Overrated?? America Compared: Why Other Countries Treat Their People So Much Better

[@Asa...S]

Americans: Look down on people who have a low wage job. Europeans: Look down on companies that don't pay their workers fairly.

[@katieblackwater2233]

Well said. People before profit.

[@aircastlearchitect]

SO true.

[@juttalio1664]

Wright. A country that treats the people so bad, is no great country.

[@martinko4086]

Your statement is NOTHING but lies!!

[@nicolasbuzzbuzz1079]

Our parents in Europe were paid pretty well because the cost of life and the taxes were much lower and a lot of them built houses and raised 3 childrens with not much problems. It s not the case now. You pay your entire life for a house now, 30 years instead of 10 or 15 years not a long time ago.

[@RockyBobbieBuster]

I'm English and what Americans call "benefits" we call "rights",I've never got people's fascination with America,I'm forever grateful I was born in the UK and not in the Untied States of America

[@SomeYouTubeGuy]

Makes you wonder what they're protecting with all their guns. Government has brainwashed them but good.

[@davidhuett3579]

The 'fascination' exists because of Hollywood. They have, for years, 'brainwashed' Americans to think that they have such a wonderful country ... and it's partly rubbed off in other countries around the world. America is in many ways a terrific country with some amazing scenery and great escapes, however, the people have been brainwashed to accept very low working conditions and wages without question. It's humorous, yet sad, to see so many ordinary people defending the system that's keeping them down. They deserve better .. much better!!

[@RockyBobbieBuster]

@@davidhuett3579 spot on fella

[@ms_scribbles]

Yep. We are told in the US that if we think we have the right to not have to choose between homelessness and death we are acting "entitled".

[@booboo8577]

We are too.

[@jkausti6737]

A Finnish gaming company opened a small office in NY a couple of years back. They decided to follow the Finnish work laws there. Some people who were interested in their openings actually thought they were a scam because the benefits were so unbelievable. And those were the minimum decreed by Finnish law.

[@Nemusplanta]

and yet Finnish companies in Finland wants to get american system in the country

[@lordnelson7524]

@@Nemusplanta Of course they do. Companies benefit from being allowed to exploit people at their hearts content. And not many companies resist the lure of exploitation.

[@stevenlavoie8897]

Lol tax payed in socialist Finland ? 75 %

[@Nemusplanta]

@@stevenlavoie8897 total tax ration in Finland is 41,9,its 7th hights in oecd countrys behind Denmark and sweden.

[@stevenlavoie8897]

@@Nemusplanta so you pay only 1 tax ??? No tax on gas service anything else ? I live in a socialist democracy too income taxe is 48% taxe on fuel 60% and many others on service or product and you know what all service provided are shitty as hell healthcare education wastemanagment roads everything is falling apart

[@gregbrogan9061]

Years ago, an American company was looking for me to set up their Hong Kong office. They sent me their standard American employment contract - which included no sick leave. I explained that their contract would be illegal in Hong Kong and even if it weren't illegal it would be considered so heartless that we would not be attracting good employees. They continued to argue for their US contract. I had to basically reply 'What part of illegal do you not understand?' In the end, I didn't move forward with the company and they decided not to open in HK. It really bothers me when Americans take the attitude that 'this is how it is done in America, so you need to follow...' no matter what the local custom or law is. Ignorance!!

[@Delivery_Boy_Roy]

Which company was it, I can go protest it if you want.

[@seanns1945]

American arrogance is well known. It is always interesting to see how far they fall, when they don't get their way.

[@jamescorry63]

I think the final word can also be "arrogance "

[@JonathanMandrake]

Yeah, that type of thinking is one of the big reasons why Walmart failed in Germany

[@melchiorvonsternberg844]

@@JonathanMandrake Du hast ja sowas von recht...

[@BrutusMaximusAurelius]

I’m Dutch and had several discussions with Americans about this. And although many agree it is bad in the US, a lot also said they prefer it to the socialist/communist rules in my country for example. And this just baffles me. The hatred for socialism (which it’s not, it’s socialist democracy) just runs so deep in some people.

[@ItsNessaTho]

Exactly! Even when it clearly works. I'm Dutch too btw 🙋🏿‍♀️🇳🇱

[@TheBazino]

Also what they mean with "socialism" is what Stalin and his predecessors did, which was not socialism at all, but simply terror regimes called socialism. (Also I personally know a history university professor from the US who does not know the difference between socialism, communism and nationalsocialsm and who taught it as the same for decades at university.)

[@cedsimpson1429]

This fear/hatred of ":socialism" in the States runs deep. While the world was agreeing to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (including for example the rights to health care and an adequate standard of living) in the 1940s, significant political forces in the USA were warning about a global socialist plot. Of course those warning of the plot happened to be quite wealthy.

[@TheBazino]

@@cedsimpson1429 The funny part is that the USA have been in front of the curve by decades, even coming super close to actually starting a universal basic income. But at the time the democrats thought that after the next election they could get a higher UBI than the republicans had already agreed on - and then they lost and the republicans sold the country to the rich. If back then (around 1950) the UBI would have started in the USA, the USA would be 700 times richer now, everyone would be happy, infrastructure would be top notch and we'd probably had avoided climate change too.

[@aeea8318]

@@TheBazino ow man... What a shame such ignorance is tolerated from a history teacher

[@CookieMonster-nt8hh]

When I was young, I, like many others, thought of myself as one day living in America. The older I get and the more I learn the happier I am I live in the EU

[@dan_kay]

Been there, done that. After 4 years of Texas (and just a couple of days before Trump), I had enough, though. Awesome food, awesome cars, awesome nature, but too many religious conservative nut jobs. Back to Europe :)

[@annarasmus8737]

Yeah, same

[@matwatson7947]

Yep, same here

[@kalyansen309]

@@dan_kay Didn't the first Europeans that moved to the Americas did so to escape from the Renaissance and liberal ideas, thoughts and living styles?

[@dan_kay]

@@kalyansen309 Not really. The three main reasons for the settlement of Europeans in America were religious freedom, economic gain and to avoid debtor's prison.

[@mich2962]

as an austrian, i m not being shocked by how well some countries treat their people but rather by how badly the US does

[@intensemint7800]

I agree. I've heard this often mentioned but never looked into the stats about it. Holy sh1t it's bad in US! I feel bad for Americans, extorted and swindled into crazy working hours and low pay with little or no benefits. I'm amazed it's taken you so long to unionize, claim your rights! ✊️ Those robber baron companies CAN afford to pay proper wages. I'm a Finn, while my salary isn't super high, I can live comfortably by it and I get 7,5 weeks off per year & healthcare.

[@dachecker79]

Bin deiner Meinung ! Schöne Grüße aus Vorarlberg ! Österreich, einer der besten Länder in Europa, in jeder Hinsicht.

[@Sammy_The_Umbreon]

Es is unglaublich der vergleich. Ich kann mir gar ned vorstellen das n job nicht genug zahlt um wo wohnen zu können

[@Ana-bw7gm]

With globalization it is all going to Australia.

[@antoinemozart243]

Östereich.....ACH ! The land of the brave.....Nazis. 😵‍💫

[@isladurrant2015]

In UK a pregnant woman is monitored/tested throughout, has midwife and any supplements needed to ensure happy outcome, then given support for breastfeeding, tests for baby health, home visit by health worker and beyond... it's shocking this is not universal.

[@gwendolynsnyder463]

American: "Healthcare is a right that should be earned!" Me, in Germany, with universal healthcare that provides me with all the healthcare I need, with my 35 (my job offers 35 days of vacation) days of vacation, and my fair wage: "Now that's a new level of Stockholm syndrome that I have never seen before."

[@silentbob5566]

Healthcare is an expensive economic product, not a right. Calling it a right is a fraud and only causes more problems than it solves.

[@akiram6609]

Actually, healthcare is seen as a privilege which only the rich can afford. It’s Calvinism at its most extreme. If you’re poor you’re seen as a moral failure and if you’re rich, it’s a sign of God’s favor on you.

[@edsr164]

The right to life is the right to healthcare.

[@coreyhaycock4429]

Me in uk= NHS. Simple fact is, taxs should pay for it. Not pay for military!! End of day if you not working your not contributing to economy. Respect your workers 👏

[@aeea8318]

@@akiram6609 thank you, it's good to have those reasons, because one might forget there are reasons behind a behaviour we see irrational. I knew about calvinism, yet, I didn't connect those dots together.

[@hvalhajen]

I feel so bad for the common American, I'm from Denmark and we have free healthcare, daycare, school, university and welfare system that ensures you don't loose you home if you loose your job. I think it's hard for an American to understand what we get for paying 38-40% in taxes, but in reality its cheaper because we don't have to buy 20 different premium insurances, that all try to screw you over if anything goes wrong.

[@KamilaGrrr]

I was watching some videos from an American family who moved to Denmark and I remember the dad saying one of the best things he felt was the relieve of having free healthcare, because in the US people are constantly worried that being sick could lead them to bankruptcy, a broken family and homelessness, and I think about that ever since. I cannot imagine how stressful it must be to live like that.

[@sandersson2813]

You don't have free healthcare, you pay for it through your taxation.

[@Elketjeable]

@@KamilaGrrr indeed, and they call it the land of the free.. It's just brainwash if you think of it.. It's darwinism, the strong thrive on the backs of those who aren't.. Imprisoned by the corporations..

[@personalcheeses8073]

University costs a fortune in the UK

[@Muchoyo]

Lose, not loose, min kjære venn.

[@zeropoint546]

Australia has many problems, and I'm not saying it's perfect, but Medicare works and I'm glad we have it.

[@roygeorge5364]

Medicare rocks mate! Good old Bob Hawke new what he was doing. We do have our issues, however Medicare isn't one of them. I'm grateful everyday for that green card

[@vpdownunder9032]

Also, we tend to work to live, not live to work.

[@Craznar]

I'd be 10 years dead if I was in America - between Medicare, DSP and NDIS - I'm still here.

[@lealand423]

@@vpdownunder9032 I agree, us Aussies work bloody hard with very long hours, but we have got it good for now.

[@Cleve_Crudgington]

Still wish dental was on Medicare.

[@esthervaneijk4586]

Dutchie here. Even working part time (24 hours in my case) you still are entitled to 'benefits' like pension, days off and sick days. Off course you don't get the same amount as full time workers but at least you get it. And there not called benefits but BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS!

[@DreadEnder]

Never heard a Dutch person refer to themselves as “dutchie” only clarkson. Is that a common thing or just what you call yourself? I’m just curious.

