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VW deactivates employee email outside working hours

reuters.com

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Re: VW deactivates employee email outside working hours

#121

Post by rhizome »

billybob wrote: post #36
zbuc wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Let's start a union.

I can't see how unions are good for anybody. They certainly seem to have crippled GM for a long time. If the workers force the company into unreasonable levels of benefits, it falters and they eventually lose their jobs. I'm all for fair play and sensible regulations, but if the company can't forbid the workers from quitting, I don't see how it's fair that the workers can forbid the company from hiring someone else.…

So because GMs sucked, there is no such thing as success and they aren't "good for anybody." What was the GM CEO's salary doing during this crippling period?

Re: VW deactivates employee email outside working hours

#122

Post by smiler »

rossriley wrote: post #111
smiler wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You do know employer and employee both pay NI, so total NI is around 24%

The employer contribution is only around 1%.

Where on earth do you get this idea? Please see this link http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/paye/rates-thresholds.htm

It is 13.8% for employers!

Re: VW deactivates employee email outside working hours

#124

Post by isocpprar »

yummyfajitas wrote: post #99
GuiA wrote: post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you bring it down to numbers, the pay is definitely higher in the US. For instance, an average software engineer out of school can expect a starting salary between 25 and 35k euros on average in France. In SF, it's more $70-90k at the very least. But then you have to account for the higher cost of living, transportation (even if you don't drive, French employers pay for a part of your public transportation tickets…

You have it backwards - the cost of living is considerably higher in France than in the US. What costs $1 in the US costs $1.20 in France [1]. ...better public education... Um, no. Better students, but a considerably worse public education system. http://super-economy.blogspot.com/2010/12/amazing-truth-abou... The cheese, however, is considerably better in France, as are the women (fatties over here drag our average…

I don't think general PPP and GDP comparisons really make sense on the specific scale offered there. The cost of living in the Bay area and NYC are much much higher then the cost of living in say Alabama. I wouldn't be surprised if $2000 in rent went a lot farther in France (even Paris) then it does in say Manhattan or SF.

Re: VW deactivates employee email outside working hours

#125

Post by wooyi »

smiler wrote: post #98
wooyi wrote: post #21

Unions in developed countries with good labor laws don't make sense. They cater to the mediocre and the masses - and their policies go against the vien of competitiveness and innovation.

Are you saying the US has good labour laws? I think most would disagree with you

Yes. I have worked in Asia, South America. There, you can be openly discriminated or fired without severance. Good is compared to most of the world.

Re: VW deactivates employee email outside working hours

#126

Post by ams6110 »

duck wrote: post #105
cookiecaper wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you're a mom and pop or speciality shop you may close between 7 and 9 (usually closer to 9), but most of the regional or national "stores" close between 10pm and 12am. Grocery stores are even better, generally either closing at 12am or not closing at all. Wal-Mart, for instance, is mostly 24 hours, and Wal-Mart is very widespread.

It really depends where you live. In Maine, all grocery stores that I know of close no later than 9pm. I really think that is better too, especially since a lot of the employees are high school kids.

Minors are already governed by federal work hour limits.

Re: VW deactivates employee email outside working hours

#127

Post by rhizome »

ftwinnovations wrote: post #72
billybob wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can't see how unions are good for anybody. They certainly seem to have crippled GM for a long time. If the workers force the company into unreasonable levels of benefits, it falters and they eventually lose their jobs. I'm all for fair play and sensible regulations, but if the company can't forbid the workers from quitting, I don't see how it's fair that the workers can forbid the company from hiring someone else.…

I find it sad that this comment gets downvotes, and disappointed in the HNers who did so. This comment is not trolling or pointless, but rather is well spoken and makes an excellent counter to a pro-union argument. A comment should never be buried just because you disagree with someone's values.

Starting your "excellent counter" argument with the words, "I can't see how unions are good for anybody," is Newt Gingrich level debating. If not that, it at least portrays a lack of imagination.

Re: VW deactivates employee email outside working hours

#129

Post by mjwalshe »

smiler wrote: post #97
mjwalshe wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When you consider that in the UK NI is 11/12% and that covers the NHS and your state pension plus SERPS (second state pension) and unemployment benefits. I knew a guy who emigrated to the USA and was working for CITI and was paying a bigger % of his pay just for his health cover.

You do know employer and employee both pay NI, so total NI is around 24%

so its not coming out of my pay and companies don't have the expense of running their own health systems and they dont need to employ extra HR people to administer them. It also means that startups don't have to compete against big companies that can afford health benefits which act to lock employees into big companies
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