Working in USA vs Europe

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Timestamps:
00:00 Ana Luisa Promotion
01:02 Intro
01:40 Paid transport to/from work
03:28 Employment Contract
05:33 Salaries
07:36 Lunch Breaks
09:28 Part-time work options
10:33 Holidays
14:04 Outtro
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[@JoviesHome]

I absolutely recommend checking out Ana Luisa ❤️ shop.analuisa.com/ch21-jovieshome Sales up to 25% off. Get your Holiday gift! I know you will love them! #analuisany

[@sjoerd5629]

On taking holidays; people who regularly take time off typically have higher productivity when they are at work. Therefore, it is also in the employers best interest that you take your holidays.

[@JoviesHome]

It does make sense.

[@donotevenbegintocare]

And there is a second reason that also benefits the employer. If you're one of those rare people who are doing something they shouldn't, perhaps even something illegal, it will be found out when you go on vacation and someone else takes up your work.

[@marcovtjev]

That's often said, but I think there is also an aspect of not measuring employee performance in hours they put in (but rather in metrics closer to actual work done). Slight accent difference, but it bleeds through everywhere and motivates people to work more efficient rather than longer.

[@jwenting]

tell that to employers... More than one company I've worked for (in the Netherlands) tended to see taking any time off for any reason (including family emergencies) as "not being committed to the company", leading to bad performance reviews and at best being passed over for promotions and pay increases, but more typically being shortlisted for termination.

[@weeardguy]

@@jwenting Hard to tell if you are a foreigner or not. If you are, I can understand you probably get a little less of the open-ness of 'real' Dutch employers, where employers that take up foreign workers, could provide a little less friendliness: they know most foreigners are desparate for a job and thus also know they can bend the rules slightly. Not allowed, but it happens. I have never come across a Dutch employer that has treated me the way you describe.

[@merenwen4495]

The fact that you can’t get fired on the spot also makes it a lot easier to do your job. If I am in a meeting with my employer, and we don’t agree on something, I can speak my mind freely (respectfully of course). I don’t have to tiptoe around, worrying he might fire me if I say something he doesn’t want to hear.

[@BrazenNL]

If you taking a vacation results in a staffing problem, that's the employer's problem, not yours.

[@jwenting]

depends on the company and the employee. If you give them enough time and coordinate with your coworkers, most often a company can work around the staffing problems. However I've seen situations where everyone on a team that has a 24/7 support requirement for a product line wanted to have time off during the same 2 week period. That's not going to be something the company can resolve, so they make it your problem by denying the time off request, and rightly so, telling people to spread out those weeks over a longer period so there's always someone available.

[@markjacobs1086]

@@jwenting I've never actually had that happen, as a team we coordinate our time off so there's at the very least 50% of the team to come in during holiday seasons (excluding christmas where we're closed unless someone willingly wants to work & the company requires work to be done).

[@weeardguy]

@@markjacobs1086 And coordinating the time off is exactly what CaptainDuckman explained...

[@jfrancobelge]

I know you've probably already seen and heard this very common place sentence but it summarizes the entire European approach to professional life: we work to live, qe don't live to work.

[@JoviesHome]

Yes, that is absolutely true. It's a much better mentality.

[@claudioferrara4455]

Here in Italy, many companies will pay for your public transport season ticket, but NOT if you use your car. That’s meant to promote sustainability. Sometimes, contracts include the geography where you’re supposed to work, and you might get a refund to use your car to work outside that area. Companies that have a certain number of employees (sorry, I can’t remember what the threshold is) are required to provide employees with a canteen, OR they have to give them lunch vouchers (they’re called “tickets”). “Tickets” can be used also for grocery shopping in supermarkets, so they effectively are extra money. The holidays thing is normal across Europe. It’s not unusual to hear someone say that their company is FORCING them to take their holidays, because they’d have to pay for them otherwise. In Italy too, many companies used to shut down for the whole month of August in the past, but only a few still do today (especially if they work with foreign markets, that would be unfeasible). As you said, Salaries LOOK smaller in Europe at first sight, but once you discount all the things you have to pay for out of pocket in the US, the net purchase power is higher in Europe, at the end of the day.

[@Gojemba]

My wife and I finally had an opportunity to take a trip to Europe and wow we fell in love with it. So far we have only been to Portugal but after the trip we began to look into the option of relocating. Part of it has to do with health care, as well as overall happiness and the cleaner foods we ate. Your channel is definitely what I waslooking for and now the Netherlands will be added to our possibilities list

[@pond.daises2556]

Did you guys end up relocating? How is it?

[@draimonde17]

You also forgot to mention the TVT hours, or "tijd voor tijd". Instead of being paid for the overtime hours I work (over 40 hours), I opted to have my extra hours added to my vacation time. I work 45-50 hours a week so that's like 6 - 7 weeks paid vacation I get each year!

[@mrcrabowski]

That's kinda cool... here, in the Czech Republic, you can't choose to work overtime in like 95 % of jobs and if, your employer has to approve it first. Sometimes people on the shift are *asked* by employer or "shift leader" to stay longer, usually just to finish what they're doing if there's less people or had more work to do that day OR you can get it ordered a day before if there's more work planned for the next day or something like that. (basically exclusively for jobs that had one or two groups to rotate, usually it's 8-12 closed) The exceptions can be jobs where majority of workers is "cheap workforce" = people from Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus under some work agency (that usually exploit the hell out of them). It's often not much ethical and shady... employer often unofficially allow such employees to work two regular shifts every day (basically 16 hours of work, 8 hours of sleep) because how little he pay them... but still not pay them the overtime bonuses, just their regular hour wage. In those usually unpopular, manual or low-skill jobs you too often unofficially can work how much you want (I have such experience, I had a summer job on sawmill and at that time, as a 16 y/o part-time worker I get paid more than a Moldavian who barely speak Czech but worked there for about 10 years) but then you have to ask yourself if it's even worth it.

[@gerhard6105]

Remind your self that an over hour is worth more then a normal hour. 125%, 150%, 200%. So if you make 4 over hours, you should get 5 hours at a rate of 125% per over hour. Otherwise the boss is stealng from you.

[@draimonde17]

@@gerhard6105 yea its a lot more money per hour, which also equals to way higher taxes and actually becomes less than my standard hourly pay after all of the taxes are taken out. Its ridiculous. My free time is much more valuable to me than absurd taxes.

[@gerhard6105]

@@draimonde17 indeed, that is the right way of thnking.

[@ronaldderooij1774]

One thing: I don't think it is normal that the company pays for lunch in the Netherlands. It does happen that the company subsidises the canteen, so the prices may be halved. I have never encountered free lunch.

[@BobWitlox]

I have only had free lunches (at 3 different companies). Or sometimes for a symbolic fee (1 euro per month) because they have to charge something.

[@janboterletter1398]

True, I never had a job where lunches were free. Cheaper maybe, never free.