[@Koala63211]

I am Australian and have traveled extensively throughout the World in my lifetime. Many times I have tried to explain to my American friends that there are some things that they are not the best at. I get looks of disbelief, and am shouted down that America is the best at everything. My response is generally, if that is the case, why do so many people working in the USA, have to rely on tips to make ends meet. Their general response is because that is the normal way we do it. It may be their normal way, but they are the only Country in the world that has to rely on tips, especially in the hospitality industry, and they have allowed Corporate America to brainwash them into submission as this being normal. This clip should be compulsive viewing for every American employee.

[@danielcook11]

USA is #1 at saying they're #1.....lol

[@meeeka]

They are #1 at remaining ignorant and proud of it!

[@Rezinstance]

@@danielcook11 Correct.

[@Rezinstance]

@@meeeka Also correct.

[@ArchieArpeggio]

"This clip should be compulsive viewing for every American employee." This should be told in every school, but he edjucation system keeps people stupid enough and doesn´t tell how shitty America realy are. So the edjucation system just prepares people to be lambs that do what to told to. If you don´t know for better than you don´t understand to claim better treatment. For my perspective as i watch what happens in US, only the black people fights for the rights over there like in BLM instead of all people. There isn´t matter what colour you are but you should realy fight the way up that those holes what capitalistic companies have dug for you. When people understands in US that you aren´t much better position that slaves?!

[@FionaEm]

This video makes me glad (again!) that Australia has a reasonable minimum wage and universal basic health cover through Medicare 🇦🇺 In many other ways, however, Australia is following the US path (privatisation of public utilities, for example) and it bothers me.

[@velvetandchester]

Same, we need to avoid following in the footsteps of the USA. And make our own unique path and identity.

[@roygeorge5364]

Yup I get worried about our becoming a little America too. It was John Howard who pushed towards a user pays society. But he wasn't thinking of our most vulnerable citizens with his vision. It has already started with homelessness. WA has 9 billion in the kitty but 2000 homeless. What good is it in the kitty when people are sleeping rough. Head shaking stuff me reckons

[@teresabealey7049]

bothers me as well, we seem to be good at destroying the good things that have been hard fought for.

[@lealand423]

Me too, I don't trust anyone in government.

[@ChantalsBackPain]

@@lealand423 well Labor created Medicare. LNP plan to destroy it. They already cut 900 items off Medicare during the pandemic. Labor will reinstate those if they win . Please understand one is for the future one isn't.

[@bera0014]

An American company bought out the company I was working at and they sent a guy from New York to head up the company here in Melb Australia for 3 years. When he arrived he was always putting us down, saying things like "Australians are lazy" "You only work 8-9 hrs a day, 5 days a week" "What do you mean 4 weeks annual leave and 10 days sick leave?" "What do you mean there's a minimum wage?" He would bang on about the states, and how we were a "backwater" After 3 years his visa was up and he had to return to the states and I said, "Mate you must be happy to leave us slackers in the backwater and go back to the states". He looked at me for a minute and said...... "Australia is everything America wanted to be".......I was stunned.....

[@scottlang7271]

It sounds as though he'd been through massive culture shock when he first got here....

[@desiolle2874]

@@scottlang7271 he was programmed...there's nothing else besides wealth accumulation...

[@edwinhof2090]

10 days sick leave? In the Netherlands sick leave is unlimited up to two years. You will receive at least 70% of your last salary.

[@nix123ism]

Yes, I grew up in NZ and moved to Melbourne in 2009 for a job opportunity, I would always defend NZ to my Aussie workmates but finally realised that, actually, Australia was a much better option for my work life at the time, I was getting paid 50% more per hour than the same job in NZ , paid overtime which really added up, petrol was $1 A litre cheaper, some things were more expensive but the extra income more than made up for it. In my 25 years working full time in NZ I could never afford any holidays, luxuries, had no money left at the end of the week and I finally came to the conclusion that Australia was a much better option. You can have a good life in Australia, enjoy yourself and also save money, not so in NZ....

[@esaedvik]

It's so weird to limit sick leave to X days. If you're sick, you're sick. For me, sometimes just a flu is 10 days. Or was, haven't had one since I went full remote like 5 years ago. Never had an issue with sick days in Finland.

[@calajane9881]

I was off work for a month on sick leave after surgery. I didn't pay anything for hospital stay, paid 200 for prescription post-op meds, got paid 400 for being hospitalized by my private health insurance, and still got paid 80% of my regular salary even though I haven't worked a day that month... My American colleagues couldn't wrap their minds around that...

[@marydavis5234]

Thats all, I was on long term medical leave in 2008 from February to November and was paid every week ,my normal weekly paycheck and my presricption charge was $10.00 a month and BTW, I'm from the US, it all depends on the company you work for.

[@JEYTODEE]

@@marydavis5234Yes in the US it depends on what company are you working for in a lot of other countries that’s the standard 😂 that’s the point here. In the US you have to search for and have to fight for stuff that’s totally normal in a lot of other countries.

[@pim1234]

I was off work for two month after surgery, got my full salary, didn't have to pay anything

[@lesliebeggs2538]

I married a lovely American lady and lived in the US for 4 years and when you talk of Americans ignorance it is correct but there is a reason why. The one thing I really noticed when living there was that I could pick up a major newspaper and read about farmer Joes cows or Billy Bobs little league but I never saw a single thing about what was happening overseas, even major events, either in the newspapers or on the television, I felt absolutely starved and isolated from my home country (Australia) and the rest of the world. On the other hand we have been back in Oz now for 20 years and every day my wife can watch Fox news or NBC all day every day on TV. It isn't necessarily that Americans WANT to be ignorant, it's just that they never really have the opportunity to learn about anywhere else in the world unless they really want to dig deep and find out. As my wife once said to me after we returned to Australia, I have learned more about the world in the past 18 months than I knew in the previous 40 plus years. A classic example is that one day I was trying to explain to a friend who Sir Donald Bradman was, he has no clue and I said to him, most Australians have heard of Babe Ruth or Mickey Mantle, we may not know the details but we HAVE heard of them, Bradman was the greatest batsman in the history of cricket with a batting average of over 99 runs while the next best is in the 60's, when he passed away we even received condolences from FRANCE, a country that, just like America has never played cricket. A big part of the problem is that Americans are STARVED for information about anywhere but the US of A by their own media and yet they want to play the worlds policemen while knowing nothing about the world they want to police.

[@FrankHeuvelman]

Yep, that's the general idea and looking at the political polarization, it works. 1984 doesn't describe some theoretical dystopian future no no no, it already has arrived in America but the average American is simply too blinded to be able to see their harsh reality.

[@sheenashining9875]

I want to live in USA because of movies and series like Euphoria,F.R.I.E.N.D.S17 AGAIN, the blind side, La La land,Catch me if you can,Shutter island, Shawnshank Redempption,good will hunting, parent trap,Easy A,Jennifer body, Sppiderman Movie sceries,Joker,Birds of rey Harley Quinn,Ladybird, Waves, Jawbreaker,Mean girls,Flipped,Forrest grump,Clueless, HannahMontana, Bad boys, L.A confidential, Vanilla Sky,Knives out,Her, Twilight Series,High school Musical,Greast showman,The wolf of wall street,Wild Things,Stranger Things,Fresh PPrince OF BEL AIR,Baby driver,mid 90;s,The devil wears prada,Boyhood,The theory of everything,500 days of summer, 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU,Once upon a time in Hollywood,The gril next door,Pulp Fiction,13 on going 30

[@FrankHeuvelman]

@@sheenashining9875 How old are you? A thousand?

[@bokhans]

At my first visit in the USA I had the tv on 24/7 for 2 weeks and when ever I was in my hotel room I watched what was on, once in all that time it was news from abroad, Madonna had landed in Paris.

[@legochuckles]

Dang. You nailed it

[@ChiaraVet]

Hey, Italian/German (living in Germany) here. I stumbled upon your reaction and I really appreciate to see it. I can tell you that if you want to understand more about what´s wrong about the way "US- companies are favored by the laws in the US" there is an American guy living in Germany that talks extensively about why Walmart failed in Germany, and one of the reasons is that they thought they could apply here the same typical US "big shark eats smaller shark" attitude. Surprise surprise, rules in Europe (and Germany in particular) don´t allow this kind of monopolistic behavior.

[@chinablueliberty2822]

Aldi and Lidl are such good supermarket models, low overheads/costs, pay their workers a decent wage and past the savings onto their customers

[@esmeraldagreengate4354]

I'm Australian I love Aldi! When Aldi came to Australia it forced the supermarkets we already have to price competitively with them or lose business. It was great.

[@margaretflounders8510]

The supermarket I was working for, here in UK, got taken over by ASDA...(Assoc. Dairy) in the 80's...a Walmart venture, with the usual new broom, not to talk to customers, unless they asked for something, timing speed trials on the checkout operators, who more or less had to stay put, or wait for relief, some never got a break when busy..disregarding womens' rights at certain times of the month, was common...I was on grocery, the limit for me to lift anything was 40lbs. (box of apples)..that soon changed to 56lbs of potatoes, more than half my weight..I left..Went to a video store loved it..It got taken over by Blockbusters! Open 12 hours everyday...to get time off, at weekend I had to cover 48 hours, to do my shift for the managers relief..The only time i was off duty, and allowed to close shop was to put the takings, into the Post Office..My lunch break was sitting on a step outside a door, with one eye on the shop..The only reason Blockbusters blazed into to UK video market , killing little stores off was because Philips in the Netherlands, had developed dvd's..(which was a 12 inch disk at that time) ..."big shark eats smaller shark " indeed....

[@undergrowngeraffe]

@@chinablueliberty2822 here in Bulgaria start wage in Lidl is more than the army and police with 10 years experience

[@irdairda514]

@@esmeraldagreengate4354 if only Aldi would come to New Zealand, we could really do with more affordable groceries.

[@rendomstranger8698]

As someone form the Netherlands, let me put my vision of the US in a way that anyone should be able to understand. When I listen to what Americans say about their own country, I picture a dystopia. Straight up, no exceptions or mitigating circumstances. The US is a full blown dystopia. And the video you responded to gives just a handful of reasons I consider the US a dystopia.

[@katieblackwater2233]

Yes, when I think of hell I think of those tent slums in LA. Nightmare

[@grahvis]

@@katieblackwater2233 In the UK, by adopting policies designed for the individual, Greater Manchester have reduced the number of homeless by 52%. If there is the will, there is a way.

[@keithstephenson1228]

@@katieblackwater2233 Funny that not in any tv shows or movies Ive ever seen. They do lovely Movies.

