US people are very open people. You're easy to approach and strike up a conversation with. You are adventurous; you love to see the world and explore it. The stories of an individual are SO interesting to you because you care SO much about the plight of your fellow individual, even if the top doesn't think about the greater good. People are willing to throw money at a complete stranger or a child, just because they told you they're struggling. It sucks that it has become necessary but it's amazing how generous you are, with what little you have. You are so expressive in your uniqueness, that observing people walking down the street is almost its own fashion show. You are so passionate about almost everything for better and for worse and loyal to a fault. So many of you fight, tirelessly, every single day, to try and change the system and allow your voices to be heard. So many of you face discrimination or worse, yet you stand tall and you push back. You are enterprising people, taking advantage of every little scrap you can find, be it coupons, vouchers, public assistance, free services, whatever, anything and everything just to navigate and keep up with a system which has been stacked against you for decades. The first COVID vaccine came from Pfizer, a US company, in collaboration with BioNTech from Germany, and was heavily supported by Dolly Parton. These are some of the good things I think about the US. I find the US, as a country, to be really messed up and constantly disappointing my limited expectations, but the US people have some of the brightest stars in their midst and I wish your country took better care of you.
When MacD started in Denmark they tried to treat the danish workers the same way as they do in America. But our union wouldn’t hear of it so they gave MacD an ultimatum. Pay your workers a fair pay or we won’t have you in our country. MacD wouldn’t budge so every company that had anything to do with MacD refused to bring them their grocery’s. No meat, no food at all, no coke, MacD had nothing for month and couldn’t open for guests so finally the gave in and that’s how we do it in Scandinavia.
Hi Conn, I’m half Danish, thanks for that story, interesting. It just goes to show you that sometimes you have to go head to head and force them to change. Not with violence but with ultimatums such as this. And are MCDs making a loss in Denmark? Of course they’re not! 😂 but their shareholders are p’eed off that they couldnt extract more profit from them.
Yes it's true that no country is perfect. You also said that America has a lot of good things it does for it's people. This video showed you how other countries treat their workers far better than America. Other videos will prove that their health care and education systems and their transportation are superior to the USA. Please let me know exactly What is good about the USA. What other country has mass shootings of school children. What other country has it's citizens murdered by its police on a regular basis. What other civilized country forces it's people into debt just so that they can have children or medical treatment to save their lives.
Hun, you sound a little angry in this comment. Are you okay? If our video is making you this mad, we may not be the people for you. We laugh and have a good time over here.
@@TheDemouchetsREACT They don't come across as mad to me, more frustrated that Americans often say there's lots of good things about the USA yet they never list what those things are. We're not angry, we're more disgusted by the US system that allows all the above awful things to happen. To outsiders, it doesn't make sense that Americans automatically defend their country and say it's a good place to live, when from the outside the USA is basically a third world country.
@@jessbellis9510 We'd rather not have this energy aimed towards US (not USA). We've acknowledged our country's flaws, but we don't hate America. This is our birthplace and our home. Although we do our duties as citizens, we are not politicians.
@@TheDemouchetsREACT I can understand that, but I don't think the commentor meant to insult or be aggressive towards you personally. Like a lot of other commenters on here I'd also be interested in a video from your perspective telling us about the great parts of living in the USA.
@@TheDemouchetsREACT i traveled to the States already more than 10 times. I find that the people are friendly and hospitable. But a majority of Americans are naive, a bit "brainwashed" ( america is the greatest country on earth) and don't know a lot about the rest of the world. Also, that is my believe, religion is too much intertwined with the politics. And guns ... don't get me started. And to this day i still don't understand that americans keep on defending their " way of life" and believe that we, europeans, have less freedom in our socialist countries . But as i said, i do love the people in general. And i love the nature and the wildlife. Your national and state Parks are absolutely amazing. The hiking is really great. And the people i met were always friendly and helpfull (even if they voted for Trump). And i like the free refills at the fast food chains (so many of them). But what is it with all the ice in it???? From the moment i step on board of the airplane, i'm like " no ice, please". Also, except maybe in the cities, there are less agressive drivers than in my country. I don' t like shopping, so the fact that i can buy everything i need at the beginning of my vacation (camping gear, food, bearspray, ...) at Walmart is easy. So people and the country itself (scenery and wildlife): dumbs up. Labor practices, political system, religion, guns, education... WTF. But i have some hope, because people like you, have an open mind and are learning. When i was young, i always wanted to emigrate to another country ( the States, not anymore). I love nature and we lack that. I started to travel to several countries in Africa, to India, to the states, South America,... and i realised that,exept for the nature, i live in a great country and i am able to live the life i want. Maybe more people should travel to a country with another culture. You learn a lot.
It’s madness. No Europeans would agree to work under those conditions. In the U.K. paid vacation time is a minimum of 5.6 weeks by law. Sickness pay is by law. Full time and average working week is 35hours. Healthcare is something you never worry about. Maternity leave in the U.K. is 52 weeks. Plus of course you get support with Child Benefit, universal credit etc (to support you if your income is below the acceptable threshold). Of course, no medial bills for having the child. It’s wild to think that none of this is provided for in the USA. Best wishes to you both. I enjoy your reactions. 🙂 from the UK 🇬🇧
I would really love to see their take on why the USA is great to live in, what is so unique and good about america. From the outside its like this: Healthcare nope Education nope Safety nope Work life balance nope Food nope Worker and consumer rights nope Living expences nope And the only positives i got from comments that the people are friendly (ppl are friendly in 90% of the world) and the nature is lovely (also 90% of the world has nice nature)
Thats not quite true. Minimum holidays in the UK is 20 days (4 weeks). And statutory sick pay is a small amount not comparable to a normal week’s pay packet of even the lowest paid worker. And your maternity leave statement is totally misleading. Statutory Maternity PAY is something quite different to ‘leave’. Leave simply means an employer cant fire you for taking UP TO 52 weeks. But in terms of PAY, its 6 weeks at 90% of your normal earnings, and then just £156/roughly $190 per week for the next 33 weeks. After the combined 39 weeks you get nothing. A few employers may have policies where they top up your pay (partially) for a fixed time period, but many do not. So yes there’s a few protections that america doesnt have, but nowhere near as great as you’re making out.
@@FrankCastlesConscience good morning Chris. Yes. No country is the greatest. Every country has issues. Your comment is interesting. I visited London with my husband. Its beautiful. Won't to see more of GB. Have a nice day.
It is 28 days paid annual leave. 8 of these days can be bank holidays depending on your contract. You're right about the maternity and sick pay though.
Is watching all of these comparison videos depressing you? As an Australian, it's sad to know that many in the US have spent their lives believing the propaganda that these videos expose.
Thing is, this is needed, the US is falling behind other modern countries in so many key areas and Americans need to be aware of it so change can really happen. If an American just assumes they are the best, nothing is going to change and in fact, things could get worse. Sometimes looking outside the borders can be really helpful as a wake-up call for how others do things, if enough people do that, maybe real change in the US can happen, unfortunately, not enough people do that and things are likely going to get worse not better and it's all because the people and governments in the US have allowed corporations to get too powerful, something we keep in check in other countries and especially in EU countries where they prefer big governments.
Isnt it ironic how America starts and fights wars to bring "their" freedom and structur.. even though its the worst in many ways 🤣 Even afghanistan gives more paid parental leave.. well it dis, before it got bombed to oblivion.
You said nobody has pointed out the good stuff about America. Why don't you tell us what (for you) is good about America that other countries don't have?
I am totally open for that. Because I feel both ashamed for being so extremely privileged here in Germany. Some things have to be better in the USA, right?
Maybe we should do a video on this and a few other questions you guys have. We're still learning what other countries have to offer, but we'll share our thoughts on moving abroad. Feel free to share good reasons we should move to your country (Black, American, Family-Oriented).
In Sweden we have 480 days of payed parental leave to share between the mother and father because we believe very strongly in that we do equal amount of work in the homes. Love and peace from Sweden.
Canada is behind you, sadly. The women can take up to a year off, and just recently, the dad can use 4 weeks of the leave, and still can get full pay. If I were to move from Canada, I would want to move to Sweden,Norway or Denmark! Stay safe, stay Strong Ukraine 🇺🇦
Germany is quite complicated, i know its up to 3 years for both parents per child unpayed and payed for 14 weeks at i think 60% but it depents on how it is split between father and mother. the mother has to take off some time bevore and after the birth which is called "mutterschutz"-"mother protection" and there is "kindergeld" - "child money" which is money you get from the government for each child you have no matter your income social status or anything until your child is either 18 or has a payed apprenticeship . and theres "elterngeld" - "parents money" which can be applied for when you take parental leave, which pays some money as an salary compensation. But i think the biggest difference between europe and the us is that giving birth doesnt cost 10000$ or more
I have noticed that many American movies have a recurring theme - a guilt ridden parent who works too much and misses kids' football games, birthdays, other important events... and it makes for resentful teenagers who blame their parents for not being there, they become strangers etc. Bad policies can harm families. And what really drives me up the wall is American politicians swearing on the sanctity of family while they support such family wrecking policies. It's really sad, hope you can make it better, at least locally if not in the whole of US.
He didn't even mention that in Denmark we have 5+1 weeks paid vacation, and paid sick days, the two are NOT combined, if you become sick while on vacation remember to call in sick to work, so you get your vacation days back. Also that benefits are NEVER tied to how many hours you work, it's completely irrelevant if you work 1 hour or 100 hours.
I am genuinely shocked that the US do not have any mandatory annual leave, and if they do, it’s only 10 days. In the UK it’s against the law for any company not to give you annual leave, and for most of Europe too!
"It's only 10 days" doesn't make sense. It's not a hard rule, just the typical average. As you say, there is no mandatory leave, period, but just as some jobs here in Europe offer extra days on top of the minimum, so some jobs in the USA do too. Also some give days if you've been there a while. So, some people could get 0. 1, 2, 5, 10, 15 days, or whatever, depending on the job. "10 days" may be more typical, but some people get more, and most get less!
@@welshgit having lived and worked in both countries (plus my profession is exec recruitment so i deal with remuneration packages every day) there is a MASSIVE difference between holiday allowances in the UK and USA (and i suspect the EU and the USA, although EU law isnt part of my remit). In the UK the legal minimum is 5.6 weeks (ie 28 days) which can, if the employer wishes, include the 8 bank holidays ie, a minimum of 20 days plus banks. The US has ZERO minimum days at a federal level as far as i’m aware, and its left to State Law in certain states, as well as employers themselves to decide. That’s a crazy situation and means the balance of power lies with employers. The US government should do more to protect citizens physical and mental wellbeing, you need time off to recharge and enjoy yourself, it cant just be constant work without breaks. Many US employers offer somewhere around 10-15 days plus maybe a bit on unpaid leave. In my view that has an impact on your quality of life compared to Europe, let alone all the other government benefits we get in The UK/Europe.
