I wouldn't say that's based on the company, but more based on the country. I'm working for a US company now for more than 6 years and you cannot believe how different they treat associates in the US and over here. Just have a look how different the guys are treated that I daily work with:
US offices: They fire you, you leave your office within one day and get nothing.
Munich office: They cannot fire you just to fire you, the workers' council would vote against that. They can offer you a cancellation agreement which gives you at least 3 months salaries without work and additionally at least 1 month salary per year you worked for the company as compensation.
US offices: 15 days of vacation in the 1st year, escalating to maybe 25 if you're with a company more than 10 years.
Munich office: 30 days of vacation right from the beginning, special days of vacation for movement, marriage, funerals.
US offices: When someone is sick, he has to spend a day of vacation for every day he's sick. If you're out of vacation days, it's unpaid leave.
Munich office: When you'sick, you're sick. Period. Even if you're sick for 3 months, you'll get paid for every single day. Hell, they even give you 15 paid days a year when your kid is sick and you stay at home because of that.
Additionally, but more of a governmental thing, maternity leave:
US offices: You'll kind of directly go from the office to the delivery room and be back full time after 3 months.
Munich office: 6 weeks before the planned birth date you're not allowed to work anymore. You get the full salary this 6 weeks and 8 weeks after birth. After that you can stay at home for an additional 12 months and get somewhat like 70% of your salary. I'm not sure about the exact % as I don't have kids ;)
I don't wanna praise my country or hijack Z2C's thread, not at all, I just want to make you aware of the shit that's going on over there. Just look:
I work for the EXACT SAME company that my colleagues work, I do the SAME FUCKING job that my colleagues do and I'm treated like a normal person and they're treated like shit just because we're sitting in different offices. Maybe you feel like my US colleagues are treated like normal persons and the german guys are treated like the kings on earth, but I feel like it's more of my first impression. That's just insane for me!
Originally Posted by: GermanGilbert