[@4Curses]

True, especially if you take into account that they have their children swear allegiance to the American flag every morning.

[@FrankHeuvelman]

@@keithstephenson1228 Is that even English? Dude, grammar? Ever heard of that? That I, as a non-native English speaking Dutch person, have to remind _you_ about the rules for writing in English is the ultimate irony in my view.

[@johnson941]

When MacDonald’s came to Denmark, they tried exploiting the Danes by paying them the same wage as USA. Then basically all parts of society boycotted them (workers stopped working, construction on new restaurants stopped, cargo workers refused to handle their cargo) and that’s why the wage is still not great, but at least better than in the USA.

[@landerviguera9575]

Socialist!!!! that is evil socialist!!!!

[@johnson941]

@@landerviguera9575 It is literally not. MacDonald's is not owned by the workers, but the workers who are a part of a union can go on strike and collaborate with other unions for better working conditions. It happened recently with Tesla in Sweden.

[@a_lethe_ion]

@@johnson941 i think its a joke. nobody can be that stupid to think that human basic dignity is socialism now

[@dietrikstein1871]

@@johnson941 You missed the sarcasm.

[@awaski977]

I was chocked. I mean, I'm from Sweden, and I challenged my boss to a game of ping-pong (and almost won). It was very lighthearted and we really had fun. When I applied to the job, it said in the job description that they weren't interested in people who lived only for work. They were looking for people with all kinds of hobbies and stuff. (It is an engineering job , and I really LOVE going to work!)

[@THCLK]

choked = what happens if someone puts their hands around your neck and squeezes... (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Choking) i think you mean that you were "SHOCKED" :P

[@alistairshanks5099]

My son moved to the USA ten years ago and as an engineer with a master's degree, he is earning less than his friends that went through university with him in the same class and graduated and work here. He also gets less paid vacation leave and fewer fringe benefits like paid parental leave and child care subsidies. US citizens have been told for decades that to pay these benefits would bankrupt the country but that is not true and the very people telling you that myth knows it is a myth. The sad part is that so many Americans I have spoken to when I visit my son truly believe the lie they are being told. The fact is that those making the big profits just don't want to share the fruits of their worker's productivity. It's called corporate greed and is enacted by the politicians who they own and control. If you stop the political donations and other fringe benefits then you break the control.

[@SomeYouTubeGuy]

Each smart bomb they dropped in the war on terror cost $1 million. Each and every one.

[@robertmorris6529]

War Inc. Price , most likely $ 500 per ton to make .

[@FeckArseIndustries]

What he said.

[@vinnyganzano1930]

@@SomeKZbinGuy A bargain at twice the price. I'm kidding of course.

[@robertmorris6529]

@@vinnyganzano1930 They certainly are !

[@toddavis8151]

About 9 years ago I was in a serious car accident. I was in intensive care for 5 days and hospital for 2 weeks. In total I had about 9 weeks off work. Apart from the costs associated with the car insurance I was out of pocket for about $150. The hospital stay was fully funded and I had enough sick leave to cover the whole period

[@shaz464]

Yes, my son has a similar story. Car crash, life support, intensive care, hospital and rehabilitation. Didn’t have to pay a cent. (and the care was wonderful).

[@the-flatulator]

My wife's boss got sick whilst visiting his US distribution centre in Texas. He spent two weeks in hospital and the cost was over $300,000. Thankfully he had full insurance. He did say you could order beer and wine in your hospital room though; so that's a plus.

[@joannemurdock7899]

@@shaz464 I hope your son is doing ok now!

[@shaz464]

@@joannemurdock7899 thank you. He has an acquired brain injury but copes fairly well and is working full time. We are so lucky to still have him. Doctors at the Royal Adelaide hospital called him their “miracle”.

[@joannemurdock7899]

@@shaz464 how wonderful ! He does sound like a miracle! And being able to work full time! 🙏🙏🙏💙💙

[@LingBaneHydra]

The worst thing I heard about having a baby in the US is that you need to pay to touch your baby right after birth. That's just EVIL! There's no other word to describe it. :( I love all you videos by the way!

[@zolikingsthorpe7297]

This is the one and only fact you have to know about the U.S.! I didn't know this but this is EPIC... Thx for the information!

[@marco-gb7if]

Please tell me that isn't true 😱😱. In Europe would be human right violation, a scandal on a national scale!!

[@claudiavalentijn1457]

yep. 39 dollars for 'skin-to-skin contact' they charge.

[@marydavis5234]

@@claudiavalentijn1457 I'm American and have never been charges for holding my baby in the Hospital, the $40..00 is to have an private nurse to take care of your baby in the hospitals nursery

[@claudiavalentijn1457]

@@marydavis5234Huffpost: "Ryan Grassley posted a photo on Reddit of the hospital bill he and his wife, Lidia, received after she had a C-section and they welcomed their second child. The bill shows a charge titled “SKIN TO SKIN AFTER C-SEC” and totals almost $40."

[@tcsam73]

As an American, I have never believed we live in the greatest country The people I've met who say that are usually people who have never traveled and have no interest in the outside world. Now, I've never traveled outside the continental US, but that's because I cannot afford to. In my younger years, when I was trapped in Minimum Wage Hell, I couldn't afford the rent on a one bedroom apartment. When told to find a better job, I couldn't afford the transportation I would have needed. I'd get told, just move to someplace with a better job market. I'd respond with "Where do I get the money for that?" and they'd just tell me I need to move. There's a disconnect with reality among those who are doing better, they think poverty is due to laziness. We have a serious problem in this country, and we are far, far from the best in the world.

[@amradzinovic4086]

Maybe it's rude,but how old are you?Travel as much as you can.It's by far the best invested money.I've visited over thirty countries,and I'm only 26 years old.And I'm sooo far from rich.I drive 15 years old car,I don't have expensive clothes,shoes or bags,I rarely spend on fancy dinners,I don't buy expensive cell phones...etc.But I travel,and my soul and heart are rich and full with joy because of that. 🙂

[@tcsam73]

@@amradzinovic4086 Congratulations. I'm happy for you. When I was in my 20's and 30's, I was more concerned with keeping a roof over my head. It was damn near impossible when my rent took over 2/3 of my monthly pay. My vehicles in those years were often 20 year old rattletraps that were usually on the verge of needing to go into the mechanic. As for cell phones, they didn't exist then.

[@amradzinovic4086]

@@tcsam73 It's never too late.Almost every country has so much to offer.And it's mostly about how badly you want it.Greetings from Germany.

[@THCLK]

@@amradzinovic4086 Wie OP schon sagte: Kein Geld!... Kennst doch sicher das Sprichwort:"Ohne Arme, keine Kekse!"... Ja es ist niemals zu spät um zu reisen, aber wenn man kein Geld dafür hat ist es nicht möglich...

[@amradzinovic4086]

@@THCLK Hi. I'm originally from Bosnia.I have some friends there,who are poor,and they've still founded ways to travel. I know that there are people who barely can survive,but still,it's mostly about how much somebody wants it. I'm not trying to be a smartass here,I'm sorry for him and his situation. I still hope he'll have a chance to do that.

[@terryjackson8773]

My parents are from the UK. When my Dad came down with TB back in late 40's, his doctors told him he needed to move somewhere warmer for his health. It was a toss up between America and Australia. I am SO glad they chose Australia. Our lives were great. Our health care is great, our wages are amazing. I look at what America believes it is and can only SMH.

[@homerj.simpson7562]

Holy shit, I hate the warmth and if a doc told me "please go live somewhere warmer" I'd probably either suffer through my predicament or just jump off a cliff.

[@daviousmaximus6446]

@@homerj.simpson7562 I think you should choose the second option or at least have a practise run or two.

[@ghostpuppet31]

I'm Canadien and I'm cringing for Americans at how unfair working conditions are there. Republican or Democrat, it doesn't matter, people are getting robbed of their dignity. No need for people hold grudges amongst each other, it's the corporate hold over government that sets the working standards.

[@josephj6521]

I know. I reckon the whole nation of the USA should strike until they have better minimum wages and healthcare for all. After all, they’re spending more on healthcare than most nations with universal healthcare! Weird but true.

[@vinnyganzano1930]

America's political system is horrific and that has led to the citizens basic rights being bulldozed.

[@landonbarretto4933]

I'm American and escaped to Canada 30 years ago. Thank God. A civilized country.

[@ghostpuppet31]

@@vinnyganzano1930 Yes indeed. I really hate how rights get circumnavigated by businesses to screw the workers.

[@xtinkerbellax3]

So many people can not identify the source of the problem and will either blame the individual or the government while ignoring the hold corporations have over so many aspects of what's going on. They've done a great job convincing people they're not the problem and IDK how we can get people to see that they are.

[@elaines.8038]

I'm English and earn the national minimum wage. It's my only income and yet, I live comfortably. I have zero debt, am in credit with rent, council tax, utilities etc, my freezer and cupboards are full and I have money left over for luxuries. I get five weeks paid annual leave which is separate to sick days which are unlimited as long as there's a sicknote, there's sick pay, maternity leave and pay, paternity leave and pay. An employer cannot sack you if you take your full maternity (9-12 months). You cannot be sacked while on the sick. This is just standard.

[@TheBadassTonberry]

I am from Austria, and in certain cases you *can* be sacked while sick/injured in certain cases there. However, it is rarely the case, unless you truly are a malicious PoS who abuses sick leave.

[@shell5659]

When I was in Vegas I got talking to a couple who were in their 50's and they were astounded by how much paid leave I was taking for my holiday (18 days leave), I told them that no matter what full time you get 4 weeks paid leave every year and then after 10 years at the same employer/company you get Long Service Leave of 8 weeks paid leave. The husband told me he worked for over 13 years and only had about 4 days paid leave and had never taken a holiday for longer than a long weekend. I felt so bad for them that their whole life was work and nothing else. I think maybe the US need a revolution on just this issue alone, why keep working for nothing in return just keep lining the pockets of others. I'm not saying that Australia is perfect not in any sense but I think our government knows we just won't vote for them if they would ever change this.

[@davidjohnston7512]

That’s why Americans are so ignorant about the rest of the world.They don’t get the opportunity to travel anywhere because they don’t get holidays.

[@mikevale3620]

Don't forget that in Australia if you are a shift worker, you are entitled to 5 weeks paid annual leave with a leave bonus, in addition to the two weeks every year that accumulates towards your Long Service leave.

[@drivehard2395]

You'd be stunned by the amount of people who are proud not to take vacation time. Proud that they work over time. And the other stunning part is employers will shame employees about taking their time off, make it difficult to take time off, and black out dates when you can take that time off. There have been reported incidents of employees asking other employees to "donate" their time off to them for emergencies like medical time off.