@@FrankCastlesConscience Thanks, but I wasn't arguing against that. I was saying that just as some "good" jobs in the USA may give some days so many "good" jobs in Europe may give some days OVER THE MINIMUM. I think I was on 38 days at my last place (London), if I recall correctly. EDIT: Oh, I see. When she said "10 days", maybe she was referring to some locals state laws? In which case, I misinterpreted her post! Cheers
I love your country as a tourist from Australia. Have been 3 times. But, I would not like to live there. It’s not your fault but we are so lucky here (even though some don’t think so) in Australia. Gun control, 4 weeks annual leave, paid maternity leave and very safe schools, we have bad too, but overall it is the best place to live. Love you two and cheers from this Aussie grandmother 🇦🇺
I remember reading about a fellow who worked as a programmer. He contacted an employer about a job that listed (among other things), at least 5yrs experience with a specific program. He asked how it was possible to have 5yrs of experience, when he had only written the program 2 yrs ago.
When you reacted to the McDonald's employees being discredited you said what we all know, Americans and non-Americans alike: the employees themselves are as hard-working, dedicated, and willing to work as anybody else. Quite the opposite of lazy or unskilled. What SecondThought pointed out is that only in America will McDonalds employees recieve such low average wages that they can't even afford a single bed-room apartment in 90% of the country. All other countries have enough regulations in place that McDonalds employees get a better deal than in the USA. And STILL McDonalds makes more than enough profits in those countries to make it worth their while. So why isn't that same deal applied to the USA? Simply because the US regulations let the companies get away with exploiting their employees. With that being said, yeah, that makes up most of the reasons why CEO's and top managers in the USA make the big bucks, while the average US employee (or even low wage employee) is living more or less from paycheck to paycheck. Quite contrary to the American dream of "Work hard and honestly and you can get rich yourself." Sorry to say this, but it simply doesn't work that way. That's why we (the rest of the world) need open-minded Americans to wake up to the reality that quite a few things need, desperately NEED to change in the USA for you to have a chance at a better life. Because your country COULD easily, very easily afford it. If only the right regulations were put in place that curbed the excessive, and unfortunately completely legal exploitation of broad swaths of the population. Everything else in that video should be understood in that same notion. It is not to bash America, but meant as a wake-up call. Because America has such an incredible, yet sadly, untapped potential for improvement for all, both inside and outside the USA. Because we need a happy, content America that is not focussed anymore on external threats and constant fear of imaginary opponents. We need an America focussed on improving their own country, which in turn will help the rest of the world become a better planet for everybody else as well. So it will be a win-win for all involved if we can get these notions of equitable, fair treatment to circulate more widely in the broad American consciousness. There does not even have to be the slightest bit of the typical 'socialist scare' in it. All of the countries listed in the video have (at worst or best, depending on how you define them) social market economies. Which is definitely NOT the same as a 'socialist economy'. We have to make US citizens understand that *social* programms are not the same as *socialist* programms. Those two words are about as different as *sexy* and *sexist*. Related, but definitely not the same.
Well said. But socialism isn't a dirty word. Australia and New Zealand have social democracies, they're great. Of course people think of North Korea and China when they think of socialist governments, and assume that is the same as social policies like minimum wage and free health care.
Exactly, this is not about bashing america but a wake-up call. I have no vested interest in america other than its a nice English speaking nation and sad to see a democracy being exploited. No country is perfect for sure but i’d say the US has more problems than most and that uneven system of wealth doesnt help. I hate socialism, but capitalism without laws to reign in companies and also protect individuals is a bad place to be.
I've been to Europe many times- actually lived in France for a while. They pay everybody enough to live, and have national healthcare- and the the food is like only ten percent more.
the fact that in the United States there is no payment for parental leave. will make many workers all over the world heartbroken. because all countries even the poorest countries in Africa guarantee an average of 14 weeks with 100% paid parental leave. and developed countries in Europe have an average of 52 weeks of 100% paid parental leave.
In Ontario, Canada our minimum wage is $18 an hour. British Columbia minimum wage is $16.00, Alberta minimum wage is $15.00, Saskatchewan minimum wage is $13.75, Manitoba minimum wage is $13.75, Quebec minimum wage is $14.50, New Brunswick minimum wage is $12.75, Nova Scotia minimum wage is 12.75, Prince Edward Island minimum wage is $13.75 and Newfoundland and Labrador $14.00 minimum wage.
You kept saying the workers at MacDonalds aren't lazy - AND HE AGREED! He said that a lot of people had the PERCEPTION that they are lazy. Just because you two are nice and compassionate does not mean that there aren't others [as we have seen time and again on videos on YT } who scream at low paid workers - throw drinks and fries at them if the order is wrong - it just takes asking nicely, but no. There are many ignorant people who treat these low paid workers in the USA worse than a stray dog!
Yeah, the conservatives have cut taxes for the rich and put them on the poor and middle-class. We pay income tax, state tax, federal tax, Social Security tax, and then sales tax (some states don't have sales tax), and have no real safety net or amenities to show for it.
here's how it works in Austria (generalization, but it comes pretty close for everyone): you work a normal standard job for which you get paid, but you get about 50% of the wage, which is still more than you get in the us. the other half is taxes, universal healthcare/health insurance and your pension (automatically deducted, you don't have to file a thing unless you are self-employed...then you have to do all that yourself). In return, you get paid vacation which your employer HAS to let you take (you may not get the days you want alle the time, because there may be a rotation with your co-workers, but you get all your paid leave) In addition to that you can either take additional days off to compensate for overtime, or your overtime gets paid in higher than normal wages. if you work on national holidays you get paid more for those hours worked. If you are sick, you go to the doctor, for which you either pay very little or nothing at all. you then send in your notice to your employer, who has to accept that. you come back to work when you are healthy. For medicine, you pay a standardized fee (6,5 euros per whatever medication in Austria for example. there are very few medications where this is not the case - i have not encountered a case personally) There are some additional medical costs, if you want special stuff, like white fillings instead of the standard one at your dentist. The standard is free, for the special ones you pay about 60 euros for example, and you get half of it back. Kids get glasses and braces for free, you just have to file with the state insurance (adults have to pay). If you stay at a hospital, your procedure is free, but you pay daily costs for your meals and your bed, which is about 10 euros per day and that's it. If you get pregnant, you have a few weeks of paid medical leave (full wages) before and after your birth. after that, you have a few options: you can decide how long to stay home and decide how long you or your husband stays home. It will not be the full amount of your wage at that point and the percentage of your wage varies dependant on how much time you take (I also never had a child, so i don't have the exact figures). Ther eis at least one year of free child-care in state-run pre-shool. Education is far cheaper than in the US (in my opinion it should be free). Granted, there are private schools that cost money, but in order to go to university, they are not needed, becaus ethe school system is way better (but could still be improved - i have a lot i coud say here). For university, here in Austria, citzens pay about 30 euros per semester for the insurance and student membership fees for the minimum time alloted to complete the educational program. After that you pay about 400 euros per semester. Your retirement stats af the age of 65 years for males, less for females. you can retire sooner, if you accept a lower pension (which has already been deducted from your wages as I have mentioned earlier) You get many things cheaper as a pensioner (entance fees for museums etc.) Many museums are free for children (in other countries state run museums are free for everyone). Food is of better quality containing way less hormones or other additives, bacause the state and the EU have stricter rules on that (it could still be improved in my opinion). Is everything perfect? hell no. If i look at the current political situation in Austria, I want to barf. However, we have laws in place that make it very difficult to take those things we have away (even if some political parties are trying very hard to do so unfortunately). every system has its problems, but is still prefer it here over the US after what I have learned how people get treated there.
Sometimes I get so sad (and pissed) when I think about how ordinary people in the US have to struggle just to live a normal life .... to make ends meet. If you can't afford you'r f****d! It really gets to me. Americans are hard working people who deserve better! I hope I don't sound rude but I can't understand how you cope to squeez in everything else in life outside of work. Life is full of struggle and sorrow (and joy) as it is.
While the video is harsh in its messaging, it is painfully true; however, what's important to remember is that it's not meant to make Americans feel bad, it's meant to get you mad and I'm glad to see the fire in both of you. The more our US cousins seek the truth, the more they will realize that they can do better and that's always a good thing. It breaks my heart when I see other people in the US watching videos like this for the first time and you can see the very moment they come to realize they've been lied to, the look of WTAF is unmistakable. On the upside, once my American cousins see the truth, the determination they show to know more and thus hope for change is a wonderful to witness. The US is not a terrible place, it just has a Top 1% problem that needs to be addressed. As the ad used to say on TV: "The More You Know". As always, a great video. Be well my friends.
You see in the UK mcdonald's wouldn't get away with paying low wages because we have law's in place that's probably why best buy pulled out of the UK and why Walmart would not set up shop here they did own Asda for a while but they sold it because it wasn't making enough profit for them
My daughter went on maturity leave at 7 months and went back to work when my granddaughter was 8 months old she had full pay throughout also her husband had 4months off full pay as well that was 12 yrs ago we live in England
The thing is that America don't have laws for these big companies to pay their workers well and have benefits... just asking " why the US people put up with these stuff" ... I always see on tv all the protest but never for the stuff like education, health care, proper wages etc...so why not protest for the right stuff that benefits everyone.
1. you need education to know what the important stuff is. 2. you need time to protest off work which most cant do because in the us you can legally starve to death without water and electricity if you dont pay the bills so most are rather going to work to somehow survive instead of going to protests that have just a minimum chance of changing something. 3. americans are pritty much brainwashed by the medias to belive false stuff like "social healthcare is killing old people" and crazy stuff like that
In South Africa, Zimbabwe and other southern African countries, Chritmas is in summer. And there is nmigrant labour. Most businesses close down from middle of December to middle of January as people go to their home areas.
I am old so there was no Parental leave in Australia when I had my children, but my husband’s boss gave him two weeks paid leave when I had my babies. I guess it depends on the respect the boss has for his workers.
Here in New Zealand, I think McDonald pay their workers between $16-22 per hour including paid vacation and pension. If they earn less than $14k per annum, our government can help you with some form of support and also we also have free healthcare. We don't live for work but work to live. I love the fact that I can spend time with my family. I only work 4 days a week and get paid for the full week and have 32 days paid vacation.
Oh my god. $20 dollars an hour?! We barely get a quarter of that here! We have to work three jobs just to earn that amount of income an hour. That's stunning. I'm shocked.
that's the problem with "the land of the free" not only are the workers "free" to do what they want (not really) but also the government and big companies are free to "enslave" their people. sorry for the bad word slave. i know about the past from the UAS it was very bad but nothing else it be when workers are treated like that.