[@harrybruijs2614]

The belastingdienst doesn't allow it, if they notice it, they will include something like €40 a month in your salary, if you earn just below the "salarisgrens for toeslagen" and you go over the "grens" because of that €40 you are not happy. Also according to ARBO rules it in fact illegal to eat at your desk. But when I worked As a consultant in Belgium management and office personel did get a free lunch, the workers did not. It seems to have something to do with the type of contract. The precise term I have forgotten. In their case it wasn't that costly because it was a meatprocessingplant, very good ham and paté.

[@jasper7072]

Only had a free lunch as an intern at a very small company. The most I got anywhere else was a 15% discount at the cantina

[@upgradeplans777]

I intended to comment on this as well. I have worked 10+ years as a consultant, and have seen quite a number of different ways lunch is organized. Company provided meals are (supposed to be) taxed as in-kind income in the Netherlands, and I do think this is a barrier for some companies to provide lunch, as it might be seen as too complicated. In my experience, many bigger companies choose to provide lunch at a lower price (just enough to cover the purchase costs maybe) in a canteen. I have also lunched at many companies that provide it with the "a receptionist prepares the conference table for lunch"-style that Jovie mentioned. The "take a lunchbox to work" option is also very common in my experience, I have seen that about equally as much as the provided lunch. The last option that I see sometimes is the "american style" hour-long break, where employees are expected to go home (or somewhere else) for lunch. An interesting variant is what companies do with their Friday afternoons. Some companies are closed the entire afternoon, some close 1 or 2 hours early for vrijmibo (many also do vrijmibo without closing early). But there are also companies that do a "deluxe" lunch that is different from their normal lunch arrangement. In my experience this is commonly done by ordering a delivery from the local snackbar. Many snackbars have a "bestellijst" for this purpose, that gets passed around the office on friday morning to tally the order.

[@edith7261]

In France, where we live, usually all personel drops his pencil, hammer or whatever at 12 o’clock and take a 2 hour lunchbreak. Lunch is almost always a 3 cours hot meal at home, in the canteen or at a restaurant and one needs time to digest. Office job habits seem to change ´cause more people like to return home earlier at night. But the 12-14 o’clock break is still common and I love it.

[@harrybruijs2614]

I have worked for Pechinée in the Netherlands and you learned very fast not to call France between 12 and 14 even 15 hour. But when I went home you could often expect a call from them, because they worked until 19 hour or later. In Belgium everyone of the white collar proletariate or lower and middle management always were very early at there work and leaved late, which wasn't paid for. During the day there was much small talk and drinking of coffee, lunch break was typically 1,5 to 2 hours. So in normal hours productivity was low, the work was done before and after normal hours. I think it was done to impress the bosses, who of course weren't impressed, grown up in the system. But it was very bad form not to do it. I as a Dutch consultant could do as I liked so just went at five and came at eight and had the advantage that talking was 80% of the work. 😀

[@JoviesHome]

Thanks for sharing your experience!

[@manteltje]

LOL I love it when Jovie unexpectedly goes into a mini rant 👍🏼😆

[@JoviesHome]

I'm so glad you enjoy it! 😂

[@FrankHeuvelman]

Ze bedekt het met het manteltje van liefde.

[@casperklerk5054]

It is one the most frequently asked question when I go abroad. "How many days vacation do you have?!" And then responding that I can't even manage to spend all my holidays.

[@JoviesHome]

They must be pretty surprised by that answer!

[@hotmechanic222]

I love it when Americans go abroad and realise that most other countries have a lot more "freedoms" than them lol, no employment contracts? no paid holidays guaranteed? only allowed 5 sickdays???

[@hanes2]

still getting paid for sick leave?! what is this?! communism?! (a texas friend reaction to my life in sweden lol)

[@KaasSchaaf666]

@@hanes2 he can call it whatever he likes, we are happy with it.

[@scottguffie7759]

Here in the UK I don't believe that it is normal to get paid for sick days. I know that in my current job (factory work) if you take a sickday you don't get paid for it but if you come down with something longer term you can get a report from the Doctor which allow you to claim a reduced pay for however long you're sick.

[@tompiper9276]

@@scottguffie7759 Every job I've ever had came with paid sick leave, up to 6 months full salary and then for the next 6 months at a reduced rate.

[@PieterWigboldus]

In USA you have freedom to go, and a boss that has the freedom to jump you. And in the USA the salary is higher, but you have freedom to do with it, e.g. pay for holidays, your health, buffer for searching a new job, ... But freedom isnt always the best to have, because i like some garanty, less stress. Like a kid that can life a happy life, but isnt free, but daddy and mom care for you. Living as kid without parents is freedom, but i dont think the kid will be happy. (and no not all parents are good parents, but the Netherlands feels like a good parent)

[@motorlife7037]

It's similar in Denmark, regarding the lunch breaks, usually the company pays for the big break, sometimes they offer free breakfast or have very affordable lunches. Right now I'm working at a big company, Aarsleff, we pay around 45$ a month, and the food is delicious, three four kinds of hot meals, three, four salads, different bread, i couldn't buy/make it cheaper. They pay us for the small two breaks (2x15 minutes) but not for the lunchbreak (30 minutes). Breakfast meal is free for all. And they pay well, just look at the parking lot😉

[@Tweeteketje]

Ah, that sounds great! I love warm meals! And small breaks are paid, that's great too! Do you then work net 7.5 hours a day?

[@motorlife7037]

@@Tweeteketje 8,5 hours, Friday till 12,15, that should make 37 hours a week

[@Tweeteketje]

@@motorlife7037 so then on normal days you work from 8.00-17.00? Is this considered full-time?

[@JoviesHome]

Sounds like a great deal!

[@MB-co6qj]

@@Tweeteketje I work 830-1700 x4 and 9-13 on Friday in the Netherlands, that's 36h and considered fulltime (anything >36) :)

[@gordonwallin2368]

Thanks, Jovie, as a Canadian, my friends and relatives in the US always act like I'm or my country are a bunch of "commies". Now I feel better, as Canada seems to have most of what the EU, UK and the ANZA crew have; it's the US that seems a bit to the right of Attila the Hun. Cheers from Vancouver.

[@peterkoller3761]

the USA are far more of an elbow society: trample the weak, hurdle the dead... and they are being told from an early age that everything else would be "satanic communism".

[@JaniceHope]

I'lll bet Attila the Hun gave his warriors more time off than any of the greedy corporations in the US give their workers

[@peterkoller3761]

@@JaniceHope you cannot compare these two: the Huns were a highly developed culture.

[@bmw803]

Canada has definitely better legislation than America to protect workers, but employer mentality is just as bad as the U.S.

[@metalvideos1961]

every developed nation well western nation got the same kinds of stuff. America is the only industrialized country that doesnt have the same laws as the rest of the western world. Like universal healthcare paid vacastion days and paid maternity and paternity leave. or Paid free days off things like that. America doesnt care for their citizens.

[@MR-mq2gm]

cannot wait to start my new Job in Amsterdam! January cannot get here soon enough! saying bye Felicia to the USA😊

[@heathersimons9955]

Me too!

[@BrazenNL]

Welcome!

[@harrybruijs2614]

Welcome in a real land of the free

[@JoviesHome]

I'm so happy for you!