[@shell5659]

@@drivehard2395 wow this is in the US? I haven't heard of that type of thing happening here, but not to say it hasn't. Could never imagine having to ask a fellow co worker to "donate" their time for medical time off. It just sounds so sad that this is people's existence and they can't enjoy their lives.

[@juhilla749]

The mentality of society in some European countries is that they look strangely at who wants to be a trillionaire, asking him/her "what's wrong with you?" There are many kinds of happiness and money is not in the top five. Security, health, freedom of choice, the generosity of society and equal opportunities are more important.

[@rhiannonthrasher7747]

I 100% agree, but unfortunately here in the U.S., having enough money is "crucial" to being able to live happily. Twisted, I'm more than aware..

[@JohnSmith-jg6nv]

Juhilla, your spot on, 👍

[@bobdylan7120]

A lot of it appears cultural. I'm a Brit that worked in America on a specific contract for 4 years. Initially the Project Manager berated me for working the contracted 9 'till 5 when "his guys" were there from 7 'till 9 or even later. It didn't help when I pointed out he was confusing quantity with quality and that his guys spent ages just gassing about ball games, Oscars, Nascar, etc, etc. However, things gradually changed when he realised I was actually good at my job (it's why I was sent there) and I eventually took over the workload of three other Americans, without extending my working day. I also took my full holiday entitlement and was surprised the Americans did not. When asked about it the usual reply was, "if I go away for a week I won't have a job when I come back". However, not one of them could give an example of that actually happening but it was obviously an ingrained cultural 'truth'.

[@jefftitterington7600]

Employers foster that myth.

[@ZuzkaButterfly]

Hello, Slovak woman here. We have 6 months of paid maternity leave (60% of the salary) and then parental leave (mother OR father can stay home) with monthly social support of around 360€ until the child is 3 years old. After that, the child can be admitted to state provided preschool. Of course, the support money is not enough for single mothers or lower income families so they do put children into private daycare centers and go to work, though usually not before the child is between 1 or 2 years old. I am currently on parental leave fifth year (we had 2 children, 2 years apart) and heading back to work from september as my youngest starts preschool. Also, it is mandatoey for all the employers to keep your job position for you when you return and cannot fire you while on maternity leave (or when you're sick for that matter).

[@annina134]

Hello from Finland. 🇫🇮 I like watching reactions like this on YT, where americans maybe learn some new stuff outside their bubble and realize the thruth about their country. I've seen pure shock, denial and sadness too and I think it is a good thing, because the more americans understand that they are being used by their country, the better the opportunity to change for better in the future. These kinds of videos gives me hope that there are people out in the USA that want to have knowledge and admitts America is not the greatest place on earth, nore is it the only country.. Have a nice day.

[@101falcon]

Same here, I honestly feel so sad every time I see anything about their healthcare situation specifically. I can't imagine being devastated from waking up in the ER after suffering a heart attack and being taken there by ambulance, not because of the heart attack itself but because the bill will be higher than your rent and could bankrupt you. I would probably suffer from another heart attack from the shock. I really hope there comes a change in the near future, no human should be treated like this. As humans our most precious resource is life and time but the way America is run is like a death trap, most are gonna have to work until they die just to survive but never having experienced life. Surviving is not the same as living and every human deserves to live.

[@karynbenson6318]

In Australia many employers respect the skills that workers learn at McDonalds that they then bring to other jobs. They are not devalued as they appear to be in the US.

[@karynbenson6318]

@mcchickenz True! For both my kids the skills they learnt working in the fast food industry while at school/university helped them get great jobs later. It certainly can be a pressure pot, but it is also planning, coordinating, time-management, delegation, team-work and so much more.

[@karenstrong8887]

I agree and to keep everything the same. Calm angry customers in a line and still be polite and smile is a skill. I once had to work for Pizza Hut because it was the only night job going and my husband would keep our kids safe. That was a hell of a skilled job. People would lose it if their order was two minutes late. The person who mostly took orders and used the register was racist. I saw one Indigenous man sitting quietly and waiting with his little girl in her PJ’s and dressing gown. The next time I glanced up was an hour later and they were still sitting there. All orders came straight to me first and theirs didn’t so I went and asked him what he ordered. It was one family sized pizza which takes 10 minutes. I apologised and told him his order had not come through to me but if he would give me 10 minutes I could fix it. He was very well mannered, well educated and kind. Ten minutes later I called him to the counter asked him to please choose his large bottle of drink from his side of the counter. He was confused because he didn’t order one. I told him this was policy if an order went wrong, he smiled and let his little girl choose. Then I gave him his bag with his pizza in it with garlic bread and spaghetti entrees and refunded his money. I already asked that little girl if she liked spaghetti with meat sauce, she did. He looked like he wanted to cry and said thank you. I told him the pleasure was all mine. Racist person never worked another shift. I would take care of customers that wanted to burn down the restaurant but left smiling. I wasn’t paid enough.

[@someonerandom8552]

Yeah sometimes I do hear people jokingly deride the “poor Maccas kids” or scoff at “checkout chicks” but to even fathom paying them less than a liveable wage (full time and part time employees anyway) is just not done here. Those folks may have families to support, maybe mortgages even. And even those who scoff at such jobs will usually agree that to pay staff that work there an unliveable wage is completely unfair.

[@I.am.Sarah.]

@@karenstrong8887 Love your story. Sounds like you're a great person hun 😀

[@StonedDragons]

Right, as an Aussie myself I know there are lower wages in Australia for McDonalds, but that is for under 18's whom often have to work around school hours and at the same time aren't expected to be self sufficient.

[@nwj03a]

Had a situation with a former employer that hits on the work/life balance hard for me. Wife and I are going on vacation to Hawaii for a week, but at the very last minute my boss “needs” me at work the day after we are supposed to leave. He told me I needed to look at changing my flight there, adjust my plans (and my wife’s) for the company. What? This has been approved for months, hotels booked, plans made… and NOW you tell me this? I went to Hawaii, f the F off. If I’m so important, you won’t fire me… and legally you couldn’t anyways.

[@deepti1709]

20 years ago when I was in school, my aunt (mother's sister) who had worked all over the world told us this: "U.S will give you the ease of language (English is our 2nd language) but will burn you out. If you want work-life balance, Europe is the place to be". This was coming from a South Asian who are already in-famous for taking our work way too seriously was a life lesson for me. Now that I am working myself, I can see the difference, even while being in Bangalore. I have had an opportunity to work for a company thats headquartered in Europe (I say Europe as our corporate headquarters are in a different country and our RnD headquarters are in a different country) and a company that was headquartered in US. I have seen the difference in approach towards work-life balance first hand, and how it even impacts us here in Bangalore.

[@daveamies5031]

The truly sad thing is that many of the things that are called "Benefits" that are reserved for full time employees in the US are called "Rights" in most countries and are available everyone. The best example is basic medical coverage, what's next, having access to the fire brigade or police officers to protect you from serial killers are going to be a "Benefit" reserved for full time employees?

[@frednerk3477]

A basic medical service is an "essential" for a nation and, thus, it is the responsibility of the Government. It should not be at the whim of a profit-centred business. Somehow the USA lost its way many years ago.

[@irdairda514]

My kid had a part time job recently, 6 hours per week, and they were entitled to sick leave and holidays. They have a new job now, better hours, same rights. Also minimum wage here is $21.20/hour. They can cover their rent and bills with a part time job.

[@chriskeel3096]

because were literally paying the difference on what yall get cut slack on as charity

[@garyhall5397]

@@frednerk3477 The problem is everything is becoming "essential" and to expect the government to provide everything is unrealistic. Essential list: Food, Shelter, Medical, vacation, sick pay, daycare, retirement, education, protection, utilities, phone, internet, transportation. What is left to be responsible for? Maybe I am weird to think these things are my responsibility and not for uncle daddy to provide.

[@VRDejaVu]

@@garyhall5397 IDK what cool aid you've been drinking man but that comment is the most disconnected from reality i have seen in this video. No one expects the gov to provide "Food, Shelter, Medical, vacation, sick pay, daycare, retirement, education, protection, utilities, phone, internet, transportation". One expects the government to use our tax money to provide safety nets on some of these while othes are directly provided by you e.g vacation that you earn by generally working 11 months to have the right of having your employeer pay the 12th (in some countries you get paied for 14 months per year BTW with 0 money coming from the gov). "Maybe I am weird" - yes you are weird for thinking that anything you wrote is actually true.

[@rubberyowen1469]

It's great to see an American popping their head out of the American bubble and seeing how other countries do things. Please don't try and compare the American health system to other countries as that will really blow your mind. Great reaction and admire you for learning. Good video but as I am European it gave me no surprises. Take Care over there and keep learning. 👍

[@cmdrratzass7305]

I had to chuckle when I saw that diagram stating that you get 20 days of paid vacation in Germany. It’s the legal minimum, but the standard is actually 30 days. Some smaller companies offer like 26-28 days, but you rarely find anything lower. Edit: And that’s if you’re working five days a week. (like most people here) For jobs that work six days a week it’s usually more.

[@ichl46]

Yeah, same here. I'm from Spain and the diagram shows that there are 22 days of paid vacation in Spain, but the standar is 30 days. I've never been in a company that didn't gave 30 days of paid vacation.

[@frgv4060]

@@ichl46It is because those 22 days are working days. If you count the not included weekends, there you have your month.

[@GáborKopján-Kiss]

The lowest I've ever seen in Germany was 24 days.

[@stepfathermonk4691]

The minimum by law in germany is 20 days RELAXING-vacation (5 workdays per week) and 24 days (6 workdays per week). There are several other vacations too ... i.g. moving, death of close familymembers etc. And being sick is no Relaxing-vacation.

[@Zinfandel92]

@@GáborKopján-Kiss I have never seen a job offering with less than 28 days. I got thirty, which is quite normal.

[@mattalley4330]

American here, and I used to work for a company that defined "full time" as 35 hours a week. I asked my supervisor if I would start getting overtime at 36 or more hours a week and just got this blank stare and eventually an, "Uhmm, no. Not until you go over forty a week." 🤔

[@stanleyho8009]

The saddest thing is a lot of Americans and even other people who admire the U.S. don’t know how poorly Americans are treated economically. Many things that are a RIGHT in almost every other country is a luxury or a dream to Americans. Heavy capitalism at it’s work, the American Dream is literally finding opportunities to get super rich, but at expense of 99% of the rest of the population. Usually if you make arguments against this Americans will come with “you’re an evil communist”. Like… sigh.