Here in Canada 🇨🇦 same sex couples get 100% paid paternity leave and maternity leave and straight couples get 100% paid paternity leave and maternity leave. Both parents get off for 1 year and can get an extended to another 18 weeks paid 100% and then your job is there for you guaranteed. Another thing if you have a serious sickness like injured in a car accident you get a sick benefits from employment insurance and your can't fire you because it's not your fault if your injured in a car accident. We also have Workplace Safety Insurance Board which the Employer pay WSIB premiums for the amount of employees you have. This is to protect employees if they get injured on the job and if they do they report it to there supervisor. They call an ambulances take them to the hospital and pay for it. WSIB pays for your treatment and pays for your wages while off and the employer must pay the employee there entire shift they were injured on. The employer has to file an FAF for within 48 hours. We also have the Canadian Occupational Safety Board and the Ontario Human Rights Commission.
Iam from Austria 🇦🇹. Iam a ICU Nurse. I am 56 have 42 days paid vacation days, when Iam 63 leave my job and will have a pension. 70% of my current wage. Free education, shorter working hours, fair wages, free health care, paid parental leave for mother and father etc. These rights we have over here came with a price. People in the last 100 years demonstrated, fought and died for the rights we have in today's Europe. And I will always be grateful for their efforts and persistence!
I live in the UK and have to pay American taxes on every dollar I earn on RUclips that comes from an American viewer. The US is the only country that does that. Not only that but in my own country I have living allowance of £150 ($181) a week that can’t be taxed. If I earn £151 a week only the £1 can be taxed. But in the US every dollar you earn is taxed.
You can try to make yourself feel better by saying „there’s no perfect country“ or „America has good things, too“, but that doesn’t change the facts. So get out there and DO something about it. Americans need to elect representatives who will DO something. They need to join and support unions that DO something. Make videos encouraging people to DO something. Yes, these videos will educate a few people, but unless these people are motivated to take action things will get worse, not better.
Couldn't have said it better. If u want America 2 get better, the people need to b motivated & mobilised 2 DO s'thing. In another reaction it was implied that people in other countries r weaker as we've had "everything handed to us". NO, WE FAUGHT HARD for the rights we have now. We didn't just roll over & take it. We fought & many people lost a lot in the process, their reputations,livelihoods & even lives. Many US citizens were/r ready 2 revolt over bullshit lies (the election was rigged) or the mere suggestion of gun reform but they aren't willing 2 fight 4 what we see as basic rights, that affect everyday life like a decent working wage, equal access 2 healthcare & safety.
As it is the end of the year, I have the problem of having to plan my paid holiday for the next year! It is a struggle, since it is my companies policy, that you have to plan at least 75% of those days ahead at the end of the year and are not allowed...only in case of disaster, to take those days over into the new year or you will lose those days. Now, having 34 days of paid holiday (not considering those normal holidays days such as easter, christmas, all hallows, assumption day etc. pp.) it is really hard to plan those damn 26 days in advance! So, as I have a deal with my ex who does the school holidays and I have to do about 20 days...those are easy to come by....but what do I do with my additional 14 days? Really hard!
Up here in Canada, we had 1 yr paid, one year unpaid parental leave, split between either parent. Recently it changed to 18 months paid, but I'm not sure how long unpaid is now. 🤔
It's one thing to love your country but at the same country to recognise its flaws and try to fix them, and improve as a society, and a completely different thing to idolise your country, worship it, and believe it's perfect, the best, and no 1 in everything. The latter makes a society complacent
Commenting before watching, found your videos an hour ago, and this is the one i was hoping to find. It's intressting to see Americans react to this one.
One thing I also heard a little bit coming through when you talked about McDo, you only see it as stepping stone or a job where people can learn valuable skills, but what if a person just wants to work at McDo for his entire life? Without any intention of getting a new job or working their way up the ladder. I am not saying it is very common or the best thing for anyone to do, but shouldn't that be possible? To live a decent life even if you are "just" work at McDo.
If a person would like to work there for their entire life, then so be it. BUT! You will have situations like this: www.google.com/amp/s/nypost.com/2022/07/01/burger-king-employee-who-didnt-miss-a-day-for-27-years-gets-300k-in-donations/amp/
In the UK there is no difference between the benefits of full time and part time staff and all companies have to pay into staff pensions. There is also a legal minimum of 28 days holiday
In Estonia we have a year and a half of paid maternity or paternity leave, which parents can divide between the two of them and in total you can stay at home with your child for three years without having to worry about losing your job, the other year and a half are unpaid though.
Duwane Huffaker wrote why people such as Senators Sanders and Warren are not socialists, they are advocates for implementing the fundamental purposes and guiding principles stated in the preamble of the your U.S. Constitution. These principles are to provide for the general welfare of your great country. Schools, roads, police and fire protection, Social Security and Medicare, those are social programs. You already have some social programs in place. You are the only First World Nation that doesn’t have a lot of social programs, due to Capitalism, mainly Health Care. President goes to the hospital, paid by your taxes, this is a social program, and there is more, a lot more, look into this. Please do not confuse Social Programs with Socialism, they are two very distinct things.
18:03 blows my mind. My country by law, maternity leave 12 months, fathers get a month, payed leave. That one month was critical to help my wife adjust to the new reality a newborn brings and allowed me the time to meet and create a bond with my children.
In New Zealand, the minimum wage is $21.20 per hour, workers get 4 weeks paid leave per year, 10 paid sick leave per year, people whose job requires them to work public holidays, they're required to be paid a minimum of time an half for the whole day plus another day set aside for a paid day off work. Also for parents there's 26 weeks paid parental leave. The Government will pay for 20 hours of childcare per week, also the Government will pay $60 per week for the 1st year of the child to help pay for nappies, formula and any other expenses for the baby, after that the Government provides child support payments, which are income based. Also you don't need to worry about health insurance, as we have universal healthcare.
Pay parental leave In Estonai is that max 156 weeks .Yes it is 3 years but average salary and max 3.000 euros /month. + parents can choose who get wit child home (who have bigger salary ) . Estoniana avaerage salary is 1748 euro/ 1762 USD bruto per month.
In my province of British Columbia, Canada, the full time work week is 40 hours and that means that overtime has to be paid if your week goes over 40. Time and a half. If you work on a statutory holiday, you also get overtime pay, but double time. If you don’t work on the stat, but have worked 15 of the previous 30 days, then you are paid for the stat as straight time. The minimum wage here is as of June 1, 2022 is $15.65 per hour. My son worked at Best Buy while he was in university and got about $16.00 per hour, and that was 10 years ago. He also got benefits. I cannot understand why US corporations don’t take lessons from other countries and raise standards in their own country. Seems strangely shortsighted. Workers who make more are happier and stay, creating stability, lower training costs due to turnover and more loyalty to the employer. Two years ago he was working at Lowe’s in a management position, and also got benefits. Both were non-union jobs. And by law, non-union workers are entitled to annual vacation of two weeks, their pay checks include 4% vacation pay. In BC, workers now get 5 days paid sick days annually. Workers CANNOT be let go for calling in sick. There is variation on these numbers in other provinces, and a MacDonalds worker still can’t afford much, but it is getting better.
my last comment on the other video about leave US was bc of this video :( it was not my intention offend you guys, you seems to be amazing parents and u are doing everything for their happiness ❤️
Don't worry we know that you are proud of your country. As we are proud of ours. I would say many people are willfully ignorant of things outside their immediate culture in many countries.
A mother in the Netherlands gets a total of 20 months paid maternity leave at least. A father only received 3 paid days after the birth. In 2018 that changed after 2 months so that the father can also develop a good bond with his child. With my daughter of 9 years I was at home for 3 days and with my 3 year old son I was at home the first quarter. I am surprised about the rules in America regarding employer and employee. Outrageous it just looks a bit like slavery. Here in the Netherlands you get paid everything from the government if you don't have a job of course no jackpot (1100 euros) ($1200). That's to pay all the rent and bills.
Hey Love YOUR REACTION ❤️ I love Second Thoughts videos I've learned a lot about how we can make our country better from his videos. I hope you guys react to more. I really like you guys vibe and I'm gonna watch more of your videos ☺️
Hey there, I’m from the Netherlands and I’ve recently been watching videos like yours. There is a channel with videos you might find interesting, it’s called ‘not just bikes’, it’s an American living in Amsterdam and he does a lot of comparisons about road infrastructure and city planning and shows a lot of how things are set up around here compared to the USA. Anyway, I like your videos, you guys got good energy 😉 stay safe and healthy!
In Poland where I came from mother got 12 months 100% paid but she can "donate" 4 months to father. Father gets 2 weeks 100% paid "afterbirth" to help mother of his child, get drunk with buddies that he is finally father and stuff. On top of that you can apply for unpaid leave (with free healthcare included) up 3 years until your kid is 4 years. During that time you still can work like 20h a week (it can't collide with your time taking care of kid) so it's part time job in OTHER company. Your employer can do shit about it because he can't fire you. That's how my wife stayed for year with our child and then I stayed for another year with him.
I highly you recommend you watch Michael Moors documentary Where to Invade next. It shows you the differences with other countries and policies America should steal ie healthy school meals, free education etc. You should be able to find clips on RUclips.
In Canada 🇨🇦 I am Canadian the McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, Harvey's, A & W, Starbucks, KFC, Taco Bell, Tim Horton's, Popeye's, Chinese Food Restaurants, Pizza Stores make $22 an hour and Management gets paid $28 an hour plus benefits medication benefits, Dental benefits and health benefits. Plus 3 weeks paid Vacation for 1 year with the company, 5 years 4 weeks, 10 years 6 weeks, 15 years 6 weeks, 20 years 7 weeks the maximum a year. You can't carry it over. Also unlimited paid sick days here in Canada but you must give a Doctor's note after 3 days sick.
I suspect the hard part to really wrap one's mind around is that what the USA calls worker's benefits, the rest of the industrial world calls legally mandated workers rights. To add insult to injury, some companies in other nations also offer optional benefits to their employees on top of their legal rights, such as giving their employees a discount on products purchased at the store they work at, or a free meal each day at the restaurant they work at if they're working full time and have a meal break during their working hours. What's good about the USA? I guess there's plenty that's good about it if you own your own business, or know the right people, or are already excessively wealthy. There was a point in time when the USA was a great nation and a world leader in many things, a time when many other nations aspired to be just like the USA. But that's not the case anymore. The USA has fallen behind much of the rest of the world in so many things, that the rest of us that are old enough to remember how much we all admired the USA can only weep in sorrow at seeing what it has turned into and be grateful that we were born and raised elsewhere.