[@MB-co6qj]

Great!

[@jjsmallpiece9234]

The more I watch similar video, I can't help thinking America is so backwards and poor in terms of employment rights. Almost Victorian attitude.

[@JoviesHome]

You're not wrong.

[@jjsmallpiece9234]

@@JoviesHome I'm happy to be European, UK for me.

[@rosshart9514]

@@jjsmallpiece9234 Might change after Brexit...

[@Serenoj69]

In Europe being reasonable to eachother is just that. In the US that is socialism. Has to be bad. They are so brainwashed they will say their country is better even when they are extremely poor. So they are not stupid, just kept ignorant (I know, B&W statement but in general it is pretty much true).

[@hectormartin1965]

@@rosshart9514 Yeah, it may be that after Brexit the current will bring you closer and closer to America. I hope you will remain "European". You know, we're still here. We love you guys.

[@karelsybaris256]

I am from Czech Republic ( Prague ) . Although I work 90% from my home I get food vouchers ( 20/21 pcs a months / 7 euros each ) for lunch. 6 weeks paid holidays and 5 sick days. If I have to travel all expenses are paid. Pernament conctract, if they would fire me I have claim for 6 month salary. I work almost 15 years for the same company.

[@JoviesHome]

I wish every country could have that kind of job security.

[@gayleford8277]

Interesting differences between the USA and Netherlands. Here in Canada, it seems we share some of the American and some of the European re employment.....

[@michaellust]

Work balance is so different in US. It's like night and day. I feel sorry for them that they are trapped in that system. Nobel prize winner in economics has shown that the European way is generally more effective and profitable. People live longer and happier life. 👍❤️ These things you are saying are very common among americans living in Sweden. If America is continuing in the same way there will be a lot of them leaving for Europe. 😀

[@JoviesHome]

That is very true. I feel sorry for the people trapped too.

[@bmw803]

In America, you're JUST A NUMBER. Big companies see you as an expense and burden and managers get bonuses when they trim staff and other items. There is no more "human" aspect from American employers.

[@lea88pu]

But, leaving the country will not solve the problems. People should do something about it. Raise their voices and before that, it is needed that this kind of videos become viral and spread across the US in a hope that enough people open their eyes and realise they could live better and deserve to live better. This sounds like utopia a bit, but I can dream.

[@michaellust]

@@lea88pu Yes you are right. And the struggle inside the Americans that live here are also a thing. To change to the European way of thinking is not always easy for some Americans. It's in there DNA. But Jovies balanced videos may help them try to change their future at home.

[@rosab8026]

@@lea88pu ...es muy cierto, pero es una situación de siglos que ha empeorado....las grandes corporaciones tienen un enorme control del país y su gente...modifican su carácter y creencias cuidadosamente desde la infancia y los condicionan ferozmente....una cosa que me llama poderosamente la atención en los vídeos que he visto de reacciones es la que los estadounidenses tienen ante los anuncios publicitarios....es de lo más chocante, para mí.....y la veo una y otra vez ..si eso no es condicionamiento, no sé qué lo es.... No será fácil movilizar a personas tan condicionadas y mantenidas en la ignorancia....para hacer cambios se necesita llegar a la gente hasta conseguir una " masa crítica" de ciudadanos que los exijan....por eso estos vídeos son tan importantes....

[@MarimoMare]

Thank you for those insights) I used to live in Europe and at the same time, I have heard a lot about work ethics in the U.S. This might be a rude judgment, but I think Europe is a place to work if you want to be happy, if you want to stay being a social creature, and not just become successful in your profession ))

[@JoviesHome]

It's not a rude judgement, it seems like an obvious observation. Europeans are happier. Thanks for watching and taking the time to share your experience.

[@mikepictor]

I love the idea of communal work lunch. Community building.

[@JoviesHome]

Absolutely.

[@hansstromberg5330]

I could just as well work in the Netherlands as in my own country, Sweden, as theWestern European way of living, working, and what have you, is more or less comparable regardless of country. A limited number of "sick days" as in the US of A is truly a sign of the same country being underdeveloped, cruel and really being part of "the third world", rather than a civilized Western democracy. I fully agree with you when stating that life is much more "livable" in NL than in the States, since, among other things your "adopted" new country (as does mine, though I was born here) cares more about its people than about the investors (which incidently seem to be thriving in spite of the (in USamerican eyes) horrible freedom-destructive socialism prevalent in countries even more democratic and more equal than in the partly failed "great democratic experimen"t called the United States of America. Hans Strömberg, Sweden

[@Serenoj69]

That is not completely true. Scandinavia and The NEtherlands are much more similar than other parts of north western Europe. I noted a huge difference in the working culture in both Belgium and Germany for instance that I would deem middle European while our culture is northern European. At least we are far less hierarchical, we decide together and the boss is not really pushing his thoughts but we decide together. We are also not so true to laws and far more laid back than especially Germans but also Flemish. At least, that is what I experienced.

[@jannetteberends8730]

Although the salaries are lower, the Netherlands have ‘vacation money’ and a thirteenth month salary. And constructive firms have their holiday in the same period. The period differs per region.

[@weeardguy]

Woha, easy there, having a thirteenth month is not as common as you think!

[@hanserikkratholmrasmussen6623]

In Denmark we have an old saying: I work to make a living, but I don't live for working. A bit hard to translate to the same punch as it has in danish, but you get the idea.

[@parmentier7457]

My company has a more of an unwritten rule. For example, employees who have children take holiday during the high season. So the period of the school holidays. Employees who do not have children are often more flexible and take time off before or after the school holidays (high season). The advantage is that taking a holiday outside the high season is much cheaper.

[@rosab8026]

...en Europa se educa en la solidaridad y generosidad como valores , las relacionamos con la justicia y el bien común..

[@rosab8026]

....habitualmente....siempre hay excepciones, como no...

[@eltonclothier-huberts7462]

Thank you for sharing this information. I’m entering the job market here in the Netherlands so I find this really informative. Love your channel!

[@JoviesHome]

I'm so glad we are helping you! Thank you for the encouragement!

[@TheMadDane]

I live in Denmark and work for a big private company. We have a canteen at work that serves breakfast and lunch (always at least a warm and a cold option as well as salads ect.) We pay about €3 for a lunch. Some of us will bring our own packed lunch, but nobody ever goes out for lunch. Those that work in the production during the night can order a lunch to be ready for them in the fridge. The lunch break is 30 minutes, we pay for that ourselves (those that are hourly paid, have a paid lunchbreak), however when ever I have been employed by the goverment/state lunchbreak has always been paid for by the company. I have 6 weeks of paid holiday as well as all the national holidays. At my company they shut down the production for 3 weeks during the summerholiday (industri ferie = industry vacation) so that all the hourly paid workers that work in the production can have 3 weeks of combined holiday, the production is also shut mostly down during Christmas so that as many people as possible can have that time of as well. Holiday is always encouraged, and nobody will look down on anyone for taking time of!

[@JoviesHome]

Sounds like a wonderful system! Thanks for sharing!