[@janetbaker7848]

Yes the social programming has taken amazingly well in America. As someone who can sit back and see it happening it is absolutely disgusting! I cannot believe why American citizens have allowed their brains to be hijacked by their own government/ corporations. And the reason I stated it that way is because we are living in a full-blown fascist state!

[@sherrybourque9768]

I am American and I agree with you. I will give you an example of how some of us live. I get $1,300.00 a month. I pay a $600.00 car note each month, $92.00 phone bill $135.00 car insurance, plus have to buy food, personal hygiene items, cleaning supplies and put gas in my car. Needless to say I can not afford to pay rent on my own place, so I live with my father and my daughter, her husband and three grandchildren. No our country is not great in a lot of ways and our education system sucks and medical is outrageous.😢😢😢

[@akiram6609]

When businesses pay their employees a wage that isn’t a living wage, these employees go on public assistance, which is paid for by the taxpayers. The taxpayers are enabling these businesses to underpay their employees so the CEOs can have an extra yacht.

[@lesfreresdelaquote1176]

You are so exactly right. These employers are using tax payers to pay their employees.

[@janetbaker7848]

No the taxpayers aren't allowing this!!! The government is doing it without any of our authorization! You know people who actually believe that America is a democracy just blow me away. This country has not been a democracy for a long time! It is actually a full-blown fascist state! In the world is starting to see that now. But if you think the people in this country have any say-so in what our government or military do you are fooling yourselves.

[@janetbaker7848]

​@@lesfreresdelaquote1176 and the government is allowing it to happen. Not the people the government.

[@5L4P5T1CK]

Thank you so much for this. I am a 37 yr old dude from Germany, and I have been stating for decades already, that an ideology that says "Profits over People" is not much better than other inhuman ideologies. That even American citizens finally start to realize, gives a tiny shade of hope.

[@msisles6278]

This is coming from a country that killed millions of people in two wars. Give me a break with your holier than thou BS

[@amradzinovic4086]

There is no hope for them,and there is less and less hope for EU as well.

[@5L4P5T1CK]

@@amradzinovic4086 absolutely true. neither for any other state in the world, as greed has spread everywhere.

[@amradzinovic4086]

@@5L4P5T1CK Well,you and I can hardly change anything.There are too many brainwashed people on this planet.Greetings from Freiburg. 🙂

[@5L4P5T1CK]

@@amradzinovic4086 we can do all that is necessary for an unbloody change. spread the thoughts, as thoughts are mightier than the sword - and even the capital

[@DottAsado]

Also, the Vacation days graph showed does not include "permissions". In many countries (i'm in italy) you have extra days off. Lets say you need a day off because you are moving, or you have to go to a doctor appointment (but you are not sick), you want to go to your kids school meeting, or whatever. You dont take a vacation day for that usually, you have 40 hours of permission for that kind of staff, that you can take as a hole day or by hours. So in total you have well over 30 days off work. In italy is 20 days vacatio (weekends dont count so its actually about month) + 1 week of permissions + paid holidays

[@marianne3777]

Living in Denmark as comparison is WONDERFUL!!👍✨ Ex: 5 paid vacation weeks , totally free healthcare, free maternity leave for 11 moths for each parent and a pension for elderly people , you can live from and much more!! Freedom to actually live a life!! US has no real freedom!

[@donkeythong4081]

That's why Danes rate highly on the happy scale.

[@jurgentreue1200]

Australian here. My wife and I lived and worked in Laos. We had a full time housekeeper, 8:30am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday. She was married and fell pregnant while she worked for us. By Lao law, she was entitled to three months paid maternity leave. We didn't even bat an eyelid because maternity leave is the norm in Australia.

[@arianitonline8748]

in Austria, even the father gets some days off after the baby comes to this earth

[@johnharris6087]

Great reaction Ian. You're correct. the US treatment of workers is shameful. I'm in Oz and work for a large German multi national. You would be shocked at how well I and the rest of my colleagues are treated. It's a different philosophy. They actually genuinely care about their workers and on pay rate alone, ensure that they are always paying above the average wage for the relevant position. Plus, I struggle to use all my paid vacations. Most of us accumulate vacation days we don't use and eventually get told we have to take them because we have so many.

[@urukan4169]

Hi from France. Love your channel (especially the 2CV videos: it was my very first car in 1999, which was built before I was born :D ). I am a computer scientist in an insurance company: I work 35 hours a week, with 43 days of paid vacation per year. I could tell you my salary, but I don't know if that makes sense for American people (different system with lots of taxes but lots of public services: free healthcare system, for example). On the other hand, I can tell you what my salary allows me (without depriving me): - 40 to 45% of my net salary allows me to finance all my fixed expenses (house loan, energy, water, insurance, car, internet and telephone) - 15 to 20% for food - 25 to 30% savings - the rest for extras

[@jasonkillbourn]

I am from the UK, but lived in New York for a couple of years, at the beginning of the 2000's, and I remember being shocked at just how much more intense your rat race was, compared to ours. There's virtually no safety net over there, is there? If you get sick, without insurance, or can't work for any reason, you really are screwed aren't you? And you barely get any holiday time. I recall my first Xmas over there, being initially impressed by all the decorations and lights people festooned their homes with (way more than you see in England, though we do do it, but not like the Americans do), and thinking, wow you guys really go the extra mile... and then it became apparent that we weren't going to get very much time off work. If memory serves me correctly, we went for a meal after work on Xmas eve, Xmas day was another meal with presents, and then straight back to work on Boxing Day morning, all the way through to New Years Eve. In England the majority of businesses close from Xmas Eve right through till the 2nd January, because it's the festive season, and, if you do have to work, then you frequently find you get extra pay, for the inconvenience. However, in the 20 years since, back in the UK things have noticeably slid more towards the American way of doing things and our safety nets are starting to fail, whilst wages remain stagnant and the cost of living has gone up. It seems to me that all this aggressive free market nonsense doesn't lead to people being raised from poverty to greater freedom, but instead it's a downward spiral into plutocracy, where a bunch of mean spirited profiteers dominate the political landscape and call the shots, forcing austerity on the masses, dismantling and greedily privatising everything they can get their grubby hands on, whilst awarding themselves colossal tax breaks, but that's just market forces, who'd have thought...

[@davefroman4700]

A government that works on behalf of private interests in the development and implementation of social, economic and foreign policy is by definition...... Fascist.

[@paulmcmahon6875]

I've had two surgeries in the last 6 Years. Both paid for by Medicare. In total I spent 6 days in hospital. If I'd not had those surgeries, to put it bluntly, I'd probably not be able to feel the sun on my face not hear the birds sing. Forget about being able to work. Thank you for this vid, it makes me realise how fortunate I am to be an Aussie. Mate.... Judging by the comments, Australia has adopted you and yours. Come and have a beer, at least.

[@piltonbadger9897]

One thing I've always taken for granted in my country is the healthcare. I could wake up in hospital from a serious accident and not be 100k in debt for the rest of my life...

[@EskChan19]

Yeah. When you hear that people in the US get into heavy traffic accidents and still stuck in their cars not feeling their legs beg bystanders not to call an ambulance because they can never financially recover from this for the rest of their lives you wonder how any person with a brain in their head can look at this and unironically claim to be the best country in the world.

[@BD-cj7fu]

Very impressed with everything you bring up. How enlighetened you are. Open to how other people and countries work..... impressed

[@MrSporkster]

I am so privileged to live in Australia. The US is a backward, medieval hellscape by comparison. If I lived there I'd have fewer rights, and get a lot less value for my tax dollars.

[@chrisholland7367]

I'm also glad I'm a British citizen this is a horror story.

[@JB-yb4wn]

I am also glad that I am a Canadian citizen, we laugh at them every time they say "We iz numbr 1".

[@msisles6278]

Good. I am in favor if the United States bringing home all of our troops, leave NATO and only protect our two coasts. OK Europe, you deal with the Russians and Chinese. Don't ask us for any help, we will spend the savings on healthcare.

[@zzzzzzzzzzh]

I'm Canadian and when I travel to the US I feel the weight of poverty on the shoulders of the people working in the service industry. It's a feeling of forced politeness and almost sadness that I don't see in the Canadian service industry. Canada is not perfect and is not as fair as in Europe or Australia, but we just introduced a dentalcare and pharmacare plan on top of our existing public healthcare and our minimum wage is double that in the US. We have 10 days of paid time off, not as good as elsewhere but most employers offer more and there are other public programs that support workers. There is a cultural imperative to be fair in Canada versus a pull yourself up by the bootstraps or perish ethos in the US. I'm so glad I'm living in Canada and feel badly for the injustices that the US worker has to endure.

[@noseboop4354]

You forget the exchange rate. Taking that into consideration, canadian minimum wage is only about 35% more, not even close to double. And it's worse if you take into account that the price of most goods (housing, gas, food, etc.) is more expensive in Canada.

[@0725038]

Thats true, but we have government returns and free services to help paying the cost of living for people in need.

[@archiebald4717]

@@noseboop4354 However, Canadians have a higher life expectancy, lower infant and maternal mortality rates, lower crime rates, lower murder and rape rates, lower incarceration rates, no death penalty, better health care outcomes, better education outcomes. So, many would say that Canada is not only better value for money, but a better place to rear one's children.

[@thebangkokconnection4080]

15 to 20 dollars an hour starting pay with sign on bonuses beginning at 1,000 dollars are forced? Gimmee a break! What I have seen is a generation of kids that would rather parasite off their parents, play video games all day and get high. I used to get 300 to 400 applications from college students at the beginning of the school year, I pay $20 an hour for retail sales on campus. Last few years I got maybe 10 tops. Tell you anything? Only bars get a lot of applications now.

[@wfcoaker1398]

Isn't it hilarious how Americans think they know more about our lives than we do? Look at the responses to this comment. They never seem to think "My life could be that good if we all work together to change the system". Instead, they refuse to believe us, try to prove the ways we're deluded about our system or we just don't understand how bad off we are. I've even been called a "Bernie loving soy boy", because, you know, we don't really have politics in this country, America's politics are the world's politics, right? We don't have our own issues, and everyone who supports affordable access or child care or gun sanity, regardless of where they live in the world, must be a "Bernie loving soy boy". I find it really funny. You know they think our health care is so bad we flock to their country for health care? It's fun to ask them how the Hell they think we could afford health care in their country. Hell, THEY can't even afford health care in their country. Lol.

