Look on the bright side of things. The Calton is still ahead of of Liberia and Swaziland.

I guess the approach here in the US is the emphasis on productivity, or at least how it's percieved. Employers believe that you're more productive standing while doing certain jobs rather than sitting. I'm not arguing their case -- never worked at a checkout so I've no idea what it feels like to stand for 8 hrs on the job. Preganant or otherwise. Personally, if I felt I couldn't stand for 8 hrs on the job I wouldn't choose that line of work. It's as simple as that. I remember my bro buying special shoes when he worked at his first job at Micky D's that required standing, several years ago

It's the same with having less vacation time. Just two weeks paid leave and after that it's no pay leave. My thinking is that if more countries adopted this approach, Companies would find that they are becoming more productive over a period of time. Just my two cents

I have to respectfully disagree on the vacation point. I get bugger all vacation and have done so for the last 5 years in this job and I'm not very productive at all . . .

I am amazed how Bob's comment on chairs has turned into a group of women whinging and moaning about pregnancies.

Jeez anyone would think listening to them they were the first not the end of a long line which started out without pain killing drugs and other modern luxuries which make is so easy.

You see, this is where I think the US is short-sighted and has a short term focus. People who get little vacation are much more prone to burn out than those that get a more "reasonable' allowance, so I am very unconvinced that modestly longer vacation time reduces productivity in the long run.

Unbelievable isn't it. Women only have to suffer pregnancy for nine months, but us men have to suffer it for the rest of our lives, as they never stop going on about it.

Go on then, bitch and moan all you want Not that you need my permission, of course It's quite interesting reading how we are perceived by Expats living and working in the US. Especially so, now that our economy is not as strong as it was a few years ago. It's not just the Brits who are finding it hard to cope. Young College graduates like my brother are struggling to find suitable employment. These kids are burdened with student loans for many years to come. Poor things!

Besides which I'm sure you guys are pretty home sick being so far away from home. I just ran into a lady from Texas that did my mammogram this morning. She's moved here to be with her daughter and grandkids and she was pretty home sick too. It's a long way to Texas from where we are ....

You could have a point there I've seen it happen ...

Edit: Don't quote me ... but my personal feeling is that employers really don't care -- you get burned out and quit they can always find someone to replace you. It seems heartless but it works for them, so why would they care. There's the thinking in a nutsell!!

Odd...a few of us thought you were the one bitching (as you put it) and moaning.

Make WHAT so easy ?

You are on the wind-up right ?

Well let's just say discussion certainly changes perspective! It does for me anyway. I generally don't take a hardline on anything until I have heard the other point of view.

In this economy, I think people take whatever job they can get.

I have worked in a place that required standing all day long, I've got knackered ankles and can't do it, but I needed the money. I was lucky as it was a welding job, I was in a blacked out booth and when I knocked out a swinging chair for the booth with off cuts, they turned a blind eye because they really needed qualified welders....Standing, sitting, didn't effect my productivity, I still managed to clear a 3 month back log of parts sitting as when I was standing, but I was far more productive the next day not being doped out of my head on inflammatory drugs.

I think standing is a lot harder on the joints than walking. I used to stand, move around almost non-stop from 8:30 a.m. to about 7 p.m. every day as a PE teacher and hardly noticed it (in fact I'd go straight from 10 hrs of walking arond to 2 hrs of rugby training).

Now after standing for a 3-hour lecture every joint in my body is killing me - mind you, just been told last week by an ortho that I need a knee replacement so that may have something to do with it.

TBH, I can't say I have even noticed whether the checkout workers at Asda, Tesco's, etc., are sitting or standing.

Besides which, if you had quit he'd have someone lined up to take your place the next day. So basically he doesn't care as long as you produce. That's the bottom line ...
I've watched my bro work at shit jobs while he was in College, get burned out and quit Why would the employer even care ?

I think it's obvious that employers that treat their staff well, have higher productivity and company loyalty. It's not very productive if you keep having to train different people in the same job over and over again is it? Not to mention the cost of advertising positions, interviewing etc etc.