[@winter151]

Currently in the US: 40 million people cannot eat without food stamps and live in poverty; 16 million children in the US live in poverty (roughly 1 in 5), and the only meal they get is a free lunch at school (which many consider a "socialist" program), without which they would go hungry every day. 80% of the US workers live paycheck to paycheck, and half of the US population considered “poor or low income”; and a median income in the US currently is $51,480- which after tax comes out to $3,360 a month. Could you please elaborate on what do you mean by “salaries in the US are much, much, much, much, much higher than in Europe”?

[@svendemenus8361]

Hi Jovie, I am close to your country as a neighbour i will say (Germany), but from business I am very close to the Netherland too and working with my colleagues there. I would like to mention to all your examples (also from other Videos) from working culture is not free choice by the Employers ;-) If they can, they will act like the USA Employers as well. But what we have in Europe (Netherland and Germany and all other EU Memberstates) is, we have implemented strong labour laws and requirements with big punishements to companies who dont follow. Its always interesting when USA Companies speak from "Benefits" when it cames to holiday, sick leave, healthcare or parental leave. Non of them here are benefits here, all of them are mandate by strict labour laws. In Europe we speak about "Benefits" when its on top of the laws, which is free by the companie to offer you. But offering paid vacation, paid sick leave, set borders to working time, healthcare, maternity leave, its not free to the Employer to offer it, he has no choice to prevent it, otherwise he will be kicked out of business by the authorities. Small example here from Germany: The working time act "Arbeitszeitgesetz", its a crime for your boss to violate the working time restrictions to your Employees. The Boss is personally responsible that your Employees are not working overtime out of the law, otherwise it can ends in high fines or by systematicly violatens in a huge amount it can ends in Jail.

[@mlambrechts1]

I'm from Belgium; almost everything is the same except maybe the lunch thing. Typically, Belgians would take their sandwiches from home and eat them at work or there is a cafetaria. But you would never go outside to eat at noon. Belgians almost always eat their hot meal at home, in the evening.

[@CarlaJacobs63]

Maybe you could do a video about the role of Unions in the Netherlands in opposite of the scare tactics of American companies?

[@JoviesHome]

Thanks for sharing the question. We'll add it to our list of idea- no promises!

[@cv3466]

You are clearly in love with the Netherlands. Well I'm Belgian. I wouldn't trade Belgium for the Netherlands. We combine the Dutch en French lifestyle 😅. Even better! Love your video's.

[@cv3466]

Lol, Americans, for the most part, probably don't even know how worse off they are. The few times I was over there I frequently met people who thought we did not have running water or paved streets in Europe. What do they learn in school???

[@cv3466]

Hey Jovi, a video suggestion: having a royal for a head of state versus a president.

[@ThePixel1983]

Here in France your employer has to provide lunch, either in food vouchers or like in my case in a canteen where they pay about half the price of the meals.

[@JacobBax]

Also for people that work in the field?? I mean landscaping, contruction workers, and jobs like that?

[@ThePixel1983]

@@JacobBax I don't have an answer, I work in an office. Beggars on the subway ask for these vouchers, though, so they seem to be common.

[@MrToradragon]

@@JacobBax Well, maybe that is covered by vouchers. In Czechia those meal vouchers exist as well most companies have them, but sice two years ago there is as well option to get the exact sum the employer would hand out in form of vouchers to be given in money as it turned out that voucher companies charge significant fees that restaurants and shops have to pay when they officially accept those vouchers. It was enough for restaurants to lose almost all profit to voucher companies on meal paid by vouchers.

[@sebastianlabusch465]

That sounds generous. In Germany, the bare minimum an employer has to provide is a fridge and a microwave for the employee to store and prepare his own food.

[@Dances-st6id]

this is incorrect. the only obligation is to provide catering premises if at least 25 employees wish to take their meals at their workplace. You must find there: tables and chairs, a refrigerator, one or more appliances for reheating food. However, two alternative solutions are accepted: providing a canteen service or giving meal voucher.

[@billchivers8925]

Worked in healthcare in the US for 30 years. We would get 30 minutes for lunch never provided by employer. We do get more than the average amount of time off in a year but we always work holidays. Sick time comes out of regular vacation bank. Due to personal finances I worked no more than 30 hours a week over the last 17 years. I would hear about this from friends and coworkers......"must be nice to work part time". Yes it was! If there was a call for inclement weather we would be told to make sure we can make it in even if it meant staying in a hotel close to the hospital. The hospital did not pay for this. And don't get me started on health insurance! People assume that because you work in healthcare in the US that you must have great health insurance. We have some of the worst coverage in my experience. Maybe upper level admin folks have better policies with their contracts but the everyday clinician got crap.

[@suzygeysen1628]

Your sick time is covered by your vacation days? Poor you... In Belgium you have your vacation days and if you're ill for 3 weeks you're not expected back before that time. Your doctor provides you with a note that you give to your employer. The first 2 weeks there will be no loss of income (this is paid by your employer), after that your salary will be a little less, but you'll still get paid.

[@Roel_Scoot]

Free lunches are not common in the Netherlands, only at special occasions as having a seminar or meeting guests like clients or consultants or visitors of other firms. These meetings could be intern or outside the firm. It was normal in my employments that if I had to travel the costs of living where payed for like transportation, food and if needed the hotel. At special conditions, if you move from another place closer to your work, it is possible to get (part of) the costs for the moving from your employer. I had that several times. I had also help at finding a rental home by my employer. Maybe not that common, but that is what my experience is. Btw, I am dutch, not an expat.

[@Peachcreekmedia]

Wow, that is so much more humane than the US.

[@rosab8026]

...si me apuras, casi cualquier sitio es más humano que Estados Unidos, en muchos conceptos

[@mariadebake5483]

Hi Jovie! Good to see you! And we may work few hours, but our productivity is very high.

[@JoviesHome]

Good to see you too! Yes, the system is a good one!

[@mariadebake5483]

@@JoviesHome I wish you and your family a good December month and a merry and happy Christmas! Have a good time:)

[@rexmedorum]

The construction industry in NL closes for 2 weeks in the summer. It's actually more about limiting the impact of everyone having different holiday schedules but still.

[@pernilsson2394]

The way american society seems to reason around work, life quality, social security is so weird.

[@JoviesHome]

It really is weird.

[@MB-co6qj]

More productivity for the company for low wages = $! Yay greedy capitalism..! Have you heard about the Starbucks store employees that won the unionization vote? Probably that store will close soon. Or even better: read up on Kellogg's..

[@pamelarangel7104]

That's awsome!! It should be that way everywhere!

[@drAgonheart580]

luv the video you just tell it like it is, and you dont get salty, classy in one word! and your "doei" is getting pretty good :-)

[@JoviesHome]

Thank you so much!

[@dirkdemeirleir264]

Under Belgian labour legislation working and not having a written contract is legaly the same as a long term contract, so it s not in the employers interest not to give you a written contract…

[@passantNL]

That's also true in the Netherlands. If you don't have a written contract, that is considered a long term contract, so employers prefer written contracts.

[@JoviesHome]

That's a good system.

