and benefits are very low. Personally, I wouldn't get out of bed to go and do what she has to put up with especially for her wages.

civilservant

Correct - UK employment legislation is significantly stiffer than anything in the US.

old.sparkles

And here too - finally got a job offer but it includes working weekends so rather than 4 weeks holidays a year, you get 5. Would not have realised that the US was so different.

Nutek

Congrats!

old.sparkles

Thanks Nutek

Lbjen

If you get transferred by your employer (by far the easiest way to get here) you can negotiate keeping your prior vacation allowance.

Be wary of paying anyone who says they can help you get a visa, even if they did say its not guaranteed.

Nutek

What they got you doin?

old.sparkles

I'm a maintenance electrician - job is in a factory making chicken nuggets and burgers - gonna be fun for a vegetarian

Nutek

Should be ok, not like there is any actual meat in 'em.

Duncan Roberts

A friend of mine got 3 days when he first started at his job. He was happy when it went to 5. I get 120 hours of time off per year, sick or vacation. I can take unpaid time off but the company has no legal obligation to hold my job for me if I do and don't file for medial leave protection. There is also no legal maternity leave. Its up to the company if they provide any paid maternity leave, most don't so you use your holiday and short term disability insurance to maybe get 10-12 weeks at close to your normal pay. If you are looming for a place to live where you will have lots of time off, forget about the US. However it doesn't sound like you have much of a chance to get a visa so it probably doesn't really matter.

Pulaski

Agreed, it is, but the minimum vacation time in the UK was only recently set (upped?) to 15 days, so I am fairly certain it has more to do with "being competitive in the market", in other words, if you want to attract and retain employees you need to pay a similar wage/salary and offer similar benefits.

FWIW After recently reaching a ten year anniversary with my current employer I got an additional 5 days, on top of what would already be considered generous in the US, so I now get more leave days than I did when I worked in the UK. I also get eight of the public holidays on top of that.* ..... And that reminds me, ... I think that is one of the reasons given for many employers being stingy with vacation time- that they add bank holidays, or at least some of them, to come to the annual leave figure they do.

*Almost everyone I work with, and know of with my current employer uses ALL their days, and managers start reminding people as the end of the year approaches to be sure to use all their leave. I only know person who one year did not take all his leave.

Rete

That is because your wife has opted to get her paycheck on a ten month basis rather than on a 12 month basis.

Have many friends who are working teachers, teacher's assistants and a hubby that worked for a school district in Westchester County, New York.

old.sparkles

The minimum leave for full time employees in the UK is 28 days, but that does include bank holidays. https://www.gov.uk/holiday-entitleme...ts/entitlement

The last place I worked was 24 days, plus 1 company holiday, plus 8 public holidays, plus 2 extra days every 5 years service. You could sell some back, but had to take at least 20 days hols a year.