America

[Captain Jack]

What the hell is going on over there? Their government is shutting down because no-one wants to spend money on public health care? Honestly, as much as we moan about the UK, we have it pretty rosy here. And their debt is over $16 TRILLION! And they're risking hitting their "debt ceiling" again unless they raise it...again. Or they risk default, killing the world. Are they not repaying anything to anyone...ever?

I really do wish the world wasn't as dependent as it is on America as every single mistake they make (and they make a lot of them) is reflected elsewhere. Just think the 2008 financial crisis...

[steve_earwig]

It's not that they don't want to spend the money (well, they don't but...) it's because the rich and greedy make far too much money keeping it private. That's why the tories are crippling the NHS, so when it falls over they can say "look, it didn't work", privatise it and they and their mates can become amazingly rich too.

It appears that every country in the world (apart from China) owes masses to every other country in the world (especially China) but nobody seems interested in balancing it all out.

[Doggy]

It's because the Americans haven't got any Peugeots,

......or marbles, come to think of it.

[robb]

My sister in law starts her indefinite unpaid leave today needless to say she,s pissed off

[Welly]

I know a Family in America and their kids have had huge trouble finding work since leaving Uni; one of them qualified as a Lawyer and still no joy, the older Daughter is 28 and has only just secured her first job after doing years of unpaid Internships and struggling.

I didn't realise how tight the employers are with Annual Leave either - only the *best* jobs get 3 weeks a year, most get just 2 weeks and more commonly now are contracts with NO HOLIDAY after that most people have to sign contracts that cover their employers arse at all cost.

So it's pretty grim over there but as Cap'n says; make waves over there and we'll feel the ripples here sooner or later.

[Captain Jack]

Sadly, I work for US company and report to a guy in US. Oddly, he gets around 6 weeks holidays (including public ones) - though he doesn't usually take it all.

I get 26 days plus public days off and I have to beg if I want a standard 2 weeks off. 1 week is normal over there - anything beyond that is

[highlander]

I didn't realise how tight the employers are with Annual Leave either

They can also fire you at the drop of a hat.

When I worked at my last job (infamous Texas-based oil services country with a period of above-average political influence at the White House), I heard about 40 IT guys that were made redundant. The first they knew about it, there was a security guard at their desk with a box. That's it, you're out. Don't let the door hit you on the ass on the way out.

Thankfully, UK employees of US companies are subject to UK employment law, not US employment law. This severely limits how much of a dick they can be to you (but sadly doesn't eliminate the dick factor entirely).

[Captain Jack]

Exactly, highlander. A guy I worked with in US has been made redundant last week after having worked there for 10 years. He was escorted off the premises on the day he was he was being made redundant! Absolutely zero compassion... and treat you like crap.

And yes, I am, thankfully, protected by the UK employment law.

[trufflehunt]

Exactly, highlander. A guy I worked with in US has been made redundant last week after having worked there for 10 years. He was escorted off the premises on the day he was he was being made redundant! Absolutely zero compassion... and treat you like crap.

And yes, I am, thankfully, protected by the UK employment law.

If the current Government here in the UK had their way, there would be no employment law.