[@flitsertheo]

Belgiian civil servants didn't get a contract either. They took an oath of loyalty towards the king and that was it. Basically guaranteed employment until retirement or death.

[@Dances-st6id]

make someone work without any contract, in france this it's up to 3 years jail and 225k€ fine.

[@slouberiee]

I live and work in the Czech Republic. In terms of lunches, the employer partially contributes to the lunches of its employees. As for the labor professions, people in factories, etc., there are canteens set up by the companies, with a very reasonable price for all employees. As for the office professions ("white collars"), there are typical so-called meal vouchers, which is a food voucher that can be used in restaurants. This is a very popular benefit, the amount of this voucher varies (depending on the employer). One gets as many vouchers (in paper form or as a credit card-like amount of money), depending on how many days they worked in the previous month (vacation days and sick days don't count in). People in the Czech Republic are entitled to 30 min. lunch after 4 hours of work. The factory workers go to the canteen to have lunch, the office workers go to a restaurant for lunch near their offices (there are usually plenty of them in cities, 99,9 % of them accept the vouchers), usually the voucher covers the whole lunch. Czech lunch is the main dish of the day, it consists of soup and a main course (anything from steak with potatoes, through pasta with meatballs to fruit dumplings). The meal voucher system benefits all parties involved. The amount the company pays for meal vouchers is tax deductible, the workers' lunches are payed for (it's a very seeked for benefit), restaurants have plenty of customers during lunch time and the state have workers that are fed nutritional and warm lunches.

[@lindamaes6454]

In Belgium we also have the meal vouchers, but for all employees not just white collar and the can also be used to buy food in grocery stores and supermarkets.

[@JoviesHome]

Thanks for sharing your experiences, I appreciate it. It's so good to learn about what is normal in different parts of the world.

[@MrToradragon]

You have forgot to mention, or it is not exactly clear from your comment, that employees can opt for cash instead of vouchers. But this rule is in effect for like two years.

[@weeardguy]

Nice to see that people from other countries have the same opinion about the office-workers compared to the factory workers (we tend to call this the 'nette pakken' (the tidy suits) and 'werkvloer' (working floor) in The Netherlands. 'Kantoorplebs' (a slightly less nice way of mentioning your co-worker in the office, is another word). Though 'nette pakken' can refer to office personnel in general, it does not mean the office personnel at your job really does wear a tidy suit all day ;)

[@anitageijtenbeek7484]

Nederlandse lunch is een bruin broodje kaas van thuis in een broodtrommel of zakje. En dan lekker wandelen met de collega's en je broodje eten tijdens de wandeling 😉 (oké misschien een beetje overdreven).

[@deetgeluid]

I have always worked as a theatertechnician/soundengineer. So not your typical office hours. I always had to pay for my own food. For lunch that is fine by me, but if your employer expects you to work before and after dinnertime, a free dinner would be nice.

[@jeromemckenna7102]

What is so bad about sick days in the US is that people are discouraged from using them.

[@JoviesHome]

That is very true.

[@ThePinkimojca]

In Slovenia companies provide lunch (usually like factories with a lot of workers in the same location - they have their own kitchens) or gives you money for your lunch and you go out to eat or you bring something from home (and still get money from company - there is a regulated fixed price by state) .

[@RetroracerDB1]

Adding to the affordability of living in the Netherlands is that most people do not need to own a car. This frees up a lot of money for other uses.

[@PieterWigboldus]

Most people i know owns a car, but there are a lot of people indeed that lease a car, from the company or a private lease. Most new cars are lease cars, but i dont know if most people dont own a car. But its not cheap to drive a lease car, or your company pay a lot for it (and your salary is lower), or you pay a lot. I drive 19 years cars, and i always have own 1 or 2 cars at the same time, from my own money, no lease, no loan. I dont know a lot of people with a no car, and most buy a occasion that is around 5-10 years old.

[@pppetra]

Euhm in the Randstad? Yeah. The other 75% of the country travels An hour to a treinstation. And the Busses stop driving at 22.

[@germangarcia6118]

I think it's more about not having to pay the health care insurances americans pay. In many cases they are like a small rent.

[@pppetra]

@@germangarcia6118 one salary, 2 adults. rent is cheaper.

[@littleDutchie92]

@@PieterWigboldus you're right that most people here (outside of Amsterdam I guess) do have cars to get around. I don't agree with you however on leasing being not cheap. I have owned my own car for 10 years and had to take care of all the costs myself, like fuel, tax, insurance, maintenance, new tires every once in a while. All in all it cost me quite some money. Since 2 years now I drive a company car and indeed I "pay" like 200 to 300 euros a month for it but thats all, all the costs are covered, including the fuel (and in my case electricity) (I don't know about private lease though, that could be way more expensive)

[@newAMDman]

From my US full-time experience I had: sick, vacation, unpaid, holidays, not included federal one off-time, some of them you gotta use by end of year.

[@margaretarkes5137]

Most company’s don’t provide lunch. You bring your OWN sandwiches. But coffee and tea is always FREE throughout the whole day

[@jackvandersluis1723]

Like your glasses, great vlog! 👍

[@1life0gods]

At the company where I work in Texas, we get a half-hour lunch break which is paid. Unfortunately, you can't leave to eat out or even nap since you're on the clock.

[@JoviesHome]

That's annoying that you can't even close your eyes. It doesn't even count as a break if you can't do what you want with it.

[@YourFellowRNRSisterFan98]

That’s really cool, I really wish I lived in the Netherlands. I have not even started my first job yet and I already wanna wait til I move to the Netherlands first. You made a lot of good points Jovie. I been subscribed to your channel for a while. Hope you had a good Christmas and have a happy New Years ! Can you please do a Dutch Christmas video ?

[@martindoornebosch1403]

Uhhm, pay is better in the US? Well as long as it's not minimal wages, then it's true. But here the minimal wage is way more than in the US and even offers paid hollidays and benefits such as healthcare and dental.

[@8alakai8]

the building and road construcktion has 3 weeks in the summer they just stop cuz they need all hands on deck so they just aal go on holidy its called bouwvak not shure if i am writing it correct yes i am dutch but not native

[@TheTekknician]

Keep in mind that the "transportation compensation (or allowance if you will)" are secondary in employment conditions and not all companies provide this compensation.

[@harrybruijs2614]

But if they don't you can deduct it from the taxes if you go with public transport.

[@ORA1978]

Provided that the travel distance one way exceeds 10 km

[@weeardguy]

@@harrybruijs2614 Yes, but it usually doesn't cover the costs at all... it doesn't matter anymore whether it's public transport or using your own car, the compensation offered by employers and the tax company hardly ever covers everything. Especially since the OV-chipkaart won terrain over the old paper tickets, costs of public transport have significantly increased, without the compensation from both aforementioned parties increasing to the same levels.

[@bouli3576]

Pay is perhaps higher in the US but ... out of that pay you must deduct your pension scheme, your sick scheme, you have student loans to pay back, etc ... so in the end I'm not sure about who earns the most !

[@MrToradragon]

It should be that way, there is no reason why those should not be part of your gross salary, not hidden somewhere in employers books. Whether the systems in USA work or not is whole another question.

