I work in IT, but the company is in the gas industry. Like I said, they're based out of Canada so they treat employees under Canadian rules even though they have branches in the US.
What you've described is now the standard employment practices for companies based out of the US. "Benefits" is a joke; most companies don't actually contribute much (if anything) to employee benefits, they just facilitate your membership in a group policy for insurance (which they don't pay in to) or a 401k (which they also don't pay into) and of course any time off for being sick comes directly out of your vacation time (which they wouldn't offer if they didn't have to).
My new job offers unlimited paid sick leave that doesn't come out of my three weeks paid vacation time. All benefits vest immediately, the company fully funds my insurance so I don't have to pay into it and offers a 401k retirement package where they pay 3% of my annual salary whether or not I also contribute (I do).
But of course, it's the fault of American workers for not appreciating the jobs they have, right?
But of course, it's the fault of American workers for not appreciating the jobs they have, right?
I like that statement! I use it often, as a joke. 5 years ago I was told "Just be happy you have a job?" when I raised some concerns to my manager. I basically told him I could get another job in an instant and he should realize that the playing field had changed. He also wrote me up for insubordination. Guess who outlasted him in the company? I have outlasted 6 managers in 11 years, something I brought up to my new director and new manager they gave me last Aug. They both kind of stepped back a bit after that. We just had to take an SDI personality test (required by the company) I came up as Mean/Analytical while everyone else was Friendly/People oriented. Of course that is personality is just for the business world but my new manager said "Well that explains a lot!" So if my raises are based on how much of a people person I am within the company then I just might have to pay them :)
That wouldn't be much fun!! Right now they have an employee that has no strings attached (me) and they (managers) have to find a way to motivate me. If I wasn't secure in my abilities this would all be a different story though. I stay because I really don't want to move to a different job or location (for now). So I am lazy in looking for something else. Plus my payout is big if they lay me off. If a job offer comes my way and the money is right then I will pick up my bags and go. Right now our department has a 83% turnover rate also, so they cant afford to get rid of me. Still my raise will be small.
I work in IT, but the company is in the gas industry. Like I said, they're based out of Canada so they treat employees under Canadian rules even though they have branches in the US.
What you've described is now the standard employment practices for companies based out of the US. "Benefits" is a joke; most companies don't actually contribute much (if anything) to employee benefits, they just facilitate your membership in a group policy for insurance (which they don't pay in to) or a 401k (which they also don't pay into) and of course any time off for being sick comes directly out of your vacation time (which they wouldn't offer if they didn't have to).
My new job offers unlimited paid sick leave that doesn't come out of my three weeks paid vacation time. All benefits vest immediately, the company fully funds my insurance so I don't have to pay into it and offers a 401k retirement package where they pay 3% of my annual salary whether or not I also contribute (I do).
But of course, it's the fault of American workers for not appreciating the jobs they have, right?
I like that statement! I use it often, as a joke. 5 years ago I was told "Just be happy you have a job?" when I raised some concerns to my manager. I basically told him I could get another job in an instant and he should realize that the playing field had changed. He also wrote me up for insubordination. Guess who outlasted him in the company? I have outlasted 6 managers in 11 years, something I brought up to my new director and new manager they gave me last Aug. They both kind of stepped back a bit after that. We just had to take an SDI personality test (required by the company) I came up as Mean/Analytical while everyone else was Friendly/People oriented. Of course that is personality is just for the business world but my new manager said "Well that explains a lot!" So if my raises are based on how much of a people person I am within the company then I just might have to pay them :)
You're definitely in an Office Space environment. It sounds like if you can, you should probably find better employment.
That wouldn't be much fun!! Right now they have an employee that has no strings attached (me) and they (managers) have to find a way to motivate me. If I wasn't secure in my abilities this would all be a different story though. I stay because I really don't want to move to a different job or location (for now). So I am lazy in looking for something else. Plus my payout is big if they lay me off. If a job offer comes my way and the money is right then I will pick up my bags and go. Right now our department has a 83% turnover rate also, so they cant afford to get rid of me. Still my raise will be small.