In the UK the National Living Wage is reviewed and increased each year. Currently it's £9.50 ($11.26) for adults an increase of 6.6% From last year. No one pays tax on the first £242 ($287) of wages per week. Also there is no health insurance costs to pay from that. We pay National Insurance as part of our tax system. So maternity pay is a benefit from that. It is paid by the government through the company. At 90% of weekly earnings for 6 weeks then 90% or £156.66 ($185.71). Whichever is lower for 33 weeks with the option of another 13 weeks unpaid. It is illegal for a mother to return to work less than 2 weeks after giving birth or 4 weeks if she works in a factory. Also to help with the cost of bringing up a child. No VAT (sales tax) on children's clothes or shoes. Child benefit payments of for the first child £21.80 ($25.84) for additional children £14.45 ($17.13) Per week from birth untill child is 16 or 20 if still in full time education.
The purpose of videos like this is not to bash America but to educate ordinary Americans about the problems that exist in America today, especially given how over the last forty years the corporations have amassed more and more power and can now pay the politicians to put in laws that suit them and there profits than the ordinary working person. Problems that the politicians have a vested interest in sweeping under the carpet with the narrative that America Is The Best at Everything and Everyone Else is Jealous of Us. I have seen numerous Americans react to this video since Second Thought first released it and it always gets me how shocked and horrified Americans are when these truths are presented to them and the great lie that is practically drummed into them from birth is exposed for what it is.
I have worked part-time in Denmark as a night watch, no degree required and only 3 days of training (at full pay), had some previous experience so wages ranged from $26.5 to $37.5 an hour depending on the day of the week and if it was on a holyday, you are still entitled to 5+1 weeks' fully paid vacation a year + holydays and a pension scheme, as for taxes, then in general the average income taxes are around 40%, but truth of the matter is that there are different brackets and deductions (in fact, union and unemployment insurance payments are automatically deducted) and the first around $6,300 you earn a year is totally tax free. So, working part time I was actually paying less than 30% income taxes, and obviously you need no health insurance because it's paid for through taxes and no need to save up money for an education either, because a higher education is free, including university college, in fact you even get paid to study (I think up to around $885 a month if you do not live at home with your parents, because then you only get up to around $380 a month).
I saw an article just this week where it said down in Florida if you earn minimum wage to afford a two bedroom apartment you would have to work 106 hours a week for it or work 2.6 jobs
Good healthcare and employment are the foundation of a good life. When your healthcare is based on your income and your employment is based on servitude is that a country you want to live in?
Be aware most things are cyclical. I can remember when the US was a beacon for the West. At the moment your country may be stumbling but it will regain its feet. If it weren't for bad times we wouldn't realised how good we usually have it.
America has never been this amazing country that everyone wanted to live, and now it's become bad and its awful. It's never been good , or the best. It's literally brainwashing. If Americans can be convinced that they live in the best country they are never going to want better conditions. Its pretty genius, but incredibly evil.
I think EU labor laws is very strict. They can’t fire workers just like that. US companies or other foreign companies have to comply the EU laws. It’s a workers rights they’re focused. France has 37hrs per week. I have 5 weeks a year paid vacation.
Well... They paint an image of European labour that is a little bit too nice. In the Netherlands, one of the biggest supermarket chains was notorious for hiring teenagers at 16 and then firing them on their 18th birthday. The reason: That's when they have to start paying benefits.
In the UK you have to earn £12,571 ($15,091) before you pay any tax at all. The rate then starts at 20% and goes up to 45% for those making over £150,000 ($180,000) However you don't pay the same rate on all the money you earn.
....and in addition to paid vacation, there are sick days. These are NOT counted towards the holiday but are additional. In Germany, parents also receive child sick days: if the child is sick (and cannot go to day care), one parent can stay at home. The salary for these days is paid by the health insurance.
This is why brexit was such a big thing here in the UK 🇬🇧. The EUROPEAN commission rules for work etc were very beneficial. Hopefully things don't change that much 🙏 🤞
Dane here, Here is a link to a video, that will make this McDonald's case a little more nuanced and also explain why it is possible for Danish McDonald's workers, to get that kind of pay. Furthermore, it will also smash through some "facts" told by both Left and Right politicians. I hope you'll enjoy it.
Go and see: Where to Invade Next is a 2015 American documentary film written and directed by Michael Moore.[3][4] The film, in the style of a travelogue, has Moore spending time in countries such as Italy, France, Finland, Tunisia, Slovenia, Germany, and Portugal where he experiences those countries' alternative methods of dealing with social and economic ills experienced in the United States.
Here in Norway parents get about a year (at full pay) to share between them when they get a baby; some for the mother (including a few weeks before the birth), some for the father and the rest they can share as they want to. This is paid for by the state. I don't have children, but I'm _very_ happy to pay for my fellow citizens to stay home with their babies; it's good for society as a whole not just that family
Standard UK holidays at most companies: 24-25 days PLUS 8 national holidays. National healthcare: free UK income tax (approx) : 0-$15000 zero 15000-65000 33% 65000-180000 42% Companies have to offer a workplace pension which is a minimum 8% combined (employer/employee) usually in a 5/3 or 3/5 format, but many companies offer matched pensions up to 10% and some offer more. A lot of companies offer 4x life assurance (ie if you die 4x your salary will be paid to your family) Work notice period: US is 1 day/1 week, in the UK most full time positions are 1 month and with a few years service often go to 3 months. Redundancy: do americans get anything? Don’t know. But in the UK we will usually get (minimum) 1 week’s pay for each year employed. I used to live in america in the 90s. Its a good country and in some ways we all still look to it as a benchmark. But these things plus gun violence for me drops america well down the list. 30-40 years ago maybe america was the best country, but i think others have overtaken it. Japan has a totally different type of problem with a growing older age population. America could change and it would mean less billionaires but millions more happier less stressed people. But will it change? Probably not until there’s some sort of revolution i suppose 🤷🏼♂️
Many Australian companies see that working for Maccas as a positive thing owning to the high level of customer service and many young people work for maccas so they can put this in their resumes. They are paid a good working wage, also getting paid leave etc. all the produce is Australian from Angus beef to the veggies. Cafe maccas turns out a great coffee toasties ,banana bread,macaroons and the list goes on
Guys, sorry to write it down like that, but USA citizens have a total f##cked up idea about TAXES. Taxes is not the problem. Every country has and many bigger than yours. The problem is that your Federal Govrms and States Govs doesnt manage them properly to secure that everyone gets what they need. The idea of the americans that " you are on your own and you have to FIGHT for your survival" is the root problem. YOU ARE HUMAN.... YOU LIVE IN A DEMOCRACY... NOBODY SHOULD FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL. The mismanagment is the problem. And because your politician and religious - monetary ideas stands on the side of "hands-off of my life mr. President" and always treat you like they did in the past the colonial europeans, they educated you (generally) that the problem is the Taxes. Not, the problem is systematic and it is so because you believe that only a God have a say in your lives and Govs are bad messing with yours. Thats they tought you in order to steal your work and your lives value without a saying....and then blame the Taxes or every nation that somehow hate you.... Sorry guys, i ve studied political and economical theories and USA is the most problematic country, that said from Greece, a near (if not) buckrupt country that always like to blame everyone else except looking inside!!! And something for last... all your problems comes down to the word REGULATION!! USA thinks regulation (state or federal) is bad !! All the other western democratic CAPITALISTIC world, knows that WITHOUT REGULATION you dont have a country, you have slavery field ready to be exploited by big corporations. If you were paying the same or even more taxes, but your kids had free school, your vacation was at least 22 days/year, pension points for every day, free (for most part) healthcare (or at least low cost), cheap and easy access transpport... guess what...YOU WOULD NOT CARE ABOUT TAXES.... YOU WOULD SCREAM THAT POLITICIANS DOENST COLLECT MORE BY THE RECHIER in order to have more state amenities and making your life easier.... But not.... Americans (US) are always on their own in order to feel the heroes in the of the day, having destroyed their lives in meantime.
There are a lot of great thing in the US I´d like to see and enjoy. For starters I love nature and there are so many beautiful places there. Beautiful ppl too. I think the best thing about these videos is if the beautiful people realize what they deserve from their elected politicians etc too. Because everyone is important.
US people are very open people. You're easy to approach and strike up a conversation with. You are adventurous; you love to see the world and explore it. The stories of an individual are SO interesting to you because you care SO much about the plight of your fellow individual, even if the top doesn't think about the greater good. People are willing to throw money at a complete stranger or a child, just because they told you they're struggling. It sucks that it has become necessary but it's amazing how generous you are, with what little you have. You are so expressive in your uniqueness, that observing people walking down the street is almost its own fashion show.
You are so passionate about almost everything for better and for worse and loyal to a fault. So many of you fight, tirelessly, every single day, to try and change the system and allow your voices to be heard. So many of you face discrimination or worse, yet you stand tall and you push back. You are enterprising people, taking advantage of every little scrap you can find, be it coupons, vouchers, public assistance, free services, whatever, anything and everything just to navigate and keep up with a system which has been stacked against you for decades.
The first COVID vaccine came from Pfizer, a US company, in collaboration with BioNTech from Germany, and was heavily supported by Dolly Parton.
These are some of the good things I think about the US. I find the US, as a country, to be really messed up and constantly disappointing my limited expectations, but the US people have some of the brightest stars in their midst and I wish your country took better care of you.
❤❤
I hope sooner rather than later, that this country can exceed your expectations. :)
@wim One would say that the system is not broken but works just as intended 😏
When MacD started in Denmark they tried to treat the danish workers the same way as they do in America. But our union wouldn’t hear of it so they gave MacD an ultimatum. Pay your workers a fair pay or we won’t have you in our country. MacD wouldn’t budge so every company that had anything to do with MacD refused to bring them their grocery’s. No meat, no food at all, no coke, MacD had nothing for month and couldn’t open for guests so finally the gave in and that’s how we do it in Scandinavia.
Even sign makers, electricians, plumbers down to the companies that could make their bags joined the strike. McD was bent over the proverbial barrel.
Hi Conn, I’m half Danish, thanks for that story, interesting. It just goes to show you that sometimes you have to go head to head and force them to change. Not with violence but with ultimatums such as this. And are MCDs making a loss in Denmark? Of course they’re not! 😂 but their shareholders are p’eed off that they couldnt extract more profit from them.
Lmao, thats Gangsta in the best way
I think this was one of the many reasons why Walmart was shut down in Germany.
Employers in Australia look at people who have worked at McDonald's as very great hires
Yes it's true that no country is perfect. You also said that America has a lot of good things it does for it's people. This video showed you how other countries treat their workers far better than America. Other videos will prove that their health care and education systems and their transportation are superior to the USA. Please let me know exactly What is good about the USA. What other country has mass shootings of school children. What other country has it's citizens murdered by its police on a regular basis. What other civilized country forces it's people into debt just so that they can have children or medical treatment to save their lives.