[@suzygeysen1628]

@@MrToradragon are you defending a system where there is no social security or solidarity?

[@MrToradragon]

@@suzygeysen1628 No, I am defining shift in tax burdens. Great problem I see is that people do not know how much their labour really cost as significant portion of it is just hidden from them. Somebody here gave example that if employee gets 4k, the employer must pay another 2k to the states. I would change so the employee would get 2k more (significant hike in minimal wage, that is another institution that i would get rid off as it basically says "it is OK to pay just so little") and then taxes and all other fees would be increased accordingly. The system still would have same amount of money, yet it would be much more cleaner and transparent. Maybe I would even throw in mechanisms of real insurance, not just stupid salary based one that states use almost exclusively.

[@suzygeysen1628]

@@MrToradragon I'm sorry but you're explanation doesn't make it any clearer. I do agree that preferably there shouldn't be minimum wage, but if they keep it, it should at least be an amount that allows people to work 1 job, not 2 or 3 to make ends meet. Don't companies and employers alike pay taxes? It is where I live. Mine is deducted from my salary as 'prepayment' every month. The company pays its own taxes.

[@MrToradragon]

@@suzygeysen1628 There are often taxes and then bunch of fees that they must pay per every employee they have. So when your gross salary is, let's say 4k, your net salary is like 3k, but you cost your employer additional 1-2k per month, so the state does not take only 1k out of your salary, but in fact 2-3k. This means that in fact income tax together with other taxes and ransoms is not some 25 %, but 40 - 50 % So basically you see only about half of what you have earned. What I would suggest is to shift those money that company have to pay to be transferred to salary sum and then deducted from employee's salary. That way the employee would see true costs and ransoms he must pay. In Czechia people are still angry that wages are low, yet they do not understand that they cost much more than they see on paycheck as gross salary. Thus way they would clearly see all the taxes they must in fact pay. Those hidden costs should be visible to those who in fact pay them. it is even worse problem that state ransoms called health, social and pension insurances, that are insurances just by name as they do not take in account nothing else than your gross income. They do not take in account your health status, whether you take care of yourself, how hard is it for you to find a job, what ar the chances that you will ever get pension, whether you have some property you can live in or whether you will need assistance with rent in pension and so on...

[@gerhard6105]

Where i worked, we could use the company car for 500km/year. When we had to take a ferry or so, you gave the ticket to the chef and he paid it back. We had am30 minutes break and a 15 minutes coffeebreak at 15 h. Once i wanted to make a 4 weeks holiday and so i had to write a letter to the management. They agreed per mail. We had 5 weeks f holiday and several other days off. We had an Eindejaarsbonus that was very good and we could take a holiday anywhere in the year. Shifted hours were 125%, saturdays 175% and sundays ofcourse 200% paid. An 10% dicount for the collective healthcare insurance. Lunch was not paid but soup and drinks were for free.

[@-_YouMayFind_-]

We also dont need big cars, big houses, materialism depending on the person at least.

[@dekdekker338]

so the avarage salary of a american is 55k a year for 1790 hours a year. a dutchmen makes 46.6k a year for 1381 hours a year so the dutchmen makes more money if you look at it that way.

[@markjacobs1086]

Speaking from experience, even 0hr contracts aren't actually anything bad. I never actually had a single day where I wasn't required to come work during the time I had a 0hr contract (4 years).

[@Ticklestein]

13:13 - We do have the "BouwVak" - time when the big construction companies go on break, basically, that's when most people go on vacay.

[@azelie7130]

In Poland not having a written contract is mostly illegal situation and your vacation time depends on your work experience. If you work under the 10 years you have 20 days off per year, and when u work more than 10 yrs, you have extra 6 days. And lunch break really depends on the employer. In some companies employees have long break for eat and chill, but in general you eat your lunch any possible time in 15 minutes.

[@hanes2]

here in sweden u have upto 6 months trial period, then the company is forced by law to permanently employ you.... or you go your separate ways.

[@JoviesHome]

That's an interesting way to do it. Thank for sharing.

[@suzygeysen1628]

Exactly how it is in Belgium. You can only work a maximum of 6 months trial period. Either your employer is happy with your work and offers you a permant contract or you leave the company. I feel sorry for American employees. There's more to life than just work. I'm single and compared to married couples I pay more taxes, but I'm OK with that because I know I'll not have to pay all of my hospital fees if ever I should end up in one. My doctor referred me to the hospital because she was concerned about a possible brain injury. Several tests done (including an mri scan) over the course of one day and paid only my doctor's fee (27 euro). And even if I never need to go to the hospital again I know people less fortunate than myself will get the same care because we al' contribute to social security. That solidarity is important

[@weeardguy]

@@suzygeysen1628 On the other hand though, you Belgians still have the good old 'two-way' system in place (Ziekenfonds, wat jullie geloof ik ziekenkas noemen) and private insurance (particulier verzekerd). Basically the way it was in The Netherlands, before our stupid government decided 'the market' would figure it out for themselves and opening the market up would get the prices for insurance and such down (haha... what a joke, the consequences are very real by now). I wish we still had the same system in The Netherlands...

[@dudoklasovity2093]

I might add, as a person who worked as a manager in a corporate company in Europe and in USA there's much more drama in USA teams. In Europe people work more together to achieve a goal. In USA, there's high emphasis on individualism, which is not inherently a bad thing, but they like to plot and scheme a politicize. People have large egos, agendas, they quarrel don't like each other, make up stories, trash-talk colleagues. It's like managing a kindergarten with adults in it, I swear. The difference in mentality s huge!

[@Peeertje]

A lunch payed by the office is not "normal", you've been lucky. It's normal here to bring your salade/sandwich. Or to buy something in the canteen. Or make yourself something while you are in the office kitchen. And off days are to keep people happy/realaxt so they can work better ;)

[@carolinacosta5020]

How is your job search going? Your timing is perfect! I am about to sign my first contract!

[@andywilliams7323]

Another point. Doing your wage taxes is much less complicated and time-consuming in the Netherlands. Because if you're an employee for a company, then your taxes on your wage are automatically calculated and deducted for you. You do not have to calculate and fill out that information yourself on a tax return form. In fact, in many European countries, citizens who are employees never ever have to fill out an annual tax return. As all of their taxes are automatically calculated and deducted for them.

[@scottguffie7759]

I know it is here in the UK.

[@crocus5632]

What? Do you actually have to file a tax declaration in the US obligatory every year if you are an employee? In Austria it is only for cash back on family bonus. Which can also be considered by the employer, so then you don't have to do it at all.

[@dutchyjhome]

And yet dear Jovie, you've forgotten one thing when it comes down to having holidays....Your employer will pay you a 8% of your year income holiday money in the month of May in addition to you normal May-salary pay. This 8% is almost an extra full month of payment to spend for you to go on holidays. So every May your salary is twice the amount you normally get per month. Yeah, it's like I said before: we actually take care of each other here, because we want to, not because we are forced to do so.

[@JoviesHome]

Thanks for adding that!