[@boonnathan9827]

Congratulations on hitting 50k. I started watching when you on about 13k , good stuff mate 👍🇦🇺

[@IWrocker]

Thank you so much!!!

[@joannemurdock7899]

@@IWrocker we love u and your family Ian! 🥰💕🦘cheers

[@ClintDawg]

In the beginning of December last year I got an email from our accounting dept telling me I had 5 vacation days I needed to use before EOY ... so I went on Christmas vacation December 16 and went back to work January 2 ... I cannot imagine how it must be to work in the US

[@micheledix2616]

Excellent video Ian, I am pleased you are doing your best to pass on the information to others. I am SO grateful to live in Australia

[@jmlvr123]

The more and more I learn about living and working outside the US, the more I'm convinced the right move is to leave. Thanks for sharing this video!

[@NotUp2Much]

The average american can't afford a surprise 400$ expense, most people barely get by as is with our shitty wages. What makes you think that the average joe can just pack their bags and move somewhere else with their thousands of dollars they don't have? Being able to move is a privilege that most cannot afford. The answer is to improve life for the average american, not "durrhurr the answer is to move elsewhere"

[@jmlvr123]

@@NotUp2Much I was talking about myself. I can't say that move is right for everyone. That wasn't my intention. Jesus. Calm down. All I'm saying is I wish I could move. I'm not in a position to do so either.

[@amradzinovic4086]

@@jmlvr123 It's actually pretty easy if you really want it and decide to do it.I did it with poor Bosnian passport,it's thousand times easier with American one.Greetings from Germany. 🙂

[@jmlvr123]

@@amradzinovic4086 Greetings! Yea, my roommates and I are planning to immigrate to Canada within the next year or so. Excited but also sad because I do love my country but for many reasons, maybe it's time to cut ties.

[@MegaCookieCrafter]

Yes go for it. Every person leaving that capitalist hellscape is win for humanity

[@bradcarby3765]

My boss came to me a few weeks ago and said that because fuel has gone up so much recently, he is going to pay for it from now on. All I have to do is send him a photo of the receipt and the money gets returned to my account that day. It's not a huge deal, maybe couple of hundred a week, but it sure felt good to be valued enough for him to take that action.

[@VRDejaVu]

Not really the same thing but i think it fits here: My Boss has used the same subcontractor (Dan, the "boss" + 2 employees) for 1 year. Dan feel off a 5mts scafolding and is expected to stay out for 3 to 4 months. My Boss took Dan's 2 employees into our payrole while he recovers so he doesnt have to worry about anything except getting better. He is still being payed the overhead a subcontracter gets per employee and although it is not a fortune, its more than enough to cover for his monthly expenses so he doesnt have to dig into his savings.

[@davemguru12]

Fully paid maternal leave FOR BOTH PARENTS is MANDATORY in France.

[@chairpara]

Man, I love your take on all of those issues. Like you aren’t up in everyone’s face just denying it and screaming usa, you are just like taking in the facts, thinking them over and then casting your own opinion. That’s a well needed breath of fresh air! Keep it up!

[@crustydownunder]

My wife moved to Australia from Georgia USA 15 years ago. She applied for a job at Subway, and they offered her $20 an hour. She said her jaw dropped, and the manager said, 'that's a good rate!' My wife was just in shock. Could not believe her luck. A few years later, she shifted into managing a high-rise student accommodation block, at well over $100,000 a year. With paid trips overseas every year, and I got to go along, an open bar, all meals and accommodation, all paid for by the company. I only had to pay for my flight. We've always had a saying ... Australia, the lucky country. America might have the highest GDP, but it remains with the politicians and the rich business moguls. American's have an average wealth of $40,000, while Australian's have an average wealth of $160,000. Also, Australians have the largest houses in the world, and it's safe to walk around the cities at night. What's not to love about Australia.

[@nevyn_karres]

The Liberal Party is working hard to increase that average, not by helping people, but by helping the moguls/oligarchs.

[@TheCornishCockney]

Errrrr,it’s too far away? As a Brit,we have dozens of countries from one hour to 4 hours to travel to in Europe. To be fair though,I see Aussies as our true allies who don’t want to use us when it suits and ignores us the rest of the time,unlike someone I could name. (clue..”special relationship”) Similar sense of humour,similar standards and morals,and although we hate each other during the ashes,when push comes to shove,you are there for us. Example: the falklands where you offered men and equipment right away while everyone else looked away. Hello Reagan. Give me Australia all day long over America.

[@nevyn_karres]

@@TheCornishCockney The Commonwealth is like the warm spot in my heart, I know that if any of us need help then help will be coming, regardless of politics.

[@probang2866]

" What's not to love about Australia" Hmm... - Maybe the circumstance that nearly everything with (or even without) legs wants to kill and/or eat you...?

[@crustydownunder]

@@probang2866 Yeah, but even with all those snakes and spiders and sharks and crocs, and ... etc. Even with all that, way more people die in America from gun shot, than die here from bites. If you're careful in Australia, you may never even come across a snake or a deadly spider. And although Redback spiders are poisonous, we used to catch them and put them in jars when we were 6 and 7. They aren't aggressive.

[@metalfan9000]

I remember seeing news of a Finnish company in the U.S. that gives it's U.S. employees the same rights it's Finnish employees over here in Finland get. Similar wage, the paid leave, etc.

[@silentbob5566]

Wages have nothing to do with rights, they're a result of national productivity. You can argue all day long about rights till you're blue in face, but it's not going to change anything. The whole "rights" narrative is a sham.

[@Runnerskeeper]

On top of having paid leave/sick days here in Germany, you also get special paid leave. I'm not sure if it's mandatory for employers to give you that by law, but you usually get around 3 days off when you're moving and up to a week when someone very close to you dies. And parental leave is for both father and mother.

[@weeardguy]

In The Netherlands this can differ per CLA (Collective Labour Agreement). Where I work now, the funeral of a granddad or grandmom also gets me a full day of leave, just like if my mom or dad would die, while at my former job, you would only get a full day off for your parents and only a half day or so for a granddad or grandmom.

[@DropBearClaire]

I am currently pregnant and my employer has to keep my job open for me for a year, I get 18 weeks minimum wage paid by the government for maturity leave and my partner get 2 weeks. In total we have paid about $300 for medical care for all my pregnancy and I have received complete care. Honestly I feel so sad for families in the USA

[@undergrowngeraffe]

In Bulgaria it is 2 years at 80% + 2 months at 100% for the mother and recently they added 2 months at 100% for the father. Also unless for pretty severe reasons you cannot get fired for the first 3 years because you have a kid to raise

[@johnatkinson7126]

paid by the taxpayer not the government so its the taxpayer you thank

[@VRDejaVu]

@@johnatkinson7126 So she has to thank herself?

[@johnatkinson7126]

@@VRDejaVu if she's a taxpayer yes the point I was making which you obvious missed that it isn't the government that provides these benefits it comes from the taxpayer in the uk maternity leave comes out of national insurance contributions

[@johnatkinson7126]

@UCrOXFRgGrN98A1_7itj34cA think it's you that's butt hurt I just pointed out that any benefits paid out by the government comes from the taxpayer and that its they who should be thanked

[@shanemulligan791]

I was surprised when travelling on holiday in the US for 8 weeks the airline hostess asked me if I was retired? I told her that I was on long service leave, she had no idea what I was talking about. I explained to her that I get 6 weeks annual leave and after 10 years you get 3 months leave. She told me that she only got 3 weeks leave a year with the airline. We are so lucky in Australia.

[@s13silly]

If Americans fought for workers rights like they fight for gun rights. Well things would be much different.

[@christopherbell2091]

If americans told their pollies on mass good worker rights or lose the next election ,how fast would conditions improve?

[@christopherbell2091]

Its obscene for a country rich as America thtoallow effective worker slavery simply to make more money when making plenty

[@devilundercover]

I moved from Malaysia (ok health care and such) to Australia I had a full blood profile and an ultrasound done and I didn’t pay a single cent. In Malaysia I would have had to pay but it wouldn’t be insane levels. Also- labour laws in Malaysia are pretty strict and strong, as are the laws in Australia. Jeez America smh.

[@DrNoClu]

Does Malaysia have a strong union culture like here in Australia? Just wondering.

[@phunk8607]

A friend lived in America (parent was in military) as a kid with full accent in the south. She said her first day in school her parent got called into the principal office because she didn’t stand up and sing the national anthem and pledge allegiance…they told the principal that they are Australian and they don’t know the American anthem and singing and pledging allegiance is not something we do at school, the principal and teachers were super confused at how other countries don’t now the USA national anthems… wow this is full on dictatorship mindset

[@Kayne86z]

Absolutely love your content brother, been a subscriber for like 2 maybe 3+ years now. I can't wait to see you hit 100k and watch your wonderful channel grow. Peace from Penrith Western Sydney Australia, P.S I'm glad to see your channel growing after Australia being out of the covid lock down. ✌️

[@Cruelaid]

Go Panthers 🐆

[@Khanthiilas]

i can help but feel sorry for the millions of decent people in the USA who are bogged down in this greedy imperfect system, especially knowing that it's purposely done to you all.

[@sheenashining9875]

eaggeration as if average aMERICAN SUFFERS SO BAD LOL

[@Khanthiilas]

@@sheenashining9875 did you mean exaggeration? I'd say stuck in a country between two overbearing extremes (left-wing and right-wing politics)wouldn't be fun at all but opinions, we all got one or two right?

[@silentbob5566]

The "purposely" part is fucking stupid. And yes, living in diverse country has consequences like that. Denmark may have a great healthcare system, but Denmark is also ethnically homogeneous and small. It's not malice, it's lack of tribal loyalty to each other (I mean practice, not theory) that makes USA what it is. Big and diverse countries like USA or Russia and to some extend China are always going to be like that.

[@dagda3000]

@@silentbob5566 It is "purposely". Created by lawmakers that are paid by companies and the rich.

[@bloozee]

@@sheenashining9875 the delusion is real dude. North Korea on steroids!

[@mariehough6600]

I’m Canadian, I work part-time… got a pension and benefits from my job. Universal Health Care, 5 weeks vacation, 1 year maternity leave, paid sick leave. For a developed country the U.S. is so back asswards.

[@blueenglishstaffybreeder6956]

And they wonder why the crime rate and the homeless rate is so high in the US, starting to get like this here in Australia

[@Princess_T86]

Ooooohhhhh my goodness, I had no idea about some of that not happening in America.. wow 😮 In my job here in Sydney Australia I get $52.63 per hour on full time. This is blowing my mind… gezz…

[@Asa...S]

Parental leave in Sweden: The mom gets 90 days, and the dad gets 90 days. And then they get 300 days that they can share as they please. So they can get 240 each, if they like, or one of the parents can get 390 and the other one just their manditory 90. If one of the parents have sole custody then that parent get 480 days, sole custody is pretty uncommon, most families have joined custody. In addition to that parents have the right to stay home and take care of the child if it gets sick up to age 12. You get about 80 % of your normal pay those days.