Hun, you sound a little angry in this comment. Are you okay? If our video is making you this mad, we may not be the people for you. We laugh and have a good time over here.
@@TheDemouchetsREACT They don't come across as mad to me, more frustrated that Americans often say there's lots of good things about the USA yet they never list what those things are. We're not angry, we're more disgusted by the US system that allows all the above awful things to happen. To outsiders, it doesn't make sense that Americans automatically defend their country and say it's a good place to live, when from the outside the USA is basically a third world country.
@@jessbellis9510 We'd rather not have this energy aimed towards US (not USA). We've acknowledged our country's flaws, but we don't hate America. This is our birthplace and our home. Although we do our duties as citizens, we are not politicians.
@@TheDemouchetsREACT I can understand that, but I don't think the commentor meant to insult or be aggressive towards you personally. Like a lot of other commenters on here I'd also be interested in a video from your perspective telling us about the great parts of living in the USA.
@@TheDemouchetsREACT i traveled to the States already more than 10 times. I find that the people are friendly and hospitable. But a majority of Americans are naive, a bit "brainwashed" ( america is the greatest country on earth) and don't know a lot about the rest of the world. Also, that is my believe, religion is too much intertwined with the politics. And guns ... don't get me started. And to this day i still don't understand that americans keep on defending their " way of life" and believe that we, europeans, have less freedom in our socialist countries . But as i said, i do love the people in general. And i love the nature and the wildlife. Your national and state Parks are absolutely amazing. The hiking is really great. And the people i met were always friendly and helpfull (even if they voted for Trump). And i like the free refills at the fast food chains (so many of them). But what is it with all the ice in it???? From the moment i step on board of the airplane, i'm like " no ice, please". Also, except maybe in the cities, there are less agressive drivers than in my country. I don' t like shopping, so the fact that i can buy everything i need at the beginning of my vacation (camping gear, food, bearspray, ...) at Walmart is easy. So people and the country itself (scenery and wildlife): dumbs up. Labor practices, political system, religion, guns, education... WTF.
But i have some hope, because people like you, have an open mind and are learning.
When i was young, i always wanted to emigrate to another country ( the States, not anymore).
I love nature and we lack that. I started to travel to several countries in Africa, to India, to the states, South America,... and i realised that,exept for the nature, i live in a great country and i am able to live the life i want. Maybe more people should travel to a country with another culture. You learn a lot.
It’s madness. No Europeans would agree to work under those conditions. In the U.K. paid vacation time is a minimum of 5.6 weeks by law. Sickness pay is by law. Full time and average working week is 35hours. Healthcare is something you never worry about. Maternity leave in the U.K. is 52 weeks. Plus of course you get support with Child Benefit, universal credit etc (to support you if your income is below the acceptable threshold). Of course, no medial bills for having the child. It’s wild to think that none of this is provided for in the USA. Best wishes to you both. I enjoy your reactions. 🙂 from the UK 🇬🇧
I would really love to see their take on why the USA is great to live in, what is so unique and good about america. From the outside its like this:
Healthcare nope
Education nope
Safety nope
Work life balance nope
Food nope
Worker and consumer rights nope
Living expences nope
And the only positives i got from comments that the people are friendly (ppl are friendly in 90% of the world) and the nature is lovely (also 90% of the world has nice nature)
Thats not quite true. Minimum holidays in the UK is 20 days (4 weeks). And statutory sick pay is a small amount not comparable to a normal week’s pay packet of even the lowest paid worker.
And your maternity leave statement is totally misleading. Statutory Maternity PAY is something quite different to ‘leave’. Leave simply means an employer cant fire you for taking UP TO 52 weeks. But in terms of PAY, its 6 weeks at 90% of your normal earnings, and then just £156/roughly $190 per week for the next 33 weeks. After the combined 39 weeks you get nothing. A few employers may have policies where they top up your pay (partially) for a fixed time period, but many do not.
So yes there’s a few protections that america doesnt have, but nowhere near as great as you’re making out.
@@FrankCastlesConscience good morning Chris. Yes. No country is the greatest. Every country has issues. Your comment is interesting. I visited London with my husband. Its beautiful. Won't to see more of GB. Have a nice day.
Much love to you!
It is 28 days paid annual leave. 8 of these days can be bank holidays depending on your contract. You're right about the maternity and sick pay though.
Is watching all of these comparison videos depressing you? As an Australian, it's sad to know that many in the US have spent their lives believing the propaganda that these videos expose.
Thing is, this is needed, the US is falling behind other modern countries in so many key areas and Americans need to be aware of it so change can really happen.
If an American just assumes they are the best, nothing is going to change and in fact, things could get worse.
Sometimes looking outside the borders can be really helpful as a wake-up call for how others do things, if enough people do that, maybe real change in the US can happen, unfortunately, not enough people do that and things are likely going to get worse not better and it's all because the people and governments in the US have allowed corporations to get too powerful, something we keep in check in other countries and especially in EU countries where they prefer big governments.
Yeah, it's quite depressing ..
For person who was born in USSR and saw it's collapse at (or is it in?) mid-teens.
Isnt it ironic how America starts and fights wars to bring "their" freedom and structur.. even though its the worst in many ways 🤣
Even afghanistan gives more paid parental leave.. well it dis, before it got bombed to oblivion.
@@revertedrf978 What? Your logic is crazy. You are in denial. Of course you are falling behind. How can you even argue this point?
@@NebraskaGonvilleJones your just saying falling behind without explaining your reason of saying that
You said nobody has pointed out the good stuff about America. Why don't you tell us what (for you) is good about America that other countries don't have?
I am totally open for that.
Because I feel both ashamed for being so extremely privileged here in Germany.
Some things have to be better in the USA, right?
5000 types of cereal and unlimited drink refills?
😂
...
Maybe we should do a video on this and a few other questions you guys have. We're still learning what other countries have to offer, but we'll share our thoughts on moving abroad. Feel free to share good reasons we should move to your country (Black, American, Family-Oriented).
In Sweden we have 480 days of payed parental leave to share between the mother and father because we believe very strongly in that we do equal amount of work in the homes. Love and peace from Sweden.
Canada is behind you, sadly. The women can take up to a year off, and just recently, the dad can use 4 weeks of the leave, and still can get full pay.
If I were to move from Canada, I would want to move to Sweden,Norway or Denmark!
Stay safe, stay Strong Ukraine 🇺🇦
Germany is quite complicated, i know its up to 3 years for both parents per child unpayed and payed for 14 weeks at i think 60% but it depents on how it is split between father and mother. the mother has to take off some time bevore and after the birth which is called "mutterschutz"-"mother protection" and there is "kindergeld" - "child money" which is money you get from the government for each child you have no matter your income social status or anything until your child is either 18 or has a payed
apprenticeship . and theres "elterngeld" - "parents money" which can be applied for when you take parental leave, which pays some money as an salary compensation. But i think the biggest difference between europe and the us is that giving birth doesnt cost 10000$ or more
The Northeuropien countrys have in my opinien, the best system in place. The rest of the countrys can just be better in "nicer weather".
480 ???????? holly shit. People are still struggling with parental leave here in France.
@@sirdavidoftor3413 Quebec does it better compared to the rest of Canada.
I have noticed that many American movies have a recurring theme - a guilt ridden parent who works too much and misses kids' football games, birthdays, other important events... and it makes for resentful teenagers who blame their parents for not being there, they become strangers etc. Bad policies can harm families. And what really drives me up the wall is American politicians swearing on the sanctity of family while they support such family wrecking policies. It's really sad, hope you can make it better, at least locally if not in the whole of US.
I can 💯 percent agree with that!
He didn't even mention that in Denmark we have 5+1 weeks paid vacation, and paid sick days, the two are NOT combined, if you become sick while on vacation remember to call in sick to work, so you get your vacation days back. Also that benefits are NEVER tied to how many hours you work, it's completely irrelevant if you work 1 hour or 100 hours.
I am genuinely shocked that the US do not have any mandatory annual leave, and if they do, it’s only 10 days. In the UK it’s against the law for any company not to give you annual leave, and for most of Europe too!
Yeah, even in the poorest countries in Europe they still have a lot more amenities than USA. It's absolutely incredible.
"It's only 10 days" doesn't make sense. It's not a hard rule, just the typical average.
As you say, there is no mandatory leave, period, but just as some jobs here in Europe offer extra days on top of the minimum, so some jobs in the USA do too. Also some give days if you've been there a while. So, some people could get 0. 1, 2, 5, 10, 15 days, or whatever, depending on the job. "10 days" may be more typical, but some people get more, and most get less!
@@welshgit having lived and worked in both countries (plus my profession is exec recruitment so i deal with remuneration packages every day) there is a MASSIVE difference between holiday allowances in the UK and USA (and i suspect the EU and the USA, although EU law isnt part of my remit). In the UK the legal minimum is 5.6 weeks (ie 28 days) which can, if the employer wishes, include the 8 bank holidays ie, a minimum of 20 days plus banks. The US has ZERO minimum days at a federal level as far as i’m aware, and its left to State Law in certain states, as well as employers themselves to decide. That’s a crazy situation and means the balance of power lies with employers. The US government should do more to protect citizens physical and mental wellbeing, you need time off to recharge and enjoy yourself, it cant just be constant work without breaks. Many US employers offer somewhere around 10-15 days plus maybe a bit on unpaid leave. In my view that has an impact on your quality of life compared to Europe, let alone all the other government benefits we get in The UK/Europe.
@@FrankCastlesConscience Thanks, but I wasn't arguing against that. I was saying that just as some "good" jobs in the USA may give some days so many "good" jobs in Europe may give some days OVER THE MINIMUM. I think I was on 38 days at my last place (London), if I recall correctly.
EDIT: Oh, I see. When she said "10 days", maybe she was referring to some locals state laws? In which case, I misinterpreted her post!
Cheers
@@FrankCastlesConscience 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
I love your country as a tourist from Australia. Have been 3 times. But, I would not like to live there. It’s not your fault but we are so lucky here (even though some don’t think so) in Australia. Gun control, 4 weeks annual leave, paid maternity leave and very safe schools, we have bad too, but overall it is the best place to live.
Love you two and cheers from this Aussie grandmother 🇦🇺
I remember reading about a fellow who worked as a programmer. He contacted an employer about a job that listed (among other things), at least 5yrs experience with a specific program. He asked how it was possible to have 5yrs of experience, when he had only written the program 2 yrs ago.
I remember being really like really shocked when I seen a mum in America have 2nd and 3rd jobs just to pay for basic necessities and struggle.