[@Conclusius68]

It's not extra money. The employer has earned it. The money is traditionally being payed in may, but it could just as well be divided over all the months of the year, leading to a higher salary. It has nothing to do with taking care of each other.

[@RioliXardiU]

Yeah we do get that, but it is more of a tradition that we get it in May in full. Not because we like to take care of each other, because that 8% comes from your salary, so they could've given me a higher salary in general. But it is cool,I like the extra cash in May ^_^

[@j.p.vanbolhuis8678]

@@Conclusius68 True, but consider this: How many people would spend this 8% extra every month and then NOT have the money to go on holiday. Remember people adapt their expenses to their income... So the way of collecting it through theyear and paying it in one month is a way of caring for people.

[@Tweeteketje]

Interesting video, love it! About lunch: it's not always the case that the employer provides you with lunch. I think especially smaller sized companies provide free lunch. And yes, lunch at the office almost always takes 30 minutes indeed :) I actually like longer lunch breaks, and now I'm working at home, I don't have travel time so I take a longer lunch break 😊

[@corneliusantonius3108]

I loved the big cheap canteens when I did manual labour in a distribution center for supermarkets.

[@JoviesHome]

Enjoy your long lunch break!

[@laulutar]

I'm currently on a career break (so I can finish the Masters degree I started years ago), but I usually work for a Finnish non-profit. Because I've worked at my employer for long enough, I get the equivalent of 6 weeks off each year. I had asked to take 3 weeks off over the summer, but our director asked if I wanted to take 4 weeks off instead (but then understood when I said I wanted to save some time to potentially visit family in the UK). And we usually hire extra staff to pick up what slack can't be picked up by those of us who're working at any given time.

[@Dutch3DMaster]

If a company shuts down completely over the summer or winter holidays, it tends to be due to the product they sell: my brother works at a company that makes equipment for campings and the big surge in requests for new equipment tend to come in near March-April when the weather starts to improve and camping site owners check what is broken and needs fixing. During the summer this kind of activity tends to be at it's absolute peak (especially if something like a severe thunderstorm happens and multiple pieces of equipment fail after a direct or indirect lightning strike) during the summer holidays, and at the absolute low during the winter holidays, which is when they shut down for about 2 weeks. Some companies can do this in the summer holidays because the service they provide is rarely in demand during the summer, up to the point they can consider something to be needed in the next season.

[@JoviesHome]

Thanks for sharing!

[@kopitiful]

I often take four weeks off and that's never an issue. Imo it is a failure in Management Level if the company can't or don't want to find a temporary replacement.

[@gijsvanlieshout]

About the salaries: since taxes, transport etc. are paid for by the employer, that's something you don't have to pay. So in comparing this stuff, compare the bottom line of cost for one worker and what is left of that salary for you to actually spend. Compare complete packages and the amount you get to spend yourself each month.

[@lindabakker3727]

let's not forget that your employer also pays for your pension.

[@eppoh66]

I'm Dutch and only had a employer who payed lunch once in my 30 years working carreer. So I wouldn't say it's tipical Dutch. You've just been lucky! I'm now a teacher and have no break at all. I lunch with my pupils and work on... Off course I do have about 11 or 12 weeks vacation, so you shouldnt pitty me...

[@JoviesHome]

I guess I have been lucky. Enjoy your vacation weeks!

[@Conclusius68]

Ah, but do you really have vacation? In education, vacations are usually spent doing leftover work, of which there is plenty, with a possible exception of the summer holiday.

[@eppoh66]

@@Conclusius68 there is alleays something to do, bit yes, it really is vacation to me. In the Sumner the kids have 6 weeks and I have 5. I consider the vacationdays as overtime payed out in vacationtime...

[@chesleecallum6392]

That contract means more, it protects you against sudden surprises and get sacked. A company can't just fire you for nothing. I'm so surprised that you never had a contract! I'm used to have a job with permanent contract. I would not even hop over if a company would not. Btw i make my lunch at home en bring it to work ;-)

[@ariebhjd]

Salaris In Nederland heb je niet alleen betaalde vakantiedagen maar meestal heb je ook vakantie geld bij je salaris. Ongeveer 8% van je salaris krijg je bovenop je maandsalaris meestal in mei. En dan is er ook nog een dertiende maand in sommige beroepen of een einde jaars bonus bij je decembersalaris. Wat de lunch betreft is het niet algemeen dat de werkgever die betaald. Wel is het zo dat die in het bedrijf zelf wordt gegeten. Soms is er een kantine waar er voedsel gekocht kan worden maar het is ook heel normaal dat je je eigen eten meeneemt naar je werk. Als je onverwacht moet over werken, werk langer dan je normale daglengte dan wordt er meestal wel eten door de werkgever betaald en je krijgt vaak ook 150% salaris en overwerk in het weekend vaak 200% salaris. Zo weer wat aangevuld op jouw 6 punten. Niet iedere werkgever is hetzelfde maar ik geloof wel dat je in Nederland wel beter af bent als werknemer. Ga zo door en ik hoop dat je weer snel een baan naar je zin hebt. Misschien kun je een volgende keer uitleggen hoe het in Nederland werkt als je zonde werk komt te zitten ( buiten jouw eigen schuld om) dingen al WW en hoeveel % dat is van je laatste salaris, hoe lang je daar recht op hebt afhankelijk van hoe lang je werkzaam bent geweest en dat je na die periode nog niet zonder geld zit maar dat je dan de bijstand in gaat. Met een minimaal bedrag per maand om van te lever. En als dat niet genoeg is voor al je onkosten je dan aanspraak kunt maken op bijvoorbeeld huursubsidie. Succes met het vervolg en fijne feestdagen.

[@j3nn1ff3r]

I live and am from south America and will always remember my boss once went looking for me because I had vacation time missing. Then again the next year was you we owe you vacation, start thinking when you wanna leave. We here have 1month of paid vacation, and if is not taken the company has to pay a fee or pay you extra if you finish your employment without taking your vacation time 😉😁

[@sideutsz]

And of course in rostering and hiring of staff employers take the leave days into acount. So technicaly hire enough staff to be fully staffed whole year round. E.g in case of 10 employees 1 person extra to enable the 40 weeks holiday leave. Employers invest in their employees resulting in good work/life balance.

[@janaduskova8694]

Love your video, it make my day happier. Quick break from all this war stuff happening (I'm Czech, central european, of course I' so involved, helping and watching). About this, I guess all EU has almost the same. Holidays (4 weeks, normally 5 or 6), paid during illness... We do in fact have three months 'probation' in job, than rest of the year. You can get contract for another year, then it has to be 'forever'. About the lunches-we have half of hour that is part of working hours, normally it is an hour, so you have 'extra' 30 minutes - 8 hours shift including 30 miutes break takes 8 hours, if the break is 1 hour - well, you spend here 8,30 hours. We normally don't get lunches for free (sometimes breakfasts or snacks), but we gets 'stravenky', sort of checks just for food for every working day. You can pay in restaurants or buy food in shops with it. We often don't get payments for travel(just very low or very high paid jobs), but public transport is so cheap in here. One year ticket for Prague (all, buses, metro and trams) cost 140 euros. And it is like that everywhere. Just love Europe! And Слава Україні!