[@kosmickitten_au4550]

Hey man been a fan for a while now and I've been wondering when you where going to see this video. I was so surprised by how Americans are treated. I'm Australian and it's shocking. Hope things turn out better for you all soon. 🥰🥰

[@davidstott3284]

Please remember that in Australia, states, and even occupations, differ in work entitlements. Twenty days recreation leave is the norm, however in Northern Territory Correctional Services I was issued with 35 days per year (7 weeks). It was also a well paid job.

[@buchinsku]

Yes, there is nothing to prevent a company from offering more leave than the minimum. The point tho is that most nations on earth HAVE a minimum requirement. Not good ole USA, the land of the exploited. They call themselves free, but they have more people in prison than any other country on earth, EVER, both in absolute numbers and per capita. Freedom? My ass.

[@stuartrowley1981]

Working in corrections can be bad for your health so to say but the 35 days is warranted to help with mental and physical health

[@flamingfrancis]

I assume you are working a rotating shiftwork pattern so we are not getting direct comparisons. Be mindful that shiftwork disrupts your life patterns and you will find factual reports that determined your lifespan is marginally shorter (

[@davidstott3284]

To clarify: in Correctional Services you are indeed required to work 3 shifts over 24 hours. However, you are also required to work shifts over a 14 day fortnight. This necessitates working public holidays so those 10 annual public holidays are added to your recreation leave. In addition, as an artefact of an old travelling time supplement (5 days travelling time) this travelling time continues to be added to recreation leave. This does not apply to some other occupations that undertake shift work such as Australian Federal Police.

[@desiolle2874]

yeah I reckon you probably earned it Dave

[@jennybowd2962]

I remember you mentioned that you used to be forklift driver just looked this up for reference to wage differences The average forklift operator salary in Australia is $58,500 per year or $30 per hour. Entry-level positions start at $53,625 per year, while most experienced workers make up to $67,324 per year.

[@IWrocker]

That’s definitely more than 90% of forklift jobs I know of here… also more than I made too

[@Mattb81]

I know a couple of “forkies” that make over $100k and have done for years. Just takes a bit of shift work and OT.

[@joannemurdock7899]

@@IWrocker Ian males get maternity leave to ! I just heard on the radio a few weeks ago that the premier of the state of New South Wales his wife just gave birth to their 7th child and he is now on maternity leave!

[@AndyViant]

At the moment you'd make $1200 a week as a bare minimum as a beginning forklift driver in a capital city, or you'd walk out the door and be in a new job tomorrow. Assuming a little bit of overtime or saturday work you'd want at least $1500 a week for a decent operator or else you'd leave and have a new job paying that the next day. The guys down at CCA (Coca Cola Amatil) are earning 6 figures a year with overtime, and have been for years. They're one of the better looked after workplaces of course.

[@samsta65]

@@joannemurdock7899 paternity

[@cobbadigga]

I’ve traveled a lot. I’ve been to America quite a few times and it’s a place that is filled with amazingly beautiful places and awesome people. I’ve also had to go to hospital a few times in my travels when in America and holy shit the wait times were pretty bad but that shadows in comparison with how bloody expensive Americas healthcare is. Lucky I’ve always traveled with travel insurance. If only America would spend just a fraction of their military budget on their healthcare system then I think their people would be a lot better off.

[@Alkocen]

America is already spending ridonculous amount of money on healthcare, more than any other country per person. So the money isn't an issue, it's the "for-profit" attitude that is the issue. The healthcare system there isn't designed to help people in need, it's designed to make big profits for pharmas and hospitals and such. And the system works really well in that regard...

[@philiprice7875]

i am type 2 diabetic i have 9 items on prescription if i had to pay £9.35 i would struggle one of the meds would cost me $1500 a month in the US

[@wmoros4902]

We spend alot of healthcare its just private so its not made for patents but for money, who wouldve guessed another mark of money over the treatment of people

[@lieutenantbullitt7221]

In France we treat people for free at the Hospital , even foreigners. Most medications are free and so are all exams. This is an important difference with the United States, I think. We work 35 hours each week, it's the law. An another difference.

[@AsylumReaper]

But France is giving away medicine and performing medical procedures that were researched and developed in the US. Your country didn't fund that R&D. Easy to hand out what you didn't build.

[@lieutenantbullitt7221]

@@AsylumReaper Nothing to do with free healthcare. Stop believing that you are the only ones to invent or do research. In France as everywhere in the world there are laboratories, great doctors and researchers.

[@AsylumReaper]

@LIEUTENANT BULLITT Of course there are. But there is no denying that the vast majority of medical research and advancement comes from the US. That R&D also costs millions if not billions of dollars that WE pay. No one else. We also distribute medication globally and mostly cost free to the receiving country under some foreign aide bullshit. My point is, it is easy to give away medicine that is essentially free to you.

[@nabsbil]

@@AsylumReaper What you are saying is totally wrong. Many discoveries come from Switzerland, Belgium and UK

[@Flobyby]

I'm not really sure why you're trying to brag about paying for medical research and then not being able to afford it.

[@francisleroy6215]

I've recently retired here in Australia - I had been working for 11 years at Sydney trains as a Train Guard. My before tax income was about $AUD90K/year - this was approximately $36/hour, not counting penalty rates... Monday to Friday 1800hrs to 0600hrs night time penalty rates of 17%; all day penalty rates on Saturday - time and a half ( ie. 150% ); and on Sunday, double time ( ie. 200% ). Since I was a shift worker we received 25 vacation days per year, plus all 8 0f the paid public holidays. On top of this after ten years you get 8 weeks long service leave...I would be rubbing it in too much if I described our pension fund ( referred to as our Superannuation ), and our sick leave provisions; I'll leave it there... PS: this only happened, because we had a strong trade union movement....Cheers...

[@harrycurrie9664]

Yes, I remember Sydney at Christmas time very well, lived there for years, first came the Unions mail and waterfront workers strikes Oct - Nov, followed by the Garbage collectors strikes, then the Public Transport workers strikes ... yep a lot to be so proud of as a Union man.

[@dianacasey6002]

And a Labor Gov. they gave us Medicare and Super Libs were against both.

[@zybch]

@@dianacasey6002 And those same libs are doing absolutely everything to wreck both to this day (they're succeeding).

[@dianacasey6002]

@@zybch I know they are total and utter bastards

[@davidjohnston7512]

You were in the wrong industry mate.In the coal industry it’s 13 weeks long service leave after 8 years.5 weeks annual leave,6 weeks if you work weekends.I get unlimited sick leave in my position otherwise is 15 days a year accumulating for wages employees.

[@Mechanic.Pete41]

I had the opportunity to move to montana ( from here in Queensland ) I ummed and ahhed for about a month before finally saying no, Australia both work force and health care are miles ahead of anything the US has, some things Australia is behind in ( like legalisation of cannabis and vaping ) but everything else doesnt send me bankrupt 🤷‍♂️

[@achimrazvan6793]

I am from Romania, my mum got 3 years of paid leave for my brother, even with Covid, and the company laying off a lot of workers, they couldn't legaly let her off. She still is on paid leave and then i learn that in the big, "wealthy" America, you barely get 2 weeks of paid leave? Shame America!

[@SebastianDavidPB]

What?! meanwhile also in rrom-mania or gipsy land, call it what you will. I was forced to work in my medical leave after a surgery. When I was admitted they straight up asked if I don't have a laptop to work straight from the hospital bed.

[@garryellis3085]

I wish more Americans had the understanding of the real world like you do man. All power to you.❤ from a well paid Aussie. Who retired early thanks to compulsory superannuation. etc etc😊

[@Jaydaydesign]

Australia is far from perfect but contributing a small percentage of my earnings towards universal healthcare sure helps. We have introduced long service leave for casual workers and conversion of casual labour to permanent after 1- 2 years in many industries to encourage employers to engage a more permanent labour force that entitles them to Paid leave. A government scheme that also includes paid and unpaid parental leave for workers in addition to what is offered by some employers is also a win. However our mental health support systems could really use an overhaul and many of our healthcare support systems fell in a heap during covid and have not recovered or caught up( elective surgery and specialist outpatient services were Mon existent for 2 years)

[@sarahlloyd617]

I really struggle with this idea that the US is the best place in the world when peoples place in society is entirely dictated by where they live, what their education level is and who will hire them. This idea of keeping people ignorant and telling them how great life is has a familiar ring to it in terms of how governments in dictatorships keep the population under control. I find it so ironic given the right wing in America trots out there word “socialism” when people talk about fairness when i fact their behaviour is tinged greatly with socialist concepts. Since when is it left wing to want your population to succeed and be prosperous? Since when is it left wing to educate people, not only at high school level but at a tertiary level? Australia didn’t have free University education back in the 1970s and years prior. Most of the people who went to Uni came from wealthy families and the cycle went on and on. Then Gough Whitlam abolished Uni fees in 1972 and our society today reflects so much more diversity because people became better educated. Statistics show that having a higher level of Uni graduates always benefits a country. More skilled workforce who pay more in taxes. If the US is not careful they will see a social revolution as people get sick of working 2-3 jobs just to survive and start demanding better pay and conditions. I’m a part time worker in Australia. I work 19 hours a week. As I’m permanent and not casual I get annual leave paid at the same rate at which I earn as well as paid sick leave and paid public holidays. I earn around $35 an hour for what would be considered a more skilled job than McDonalds but less skilled than someone with a qualification. My nephew who is 24 and works in a warehouse shifting packages and loading trucks was recently made permanent because his employer can’t keep workers if he hires them as casuals without the benefit of sick pay etc.

[@lynwill65]

I agree!! Like my 3 older siblings, I didn't finish high school although I did do a TAFE course in my 40's. That didn't stop me from succeeding in different jobs, first on the Victorian Railways where I started as a junior station assistant and worked up to a jnr station master. I had jobs in childcare and admin and ultimately ended up in a high school as an integration aide and admin assistant. 7 years later I took over as leader/coordinator of the Integration dept. My work ethic is exemplary and was drummed into me by my parents, my kids (adults) are the same. I believe in the Unions and even as a single parent would go out on strike while other colleagues who owned their homes and had a spouse working, would not strike but happily celebrated the wins we fought hard for.