Yeah, almost makes me feel guilty that i get more money unemployed :/
When you reacted to the McDonald's employees being discredited you said what we all know, Americans and non-Americans alike: the employees themselves are as hard-working, dedicated, and willing to work as anybody else. Quite the opposite of lazy or unskilled. What SecondThought pointed out is that only in America will McDonalds employees recieve such low average wages that they can't even afford a single bed-room apartment in 90% of the country. All other countries have enough regulations in place that McDonalds employees get a better deal than in the USA. And STILL McDonalds makes more than enough profits in those countries to make it worth their while. So why isn't that same deal applied to the USA?
Simply because the US regulations let the companies get away with exploiting their employees. With that being said, yeah, that makes up most of the reasons why CEO's and top managers in the USA make the big bucks, while the average US employee (or even low wage employee) is living more or less from paycheck to paycheck.
Quite contrary to the American dream of "Work hard and honestly and you can get rich yourself." Sorry to say this, but it simply doesn't work that way.
That's why we (the rest of the world) need open-minded Americans to wake up to the reality that quite a few things need, desperately NEED to change in the USA for you to have a chance at a better life. Because your country COULD easily, very easily afford it. If only the right regulations were put in place that curbed the excessive, and unfortunately completely legal exploitation of broad swaths of the population.
Everything else in that video should be understood in that same notion. It is not to bash America, but meant as a wake-up call.
Because America has such an incredible, yet sadly, untapped potential for improvement for all, both inside and outside the USA.
Because we need a happy, content America that is not focussed anymore on external threats and constant fear of imaginary opponents.
We need an America focussed on improving their own country, which in turn will help the rest of the world become a better planet for everybody else as well.
So it will be a win-win for all involved if we can get these notions of equitable, fair treatment to circulate more widely in the broad American consciousness.
There does not even have to be the slightest bit of the typical 'socialist scare' in it. All of the countries listed in the video have (at worst or best, depending on how you define them) social market economies. Which is definitely NOT the same as a 'socialist economy'.
We have to make US citizens understand that *social* programms are not the same as *socialist* programms.
Those two words are about as different as *sexy* and *sexist*. Related, but definitely not the same.
Well said.
But socialism isn't a dirty word. Australia and New Zealand have social democracies, they're great. Of course people think of North Korea and China when they think of socialist governments, and assume that is the same as social policies like minimum wage and free health care.
@@godamid4889 yeah, even if we here in NZ have issues (and seeming to get worse by the year), we are still one of the better countries around.
Exactly, this is not about bashing america but a wake-up call. I have no vested interest in america other than its a nice English speaking nation and sad to see a democracy being exploited. No country is perfect for sure but i’d say the US has more problems than most and that uneven system of wealth doesnt help. I hate socialism, but capitalism without laws to reign in companies and also protect individuals is a bad place to be.
@@godamid4889 Social democracy does not equate to socialist either its Social not Socialist...
@@kronop8884 it does actually, to some degree.
I've been to Europe many times- actually lived in France for a while. They pay everybody enough to live, and have national healthcare- and the the food is like only ten percent more.
the fact that in the United States there is no payment for parental leave. will make many workers all over the world heartbroken. because all countries even the poorest countries in Africa guarantee an average of 14 weeks with 100% paid parental leave. and developed countries in Europe have an average of 52 weeks of 100% paid parental leave.
In Ontario, Canada our minimum wage is $18 an hour. British Columbia minimum wage is $16.00, Alberta minimum wage is $15.00, Saskatchewan minimum wage is $13.75, Manitoba minimum wage is $13.75, Quebec minimum wage is $14.50, New Brunswick minimum wage is $12.75, Nova Scotia minimum wage is 12.75, Prince Edward Island minimum wage is $13.75 and Newfoundland and Labrador $14.00 minimum wage.
You kept saying the workers at MacDonalds aren't lazy - AND HE AGREED! He said that a lot of people had the PERCEPTION that they are lazy.
Just because you two are nice and compassionate does not mean that there aren't others [as we have seen time and again on videos on YT } who scream at low paid workers - throw drinks and fries at them if the order is wrong - it just takes asking nicely, but no. There are many ignorant people who treat these low paid workers in the USA worse than a stray dog!
Yes, but that can go either way though
In South Africa we have paid sick leave, 3 months mandatory maternity leave, 3 weeks of paid annual leave. Every year we get a salary increase.
They pay taxes on $9 an hour? In Australia no body earns less than $20 an hour and you pay zero tax on the first $20000 you earn yearly
Yeah, the conservatives have cut taxes for the rich and put them on the poor and middle-class. We pay income tax, state tax, federal tax, Social Security tax, and then sales tax (some states don't have sales tax), and have no real safety net or amenities to show for it.
here's how it works in Austria (generalization, but it comes pretty close for everyone): you work a normal standard job for which you get paid, but you get about 50% of the wage, which is still more than you get in the us. the other half is taxes, universal healthcare/health insurance and your pension (automatically deducted, you don't have to file a thing unless you are self-employed...then you have to do all that yourself). In return, you get paid vacation which your employer HAS to let you take (you may not get the days you want alle the time, because there may be a rotation with your co-workers, but you get all your paid leave) In addition to that you can either take additional days off to compensate for overtime, or your overtime gets paid in higher than normal wages. if you work on national holidays you get paid more for those hours worked. If you are sick, you go to the doctor, for which you either pay very little or nothing at all. you then send in your notice to your employer, who has to accept that. you come back to work when you are healthy. For medicine, you pay a standardized fee (6,5 euros per whatever medication in Austria for example. there are very few medications where this is not the case - i have not encountered a case personally) There are some additional medical costs, if you want special stuff, like white fillings instead of the standard one at your dentist. The standard is free, for the special ones you pay about 60 euros for example, and you get half of it back. Kids get glasses and braces for free, you just have to file with the state insurance (adults have to pay). If you stay at a hospital, your procedure is free, but you pay daily costs for your meals and your bed, which is about 10 euros per day and that's it. If you get pregnant, you have a few weeks of paid medical leave (full wages) before and after your birth. after that, you have a few options: you can decide how long to stay home and decide how long you or your husband stays home. It will not be the full amount of your wage at that point and the percentage of your wage varies dependant on how much time you take (I also never had a child, so i don't have the exact figures). Ther eis at least one year of free child-care in state-run pre-shool. Education is far cheaper than in the US (in my opinion it should be free). Granted, there are private schools that cost money, but in order to go to university, they are not needed, becaus ethe school system is way better (but could still be improved - i have a lot i coud say here). For university, here in Austria, citzens pay about 30 euros per semester for the insurance and student membership fees for the minimum time alloted to complete the educational program. After that you pay about 400 euros per semester. Your retirement stats af the age of 65 years for males, less for females. you can retire sooner, if you accept a lower pension (which has already been deducted from your wages as I have mentioned earlier) You get many things cheaper as a pensioner (entance fees for museums etc.) Many museums are free for children (in other countries state run museums are free for everyone). Food is of better quality containing way less hormones or other additives, bacause the state and the EU have stricter rules on that (it could still be improved in my opinion). Is everything perfect? hell no. If i look at the current political situation in Austria, I want to barf. However, we have laws in place that make it very difficult to take those things we have away (even if some political parties are trying very hard to do so unfortunately). every system has its problems, but is still prefer it here over the US after what I have learned how people get treated there.
Sometimes I get so sad (and pissed) when I think about how ordinary people in the US have to struggle just to live a normal life .... to make ends meet. If you can't afford you'r f****d!
It really gets to me. Americans are hard working people who deserve better!
I hope I don't sound rude but I can't understand how you cope to squeez in everything else in life outside of work. Life is full of struggle and sorrow (and joy) as it is.
And it doesn't have to be that way.
While the video is harsh in its messaging, it is painfully true; however, what's important to remember is that it's not meant to make Americans feel bad, it's meant to get you mad and I'm glad to see the fire in both of you. The more our US cousins seek the truth, the more they will realize that they can do better and that's always a good thing. It breaks my heart when I see other people in the US watching videos like this for the first time and you can see the very moment they come to realize they've been lied to, the look of WTAF is unmistakable. On the upside, once my American cousins see the truth, the determination they show to know more and thus hope for change is a wonderful to witness. The US is not a terrible place, it just has a Top 1% problem that needs to be addressed. As the ad used to say on TV: "The More You Know".
As always, a great video. Be well my friends.
❤❤ you're right about that!
I really enjoyed your videos and comments
You see in the UK mcdonald's wouldn't get away with paying low wages because we have law's in place that's probably why best buy pulled out of the UK and why Walmart would not set up shop here they did own Asda for a while but they sold it because it wasn't making enough profit for them
My daughter went on maturity leave at 7 months and went back to work when my granddaughter was 8 months old she had full pay throughout also her husband had 4months off full pay as well that was 12 yrs ago we live in England
The thing is that America don't have laws for these big companies to pay their workers well and have benefits... just asking " why the US people put up with these stuff" ... I always see on tv all the protest but never for the stuff like education, health care, proper wages etc...so why not protest for the right stuff that benefits everyone.
1. you need education to know what the important stuff is. 2. you need time to protest off work which most cant do because in the us you can legally starve to death without water and electricity if you dont pay the bills so most are rather going to work to somehow survive instead of going to protests that have just a minimum chance of changing something. 3. americans are pritty much brainwashed by the medias to belive false stuff like "social healthcare is killing old people" and crazy stuff like that
The greatest insult is in the US $ where it’s written « In God We Trust ». Making mockery of the workers.
Did I hear right, that you get taxed if you are a low paid worker earning $7.25 an hour? Low wage earners in the UK are not taxed on what they earn.
And they aren't in most other countries either. But look @ the tax breaks 4 the rich in the US, it's disgusting
In South Africa, Zimbabwe and other southern African countries, Chritmas is in summer. And there is nmigrant labour. Most businesses close down from middle of December to middle of January as people go to their home areas.
Australian minimum wage has just increased to $21.38 but most companies pay above that.
I have seen the video being reacted to on several channels and I have been enjoying the reactions generally speaking.
Hello from Canada 🇨🇦. I had a year of maternity leave. My teenage son makes 17.00 an hour stocking shelves at a grocery store. Before University
I am old so there was no Parental leave in Australia when I had my children, but my husband’s boss gave him two weeks paid leave when I had my babies. I guess it depends on the respect the boss has for his workers.
Here in New Zealand, I think McDonald pay their workers between $16-22 per hour including paid vacation and pension. If they earn less than $14k per annum, our government can help you with some form of support and also we also have free healthcare. We don't live for work but work to live.
I love the fact that I can spend time with my family. I only work 4 days a week and get paid for the full week and have 32 days paid vacation.
Oh my god. $20 dollars an hour?! We barely get a quarter of that here! We have to work three jobs just to earn that amount of income an hour. That's stunning. I'm shocked.
that's the problem with "the land of the free" not only are the workers "free" to do what they want (not really) but also the government and big companies are free to "enslave" their people. sorry for the bad word slave. i know about the past from the UAS it was very bad but nothing else it be when workers are treated like that.