[@HomeWorkouts_LS]

That’s awesome that employers pay for transportation! Since I live in a big US city I’ve noticed that more as a job benefit & my first job paid for my monthly train pass 👍🏻

[@ORA1978]

Not all of them do. And it's not mandatory to do so. Typically the more high end jobs do and if required for work to travel; that's reimbursed; but home - work travel not necessarily. If the employer doesn't reimburse home - office travel than these cost are exempt from income tax. (Provided your commute is >10km)

[@HomeWorkouts_LS]

@@ORA1978 Ok thanks. Yeah I kinda figured she meant high professional jobs since she’s a lawyer I think? I’m an architect so possibly some firms offer similar benefits.

[@Dances-st6id]

In France it's mandatory that employers pay 50% of any monthly or yearly pass for any public transportation

[@weeardguy]

A word of warning though: it's basically a fee they provide you with. It usually does NOT cover the total costs at all and the leftover costs are (usually) only partially deductable when filing your income tax. I recently switched jobs from an employer that provided me with a 19 cent/kilometer transportation compensation (if that is done by car or public transport does not matter) to one that only provides 15 cent per kilometer (which is really low, 19 cent is basically a standard). A friend of mine however, does not get a single penny of compensation from her employer at all.

[@oldscooljoe6194]

To clarify a bit, you can only be fired legally if you dont follow the contract specified rules. If you are fired anyways, or without any good reason you can choose to take it to court and get paid anyway. 0 hour contracts are less secure as you might not be fired but the boss can just not shedule you for weeks. Altough i think there still is a rule that every week you work you should at least get a average week loan or maybe half for the duration of the contract.

[@VaneezyTV]

I love your thumbnail 😅😍

[@Frahamen]

So I live in Belgium and my employer does not provide lunch. There is a general rule though that if the provider do not provide us with lunch we got "maaltijdcheques". It's a debit card that you can use in most shops and restaurants you can use to buy anything as long as it's food. We do have a cafeteria where with a microwave to make something but we usually make boterhammen before we leave. We eat them in the cafeteria. We have 30 minutes lunch break too. We do get drinks from the employer too.

[@teunofferman4276]

On salaries: In the Netherlands the nett income is lower than is the US but the gross income is approximately the same. This is because your employer will have to pay all kinds of insurances, taxes and retirement fees over your gross income.

[@funkygawy]

One place the Dutch are ... well, let's just say not so generous ... is with public holidays. There aren't that many - just 7-9: New Year's, maybe Good Friday (not all employers recognize), Easter Monday, King's Day, Ascencion & Pinkster, Memorial Day (only every 5 years), then the long run to Christmas and the day after Christmas. It's a nice burst of holidays in April & May, which is nice after the long winter. One catch: they don't move the holiday if it falls on a weekend day: and this year, Christmas, day after Christmas, and New Year's all fall on a weekend - so no holiday for us! (Next year it happens again with Christmas & New Year's on Sunday... at least the three religious feast days in the spring are guaranteed for Monday). I've heard some rumblings for declaring Emancipation Day too (Ketikoti, 1 July) but who knows ...

[@JoviesHome]

I hope you will enjoy all the holidays that you have!

[@funkygawy]

@@JoviesHome Definitely - and my company gave us 3 extra days for the end of the year anyway :)

[@firefox5926]

2:53 also encourages businesses to save money long term by getting them to have as many people working from home as possible :)

[@karinvisser599]

I had a lot of jobs in the Netherlands, I only had one job at a small office where there was a paid lunch. In the rest was a kantine where you could buy a lunch or bring your own. Also at my present job (university) lunch is not paid for.

[@ORA1978]

Lunch prices are often significantly reduced compared a commercial lunch room though

[@FFM0594]

Don't confuse take-home pay, which is yours to spend freely, with US salaries, which you have to dip into a lot to pay your various insurances you have included in the NL. As far as lunch, many employers will subsidise your lunch or may even include it. That's a perk, though, and is not standard.

[@ChrisMcCandless77777]

sometimes we get free lunch at our work place. if you have to work overtime until the evening, it is more than normal for the employer to pay for your evening meal. And don't forget the vrijdag middag borrel. Friday after work we eat some snacks and drink together wit our colleagues. And yes afcours the employer will buying for it. the idea behind this is simple food connects and contributes to a good working atmosphere among colleagues

[@JoviesHome]

It's true, food really does connect us!

[@RickTheClipper]

I don't know about the Dutch situation, in Germany You have 6 weeks of holiday, on average 1-2 weeks paid sick leave plus some get a Christmasgratification plus many public holidays, In short, we work 10 months but get paid 12-13 months. If You take Your annual salary and divide it by 10, Your "monthly" income for the months You actually work will result in a raise. What price tag do You put on the absence of gun violence, school shootings, the right to abortion, and professional treatment of mental and drug diseases. paid maternity leave, quality of food etc

[@thechosenone729]

We have salary and meal vouchers so you can pay with them in shops or just pay for food in restaurant if you order something.

[@RFGfotografie]

1. I live about 5 miles from where I work and even get paid transport (Reiskosten). It's a nice bonus of a few cents :P

[@Jacob_._Roberts]

I wish I was lucky enough to grow up and work in The Netherlands.

[@rosab8026]

Las condiciones laborales en Europa se fueron ganando mediante los cambios impulsados por el movimiento de los ciudadanos.....eso puede ser posible en cualquier sitio...difícil, si ( mis abuelos y padres ganaron los derechos de que hoy dispongo) pero posible, también.....hay que conseguir despertar a la gente y cambiar su mentalidad....fácil ahí no va a ser, no....pero merecedor, si.

[@HomeWorkouts_LS]

I can’t believe my current job only gives 3 sick days A YEAR but starting next year my state requires 6 sick days. Saving us from these awful companies rules! Still not like the NL but better than what a lot of people get like you mentioned.

[@CobisTaba]

That one month contract is normally not really a different contract. It’s a probation period within the first contract (generally a year indeed, but not always).

[@tiablasangoriti8347]

What a Fantastic Country! I'll see you in Two years.

[@mela.1060]

Hi Jovie! Thnk you so much for this informative video. I know you posted a year ago but it was still helpful. Would you please share some online platforms and websites some job search links in Europe?

[@RFGfotografie]

When you talked about sick days I missed the mention that. You get a certain days free with full pay. And after that you get 75% pay. And if you have dissabilities, the UWV will pay most of your income.

[@JoviesHome]

Thanks for sharing!

[@notaviking6997]

I know that the Netherlands and Germany are two different countries, and that this is not a topic here, but a good story fits everywhere. We discussed the corona pandemic, then there was one who commented on the German thoroughness, he got this answer. I live in Germany. My husband sent a question to his health insurance about a problem. They sent him a letter in the mail just to say thank you for the email, and they would get back to him soon. I think it sums up German efficiency!

[@JacobBax]

It's was automated answer?

[@JoviesHome]

Wow, that is efficient! Thanks for sharing!