[@brucesim2003]

You have to remember that the USA has no left wing party. The left-most politician in the USA is still right of what everyone else would call right wing.

[@augustusquindecimus1855]

Yes, it is actually hilarious that the most capitalist country with the most anti-socialist stance is just trying hardest to make Karl Marx`s predictions come true.

[@geoffegan9424]

I will say this straight as an Ausie, I don't like your country's Idealism's when it come to the treatment of it's own people. I do not blame the people of your county I blame the scam artistes that get away with it & I'm disappointed that they do. the few out wight the meany. that is shameful as you say. the other side to this is that they influencing other country's To follow suit. which I find hard to take. as I wish we all, across the globe have the same fare equality & like you have said it. thank for sharing well done love what your doing keep up the good work. oh & GO HOLDEN the best cars ever made.

[@tobiasrost633]

here in sweden a mcdonald worker is considered waluble due to there ability to work under pressure , so its a rly good starting stepping stone for young peoples =)

[@Monica-gc5dh]

Also in Australia...

[@sandywilliams1615]

In Australia 38 hours classes as full time with 4 weeks paid leave 2 weeks sick leave 2 weeks compassionate leave and paternity leave. Over 38 hours is classed at overtime earning 1 1/2 to 2 x normal hourly rate. If you work "casual" - under 38 hours you are paid at 1 1/2 times hourly rate because you don't have holiday pay. Over $450 per fortnight you get superannuation (401K) which is employer paid. We don't need health benefits because we have universal healthcare. Unions are classed as bad in the US but we wouldn't have the workers rights we have without them.

[@buchinsku]

Hear hear. Join your union!

[@matta2738]

@@buchinsku unions do nothing these days. They force new employees to sign up so they can line their own pockets. Australia has laws in place that negate the need for unions.

[@2DogsVlogs]

@@buchinsku If you can find one. Every union application I put in declined my membership. They all said there was no union for admin staff anymore.

[@godamid4889]

@@2DogsVlogs that's rubbish. How could you not know about the Australian Services Union?

[@godamid4889]

@@matta2738 that's rubbish. When were you last in a union and what did you expect them to do for you?

[@faguolvlv]

In France when you re pregnant and at some points (usually the end of the pregnancy) your doctor state you can't work in your state, you stay home until after the birth and still get paid (not by the company, but the gov.). Your boss has to keep the seat you leave for when you come back. Can't fire you for that..

[@elisakallokoski801]

Im from Finland and it amaze me everytime how there is just nothing so grand in America. Feels like just a grand sham. Yes, I would like to visit there some day, but move? Never. Finland is not a paradise, every country has it flaws, but here is lot to like this country. What comes to labour, I did spent over a week at hospital with our youngest (early birth) and the cost was somewhere 300€. Meds, room, care, everything.

[@grischad20]

imo, the only good thing about america is that as a young country, their country still has SOME nature. beside that, i'm staying in EU any day of the week/year/century

[@bobdriggers6111]

@@grischad20 I agree, we should disolve NATO and the EU. Y'all can take care of yourselves!

[@angelavm84]

@@bobdriggers6111 The only time NATO was used it was to help the US after 9/11... our people died for Americans...just so you realize that. However, perhaps you can explain what the EU has got to do with the US or NATO?

[@druxth9998]

@@bobdriggers6111 Wrote million things to try and explain what's wrong with what you said... then realized you're just so blind it's not worth my time. Enjoy your wars, your "freedom" and the lies they fed you with. Best wishes.

[@msisles6278]

Do us a favor and stay in Finland.

[@miskbalder]

But in USA employees get badges, pins and "awards" in the form of diplomas, so basically bits of metal or paper as a payment, a type of "good boy!" instead of actual payment, so that evens it out

[@coltsfoot9926]

I'm retired now, but when I was working for a company In the UK), I started on the 28 days paid holiday per year (20 days vacation plus 8 days public holidays) After I had worked for them for 5 years, that increased to 30 days vacation plus 8 holiday days. The company then pulled a remarkable stunt, they reduced the working week without reducing anyone's earnings. After a year, they realised that this was affecting people's ability to get work finished, so they returned to the old daily working hours, but shut the place down one Friday every 4 weeks. Everyone enjoyed the 13 extra days off every year, even though they were fixed days, because it meant you only used 4 of your vacation days to have a week off. Then things got crazy - the company found that shutting down for a day didn't work logistically with other businesses, so we went back to 5 days a week at the old, longer hours, and we were given 13 days extra vacation days. So that gave me a total of 51 paid days off each year. On top of that, I became an Army reservist, and the company gave me 2 weeks paid leave to attend summer camp, plus another week paid leave to attend specialist training. In total, it was 66 paid days off each year. Unfortunately, I was a manager, and found it difficult to do my job when taking all that time off, so I rarely took all the days off.

[@dmwalker24]

Thank you for being willing to speak the name of the core problem. I've seen many others who were either terrified to say it, or resistant to admitting it themselves. Capitalism is the problem. It is the root of most of our problems. I would advocate for the creation of a new system that didn't require exploitation to function, but honestly I'd be happy if we could just find a little of the middle ground they've managed to create in those European countries.

[@5353Jumper]

They have capitalism in all those other countries too. The root of the problem is corruption in politics. Capitalism allows, maybe even rewards corruption, but the capitalism is not the problem in itself. Other systems with corruption also have some citizens with failing prosperity. Capitalism with low corruption has relatively good citizen prosperity. The reason NW Europe has prospering citizens is because the government is genuinely representative of the citizens. The reason most dictatorships (wether pretending to be socialist, communist or capitalist) have starving people is because of the corrupt selfish government, not the economic model they are pretending to follow. The reason the US has failing citizen prosperity the last few decades is because the citizens have lost influence in their government "representation". Some countries have governments who support some citizens and not others (race, religion, class) and they have some citizens prospering while the others are starving. It is all about how genuine and benevolent the leadership of the nation is in representing the needs of the people. If you want to fix it then the citizens of the US need to demand/force better representation in government. Then the government can regulate the capitalism (or socialism, or communism or whatever it doesn't really matter and is almost always mix of them anyway) for the benefit of the majority citizens over the wealthy elite.

[@jodav4631]

We have just had new laws in Victoria Australia passed that casual workers are now entitled to 5 paid sick days a year and they keep the high hourly casual rate !!

[@jayjaynella4539]

Which as a casual worker for 13 years, is ridiculous. That is what the extra pay compensates for.

[@daemonisedone4256]

@@jayjaynella4539 no not ridiculous at all.

[@jackwalker4874]

I'm in the UK. I work a 35hr four day week for £47k (though it does involve anti-social shifts). 6.5 weeks of paid annual leave - and I don't have to dig into that if I'm sick. It's perfectly normal (in fact it's expected) to take some of that leave as a two-week block.

[@argantyr5154]

Just saw your reaction and I would put my 2 cent in. But also remember that we in Denmark also pays a lot more in taxes (then comes the talk about what the taxes covers, and how we calculate taxes, for example you have state and federal taxes but that is a talk for another day). I am a Dane, and I do believe that one the main reasons for the difference is how strong worker unions are in the different Countries. One of the things I hear from companies in Denmark is that, they prefer you to be less at work (compared to other countries), but when you are at work you are there 100%. So in Denmark the philosophy of most companies is if your base (home) is working you are more focused while you at work, and it reduces blunders, and blunders can be quite expensive no matter if you are a blue collar worker or a office guy. And if you are happy at your work you will not start looking for another job. No matter what the Company tells you, it is expensive to replace an employee and even worse do you leave for a competitor and bringing your knowledge with you. 1. You loose experience, both work experience (how many years you have done the job), and how long time you have been at the Company, each Company does things differently. You might have some courses the new guy doesn't. 2. You need someone new, the new guy, does he have your work ethics (be on time, etc.), does he "click" with his co-workers, or does the chemistry not work. etc. And it takes time to get people interviewed for the job (read the applications, 2-3 people at the interview, etc.). 3. And if you get a new guy that is what you hoped for (and not just a guy faking it at the interview), it still takes time for that person to get up to speed and "how its done around here". I don't understand why we don't talk about our wages more with our co-workers, the only ones that benefits from us being quiet is the Company, don't get me wrong, I wouldn't talk to strangers on the internet about my salary either, but your co-workers I would, you would be surprised how many people who are doing the same job, gets paid differently. Often when a company don't have so much to do, like seasonal work, we start sending some of our employees on courses, to gain new skills or improve those skills we already have so we are ready when there are plenty to do. In Denmark we can never compete with places like China when it comes to Salaries so we have to compete on knowledge, stability and quality. Oh yeah I hate when the rich say we are in this boat together, no we are not, I'm in my little row-boat, and you are on a cruise ship, we might be in the same Ocean but the experience of this storm will be different. Greetings from Denmark

[@fluffybunnyslippers2505]

My parents decided to emigrate to Australia from the U.K. in the early 70's. Boy am i glad they did. Here in Aus we have eliminated poverty in the practical sense. What i mean by this is, EVERY Aussie has access to FREE medical treatment. (Ironically, so do tourists) EVERY Aussie has access to afforable and emergency housing, The av welfare payment in Australia is $642.70 for a 2 week period, this increases to 695.05 with things like "rent assistance". They also get a "concession" card that provides discounted pharmacuticals and public transport. So, if you are "homeless" here it is 99% something you have done, IE getting caught cheating the system or just lazyness that has led you to being in this situation.. EVEN THEN, there are agency's that can help you... Anyone living under a freeway overpass, and there are not many, is there BY CHOICE... not circumstance. Also, when i first came to Australia there was a fair amount of racist behavior, this also has all but gone. There are still a few, probably always will be on BOTH sides but it is NOTHING like you see in the rest of the world. I LOVE being an Aussie. Thing is, Americans NEVER learn.. 100% bet you all re elect Trump.....*sigh*

[@MS-hc1ei]

My husband and I shared a year of parental leave equally between us, and we could have stayed longer if we wanted to. I work for the state so I had 90 % of my salary while I was on parental leave. Please note that we ADOPTED. Our kid was almost three years old when we became a family, and we still had the right to take out parental leave! Our kid is disabled and receives free medication, free aids, free specialists, dental care, physical therapy and free surgeries etc. Yes we have high taxes... but in America we would have been bankrupt by now.

[@jonnyrbgomes]

my problem with people saying, "find a better job" is everyone wants one but not everyone makes it, if they did there would be a lot of minimum wage jobs that would end up paying better then high skill jobs (atleast until our permanent robot replacements) cause there would be no one doing them