Here in Canada 🇨🇦 same sex couples get 100% paid paternity leave and maternity leave and straight couples get 100% paid paternity leave and maternity leave. Both parents get off for 1 year and can get an extended to another 18 weeks paid 100% and then your job is there for you guaranteed.
Another thing if you have a serious sickness like injured in a car accident you get a sick benefits from employment insurance and your can't fire you because it's not your fault if your injured in a car accident.
We also have Workplace Safety Insurance Board which the Employer pay WSIB premiums for the amount of employees you have. This is to protect employees if they get injured on the job and if they do they report it to there supervisor. They call an ambulances take them to the hospital and pay for it. WSIB pays for your treatment and pays for your wages while off and the employer must pay the employee there entire shift they were injured on. The employer has to file an FAF for within 48 hours.
We also have the Canadian Occupational Safety Board and the Ontario Human Rights Commission.
This is crazy, as a South African my mom has 1 month and 2 weeks of mandatory paid leave every year
You should check out his other video "socialism for absolute beginners"
nice reaction guys, always good to learn about other places. Subbed!
I second this!
Iam from Austria 🇦🇹. Iam a ICU Nurse. I am 56 have 42 days paid vacation days, when Iam 63 leave my job and will have a pension. 70% of my current wage. Free education, shorter working hours, fair wages, free health care, paid parental leave for mother and father etc. These rights we have over here came with a price. People in the last 100 years demonstrated, fought and died for the rights we have in today's Europe. And I will always be grateful for their efforts and persistence!
Much love to Austria! You don't have many years left until retirement! I could only imagine the things you have witnessed in your line of work.
I live in the UK and have to pay American taxes on every dollar I earn on RUclips that comes from an American viewer.
The US is the only country that does that. Not only that but in my own country I have living allowance of £150 ($181) a week that can’t be taxed. If I earn £151 a week only the £1 can be taxed.
But in the US every dollar you earn is taxed.
I enjoyed your critique of the video. I'm glad you are open-minded and open to new ideas and looking at the world we all live in. All the best to you.
You can try to make yourself feel better by saying „there’s no perfect country“ or „America has good things, too“, but that doesn’t change the facts. So get out there and DO something about it. Americans need to elect representatives who will DO something. They need to join and support unions that DO something. Make videos encouraging people to DO something. Yes, these videos will educate a few people, but unless these people are motivated to take action things will get worse, not better.
Couldn't have said it better. If u want America 2 get better, the people need to b motivated & mobilised 2 DO s'thing. In another reaction it was implied that people in other countries r weaker as we've had "everything handed to us". NO, WE FAUGHT HARD for the rights we have now. We didn't just roll over & take it. We fought & many people lost a lot in the process, their reputations,livelihoods & even lives.
Many US citizens were/r ready 2 revolt over bullshit lies (the election was rigged) or the mere suggestion of gun reform but they aren't willing 2 fight 4 what we see as basic rights, that affect everyday life like a decent working wage, equal access 2 healthcare & safety.
As it is the end of the year, I have the problem of having to plan my paid holiday for the next year! It is a struggle, since it is my companies policy, that you have to plan at least 75% of those days ahead at the end of the year and are not allowed...only in case of disaster, to take those days over into the new year or you will lose those days.
Now, having 34 days of paid holiday (not considering those normal holidays days such as easter, christmas, all hallows, assumption day etc. pp.) it is really hard to plan those damn 26 days in advance! So, as I have a deal with my ex who does the school holidays and I have to do about 20 days...those are easy to come by....but what do I do with my additional 14 days? Really hard!
I have a mate that works at McDonald's he's just bought his third investment property. Lol you can guess I'm definitely not in the US
yeah for sure mate
@@Youngesey $50k a year and living at home. It's not that hard
Up here in Canada, we had 1 yr paid, one year unpaid parental leave, split between either parent. Recently it changed to 18 months paid, but I'm not sure how long unpaid is now. 🤔
It's one thing to love your country but at the same country to recognise its flaws and try to fix them, and improve as a society, and a completely different thing to idolise your country, worship it, and believe it's perfect, the best, and no 1 in everything. The latter makes a society complacent
Mhmmm and what do you think we're doing?
Commenting before watching, found your videos an hour ago, and this is the one i was hoping to find. It's intressting to see Americans react to this one.
One thing I also heard a little bit coming through when you talked about McDo, you only see it as stepping stone or a job where people can learn valuable skills, but what if a person just wants to work at McDo for his entire life? Without any intention of getting a new job or working their way up the ladder. I am not saying it is very common or the best thing for anyone to do, but shouldn't that be possible? To live a decent life even if you are "just" work at McDo.
If a person would like to work there for their entire life, then so be it. BUT! You will have situations like this: www.google.com/amp/s/nypost.com/2022/07/01/burger-king-employee-who-didnt-miss-a-day-for-27-years-gets-300k-in-donations/amp/
I have nothing against the US, but I am happy I do not live there. Greetings from Sweden.
In the UK there is no difference between the benefits of full time and part time staff and all companies have to pay into staff pensions. There is also a legal minimum of 28 days holiday
In Estonia we have a year and a half of paid maternity or paternity leave, which parents can divide between the two of them and in total you can stay at home with your child for three years without having to worry about losing your job, the other year and a half are unpaid though.
Duwane Huffaker wrote why people such as Senators Sanders and Warren are not socialists, they are advocates for implementing the fundamental purposes and guiding principles stated in the preamble of the your U.S. Constitution.
These principles are to provide for the general welfare of your great country.
Schools, roads, police and fire protection, Social Security and Medicare, those are social programs. You already have some social programs in place.
You are the only First World Nation that doesn’t have a lot of social programs, due to Capitalism, mainly Health Care.
President goes to the hospital, paid by your taxes, this is a social program, and there is more, a lot more, look into this.
Please do not confuse Social Programs with Socialism, they are two very distinct things.
In Canada I get one year maternal leave...and it could be paternal leave, or you can split it 6 for mom and 6 for dad.
18:03 blows my mind. My country by law, maternity leave 12 months, fathers get a month, payed leave. That one month was critical to help my wife adjust to the new reality a newborn brings and allowed me the time to meet and create a bond with my children.
In europe even half time workers or low job workers gots benefits like healthcare or paid vacation.
I think🤔 here in CANADA people that work at MCDONALD'S make around $18-$21 an hour.
You get what you vote for, don't just swipe left or right, red or blue, vote for the future.
💯
In New Zealand, the minimum wage is $21.20 per hour, workers get 4 weeks paid leave per year, 10 paid sick leave per year, people whose job requires them to work public holidays, they're required to be paid a minimum of time an half for the whole day plus another day set aside for a paid day off work. Also for parents there's 26 weeks paid parental leave. The Government will pay for 20 hours of childcare per week, also the Government will pay $60 per week for the 1st year of the child to help pay for nappies, formula and any other expenses for the baby, after that the Government provides child support payments, which are income based. Also you don't need to worry about health insurance, as we have universal healthcare.
Pay parental leave In Estonai is that max 156 weeks .Yes it is 3 years but average salary and max 3.000 euros /month. + parents can choose who get wit child home (who have bigger salary ) . Estoniana avaerage salary is 1748 euro/ 1762 USD bruto per month.
In my province of British Columbia, Canada, the full time work week is 40 hours and that means that overtime has to be paid if your week goes over 40. Time and a half. If you work on a statutory holiday, you also get overtime pay, but double time. If you don’t work on the stat, but have worked 15 of the previous 30 days, then you are paid for the stat as straight time. The minimum wage here is as of June 1, 2022 is $15.65 per hour. My son worked at Best Buy while he was in university and got about $16.00 per hour, and that was 10 years ago. He also got benefits. I cannot understand why US corporations don’t take lessons from other countries and raise standards in their own country. Seems strangely shortsighted. Workers who make more are happier and stay, creating stability, lower training costs due to turnover and more loyalty to the employer. Two years ago he was working at Lowe’s in a management position, and also got benefits. Both were non-union jobs. And by law, non-union workers are entitled to annual vacation of two weeks, their pay checks include 4% vacation pay. In BC, workers now get 5 days paid sick days annually. Workers CANNOT be let go for calling in sick. There is variation on these numbers in other provinces, and a MacDonalds worker still can’t afford much, but it is getting better.
True, there is no perfect country, however the US is the perfect example of how NOT to organize you country. Sorry, but yeah.
Back in 2002, when i started working at maccas for my first job, i was 15 and getting $16 an hr plus paid leave. 🇦🇺
my last comment on the other video about leave US was bc of this video :(
it was not my intention offend you guys, you seems to be amazing parents and u are doing everything for their happiness ❤️
I hope I made myself clear 😩 I love ur reactions !
You didn't offend us, love.😊 We're glad you enjoy your time with us!
Maaaaannnn you two working your a***ses off over here on the tube god dam*
Great 👍🏻 reactions
Thanks, sir!
It’s not about the taxes it’s about the underpayment of employees.
I feel like here in Barbados someone working for that 7:25 per hour wage won't have to pay income tax.
Don't worry we know that you are proud of your country. As we are proud of ours. I would say many people are willfully ignorant of things outside their immediate culture in many countries.
A mother in the Netherlands gets a total of 20 months paid maternity leave at least. A father only received 3 paid days after the birth. In 2018 that changed after 2 months so that the father can also develop a good bond with his child. With my daughter of 9 years I was at home for 3 days and with my 3 year old son I was at home the first quarter.
I am surprised about the rules in America regarding employer and employee. Outrageous it just looks a bit like slavery. Here in the Netherlands you get paid everything from the government if you don't have a job of course no jackpot (1100 euros) ($1200). That's to pay all the rent and bills.
im a 19 year old uni student in the uk and I earn about 10 dollars an hour for my part time job lmaoooooo
Hey Love YOUR REACTION ❤️ I love Second Thoughts videos I've learned a lot about how we can make our country better from his videos. I hope you guys react to more. I really like you guys vibe and I'm gonna watch more of your videos ☺️
Hey there, I’m from the Netherlands and I’ve recently been watching videos like yours. There is a channel with videos you might find interesting, it’s called ‘not just bikes’, it’s an American living in Amsterdam and he does a lot of comparisons about road infrastructure and city planning and shows a lot of how things are set up around here compared to the USA.
Anyway, I like your videos, you guys got good energy 😉 stay safe and healthy!
You said - in America we have a lot of bad, but also a lot of good…just curious what’s good?
US😊 Not being funny.
In Poland where I came from mother got 12 months 100% paid but she can "donate" 4 months to father. Father gets 2 weeks 100% paid "afterbirth" to help mother of his child, get drunk with buddies that he is finally father and stuff. On top of that you can apply for unpaid leave (with free healthcare included) up 3 years until your kid is 4 years. During that time you still can work like 20h a week (it can't collide with your time taking care of kid) so it's part time job in OTHER company. Your employer can do shit about it because he can't fire you. That's how my wife stayed for year with our child and then I stayed for another year with him.
I highly you recommend you watch Michael Moors documentary Where to Invade next. It shows you the differences with other countries and policies America should steal ie healthy school meals, free education etc. You should be able to find clips on RUclips.
How long is parental leave in Canada?
standard parental: within 52 weeks (12 months) extended parental: within 78 weeks (18 months)
In Canada 🇨🇦 I am Canadian the McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, Harvey's, A & W, Starbucks, KFC, Taco Bell, Tim Horton's, Popeye's, Chinese Food Restaurants, Pizza Stores make $22 an hour and Management gets paid $28 an hour plus benefits medication benefits, Dental benefits and health benefits. Plus 3 weeks paid Vacation for 1 year with the company, 5 years 4 weeks, 10 years 6 weeks, 15 years 6 weeks, 20 years 7 weeks the maximum a year. You can't carry it over. Also unlimited paid sick days here in Canada but you must give a Doctor's note after 3 days sick.
I suspect the hard part to really wrap one's mind around is that what the USA calls worker's benefits, the rest of the industrial world calls legally mandated workers rights. To add insult to injury, some companies in other nations also offer optional benefits to their employees on top of their legal rights, such as giving their employees a discount on products purchased at the store they work at, or a free meal each day at the restaurant they work at if they're working full time and have a meal break during their working hours.
What's good about the USA? I guess there's plenty that's good about it if you own your own business, or know the right people, or are already excessively wealthy. There was a point in time when the USA was a great nation and a world leader in many things, a time when many other nations aspired to be just like the USA. But that's not the case anymore. The USA has fallen behind much of the rest of the world in so many things, that the rest of us that are old enough to remember how much we all admired the USA can only weep in sorrow at seeing what it has turned into and be grateful that we were born and raised elsewhere.
In the UK the National Living Wage is reviewed and increased each year. Currently it's £9.50 ($11.26) for adults an increase of 6.6% From last year. No one pays tax on the first £242 ($287) of wages per week. Also there is no health insurance costs to pay from that.
We pay National Insurance as part of our tax system. So maternity pay is a benefit from that. It is paid by the government through the company. At 90% of weekly earnings for 6 weeks then 90% or £156.66 ($185.71). Whichever is lower for 33 weeks with the option of another 13 weeks unpaid. It is illegal for a mother to return to work less than 2 weeks after giving birth or 4 weeks if she works in a factory.
Also to help with the cost of bringing up a child. No VAT (sales tax) on children's clothes or shoes. Child benefit payments of for the first child £21.80 ($25.84) for additional children £14.45 ($17.13) Per week from birth untill child is 16 or 20 if still in full time education.
Love how much your country cares for parents and children!
The original video creator doesn’t say the workers at McD are lazy, he says they are viewed by the majority of the American population as lazy.
The purpose of videos like this is not to bash America but to educate ordinary Americans about the problems that exist in America today, especially given how over the last forty years the corporations have amassed more and more power and can now pay the politicians to put in laws that suit them and there profits than the ordinary working person. Problems that the politicians have a vested interest in sweeping under the carpet with the narrative that America Is The Best at Everything and Everyone Else is Jealous of Us.
I have seen numerous Americans react to this video since Second Thought first released it and it always gets me how shocked and horrified Americans are when these truths are presented to them and the great lie that is practically drummed into them from birth is exposed for what it is.
I'm from the Netherlands..women have 16 weeks leave .father's now get 8 weeks leave ( this improved recently) I have two kids 11 and 4 yrs old..
I have worked part-time in Denmark as a night watch, no degree required and only 3 days of training (at full pay), had some previous experience so wages ranged from $26.5 to $37.5 an hour depending on the day of the week and if it was on a holyday, you are still entitled to 5+1 weeks' fully paid vacation a year + holydays and a pension scheme, as for taxes, then in general the average income taxes are around 40%, but truth of the matter is that there are different brackets and deductions (in fact, union and unemployment insurance payments are automatically deducted) and the first around $6,300 you earn a year is totally tax free. So, working part time I was actually paying less than 30% income taxes, and obviously you need no health insurance because it's paid for through taxes and no need to save up money for an education either, because a higher education is free, including university college, in fact you even get paid to study (I think up to around $885 a month if you do not live at home with your parents, because then you only get up to around $380 a month).
I saw an article just this week where it said down in Florida if you earn minimum wage to afford a two bedroom apartment you would have to work 106 hours a week for it or work 2.6 jobs
Good healthcare and employment are the foundation of a good life.
When your healthcare is based on your income and your employment is based on servitude is that a country you want to live in?
Be aware most things are cyclical. I can remember when the US was a beacon for the West. At the moment your country may be stumbling but it will regain its feet. If it weren't for bad times we wouldn't realised how good we usually have it.
that country is stumbling for like 60 years, so they taking their time on getting back up.
America has never been this amazing country that everyone wanted to live, and now it's become bad and its awful. It's never been good , or the best. It's literally brainwashing. If Americans can be convinced that they live in the best country they are never going to want better conditions. Its pretty genius, but incredibly evil.
Look at history. Most great empires don't stumble then regain their feet. They crumble,fall & ultimately fail.
I think EU labor laws is very strict. They can’t fire workers just like that. US companies or other foreign companies have to comply the EU laws. It’s a workers rights they’re focused. France has 37hrs per week. I have 5 weeks a year paid vacation.
Well... They paint an image of European labour that is a little bit too nice. In the Netherlands, one of the biggest supermarket chains was notorious for hiring teenagers at 16 and then firing them on their 18th birthday. The reason: That's when they have to start paying benefits.
In the UK you have to earn £12,571 ($15,091) before you pay any tax at all. The rate then starts at 20% and goes up to 45% for those making over £150,000 ($180,000) However you don't pay the same rate on all the money you earn.
....and in addition to paid vacation, there are sick days. These are NOT counted towards the holiday but are additional. In Germany, parents also receive child sick days: if the child is sick (and cannot go to day care), one parent can stay at home. The salary for these days is paid by the health insurance.
This is why brexit was such a big thing here in the UK 🇬🇧. The EUROPEAN commission rules for work etc were very beneficial. Hopefully things don't change that much 🙏 🤞
Dane here, Here is a link to a video, that will make this McDonald's case a little more nuanced and also explain why it is possible for Danish McDonald's workers, to get that kind of pay. Furthermore, it will also smash through some "facts" told by both Left and Right politicians. I hope you'll enjoy it.
Why do Americans feel like they deserve this? You don't, you deserve so much better.
Go and see: Where to Invade Next is a 2015 American documentary film written and directed by Michael Moore.[3][4] The film, in the style of a travelogue, has Moore spending time in countries such as Italy, France, Finland, Tunisia, Slovenia, Germany, and Portugal where he experiences those countries' alternative methods of dealing with social and economic ills experienced in the United States.
Here in Norway parents get about a year (at full pay) to share between them when they get a baby; some for the mother (including a few weeks before the birth), some for the father and the rest they can share as they want to. This is paid for by the state. I don't have children, but I'm _very_ happy to pay for my fellow citizens to stay home with their babies; it's good for society as a whole not just that family
Standard UK holidays at most companies: 24-25 days PLUS 8 national holidays.
National healthcare: free
UK income tax (approx) : 0-$15000 zero
15000-65000 33%
65000-180000 42%
Companies have to offer a workplace pension which is a minimum 8% combined (employer/employee) usually in a 5/3 or 3/5 format, but many companies offer matched pensions up to 10% and some offer more.
A lot of companies offer 4x life assurance (ie if you die 4x your salary will be paid to your family)
Work notice period: US is 1 day/1 week, in the UK most full time positions are 1 month and with a few years service often go to 3 months.
Redundancy: do americans get anything? Don’t know. But in the UK we will usually get (minimum) 1 week’s pay for each year employed.
I used to live in america in the 90s. Its a good country and in some ways we all still look to it as a benchmark. But these things plus gun violence for me drops america well down the list. 30-40 years ago maybe america was the best country, but i think others have overtaken it. Japan has a totally different type of problem with a growing older age population. America could change and it would mean less billionaires but millions more happier less stressed people. But will it change? Probably not until there’s some sort of revolution i suppose 🤷🏼♂️
Many Australian companies see that working for Maccas as a positive thing owning to the high level of customer service and many young people work for maccas so they can put this in their resumes. They are paid a good working wage, also getting paid leave etc. all the produce is Australian from Angus beef to the veggies. Cafe maccas turns out a great coffee toasties ,banana bread,macaroons and the list goes on
Guys, sorry to write it down like that, but USA citizens have a total f##cked up idea about TAXES. Taxes is not the problem. Every country has and many bigger than yours. The problem is that your Federal Govrms and States Govs doesnt manage them properly to secure that everyone gets what they need. The idea of the americans that " you are on your own and you have to FIGHT for your survival" is the root problem. YOU ARE HUMAN.... YOU LIVE IN A DEMOCRACY... NOBODY SHOULD FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL. The mismanagment is the problem. And because your politician and religious - monetary ideas stands on the side of "hands-off of my life mr. President" and always treat you like they did in the past the colonial europeans, they educated you (generally) that the problem is the Taxes. Not, the problem is systematic and it is so because you believe that only a God have a say in your lives and Govs are bad messing with yours. Thats they tought you in order to steal your work and your lives value without a saying....and then blame the Taxes or every nation that somehow hate you.... Sorry guys, i ve studied political and economical theories and USA is the most problematic country, that said from Greece, a near (if not) buckrupt country that always like to blame everyone else except looking inside!!! And something for last... all your problems comes down to the word REGULATION!! USA thinks regulation (state or federal) is bad !! All the other western democratic CAPITALISTIC world, knows that WITHOUT REGULATION you dont have a country, you have slavery field ready to be exploited by big corporations. If you were paying the same or even more taxes, but your kids had free school, your vacation was at least 22 days/year, pension points for every day, free (for most part) healthcare (or at least low cost), cheap and easy access transpport... guess what...YOU WOULD NOT CARE ABOUT TAXES.... YOU WOULD SCREAM THAT POLITICIANS DOENST COLLECT MORE BY THE RECHIER in order to have more state amenities and making your life easier.... But not.... Americans (US) are always on their own in order to feel the heroes in the of the day, having destroyed their lives in meantime.
Am I hearin that right 9$h McDonald It’s a shock to me. Never worked at McDonald’s but here in Canada min wage is 15$ hour.
There are a lot of great thing in the US I´d like to see and enjoy. For starters I love nature and there are so many beautiful places there. Beautiful ppl too. I think the best thing about these videos is if the beautiful people realize what they deserve from their elected politicians etc too. Because everyone is important.