4 ms·

It sounds even more surprising to me even though I have never been to US. Although I always dreamt to... Thanks for your post. I mean no disrespect, but could

by kops 13y ago

It sounds even more surprising to me even though I have never been to US. Although I always dreamt to... Thanks for your post. I mean no disrespect, but could you please link to any references. Specially about the working hours, minimum wage and vacation etc. If it is true then I am going to do myself a favour and trash my US visa right away. I am not much of a traveller but I can always assume that grand canyon doesn't exist or that I can see it in a different life.... Edit: looks like you are right http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Working_time#United_States http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Working_time#United_States

deleted 13y ago
[deleted]
oijaf888 13y ago
Not visiting the US as a tourist due to the laws on salaried employees seems a bit short sighted.
- kops 13y ago
  I know it may sound illogical, but no decision is taken in isolation. Years ago I decided not to do anything with middle eastern countries for what they did to non-muslims, immigrants or to their own women. I still go fill gas in my car knowingly fully well how hypocritical it is, but I pray everyday for Elon Musk to succeed and for us to be off this hook. If US, a country made by immigrants, treats immigrants badly, thats enough for me to make a choice. It doesn't matter if it will have an impact or not. I really couldn't afford to care.... Having said that, if I were starving, I will go anywhere to make a living..and that really explains a lot of misery. I don't have any answers...sorry...
  - godzilla82 13y ago
    You are right, it is illogical indeed. Sorry. This is why I think every one should get a basic course in economics.
HeyLaughingBoy 13y ago
He's exaggerating somewhat. Bear in mind that no one is forcing the employee to accept this. You can leave a job at any time, for any reason with absolutely no notice just as easily as the employer can get rid of you. If I'm hired to work 40 hours/week for $100k year with 3 weeks vacation, I am entitled to all of that. If the employer then decides that I should work 80 hours a week and he will cut my pay to $60k/year and not let me take vacation, I can simply get up and leave and in most jurisdictions, that will be sufficient grounds for me to receive unemployment insurance while I look for my next job.
- kops 13y ago
  > Bear in mind that no one is forcing the employee to accept this. That doesn't quite absolve the employer e.g. if I am stuck in sahara desert and bump into a man starving for days. At this time if I offer him food in return for his soul, would you consider it a fair trade? Even though the poor guy has a choice to reject my offer?
  - Symmetry 13y ago
    So, trading away one's soul might be considered short sighted and there's a whole argument to be had with regards to the state preventing us from making short sighted decisions, so lets say that the desert rescuer was demanding the starving life savings or something. It would certainly be a horrible person who would demand that much for saving a person's life. But if the only reason that this or other person was holding rescue patrols in the desert was that they were hoping to strike it rich exploiting lost souls, then as a society we either ought to allow this or use taxpayer money to fund our own rescue patrols. And remember that as a laborer you're not in anything like this situation. There's a lot of charity out there and though this won't make your life pleasant it will make you far better off than starving in the Sahara. And there is more than one potential employer out there bidding for your labor. And you can see that the system works because very few jobs only pay the minimum wage. If we were somehow to get into a situation where there was only a single employer in the country than I'd say that at that point some sort of government intervention might be called for.

by kops 13y ago

deleted 13y ago

[deleted]

oijaf888 13y ago

Not visiting the US as a tourist due to the laws on salaried employees seems a bit short sighted.

kops 13y ago
I know it may sound illogical, but no decision is taken in isolation. Years ago I decided not to do anything with middle eastern countries for what they did to non-muslims, immigrants or to their own women. I still go fill gas in my car knowingly fully well how hypocritical it is, but I pray everyday for Elon Musk to succeed and for us to be off this hook. If US, a country made by immigrants, treats immigrants badly, thats enough for me to make a choice. It doesn't matter if it will have an impact or not. I really couldn't afford to care.... Having said that, if I were starving, I will go anywhere to make a living..and that really explains a lot of misery. I don't have any answers...sorry...
- godzilla82 13y ago
  You are right, it is illogical indeed. Sorry. This is why I think every one should get a basic course in economics.

HeyLaughingBoy 13y ago

He's exaggerating somewhat. Bear in mind that no one is forcing the employee to accept this. You can leave a job at any time, for any reason with absolutely no notice just as easily as the employer can get rid of you. If I'm hired to work 40 hours/week for $100k year with 3 weeks vacation, I am entitled to all of that. If the employer then decides that I should work 80 hours a week and he will cut my pay to $60k/year and not let me take vacation, I can simply get up and leave and in most jurisdictions, that will be sufficient grounds for me to receive unemployment insurance while I look for my next job.

kops 13y ago
> Bear in mind that no one is forcing the employee to accept this. That doesn't quite absolve the employer e.g. if I am stuck in sahara desert and bump into a man starving for days. At this time if I offer him food in return for his soul, would you consider it a fair trade? Even though the poor guy has a choice to reject my offer?
- Symmetry 13y ago
  So, trading away one's soul might be considered short sighted and there's a whole argument to be had with regards to the state preventing us from making short sighted decisions, so lets say that the desert rescuer was demanding the starving life savings or something. It would certainly be a horrible person who would demand that much for saving a person's life. But if the only reason that this or other person was holding rescue patrols in the desert was that they were hoping to strike it rich exploiting lost souls, then as a society we either ought to allow this or use taxpayer money to fund our own rescue patrols. And remember that as a laborer you're not in anything like this situation. There's a lot of charity out there and though this won't make your life pleasant it will make you far better off than starving in the Sahara. And there is more than one potential employer out there bidding for your labor. And you can see that the system works because very few jobs only pay the minimum wage. If we were somehow to get into a situation where there was only a single employer in the country than I'd say that at that point some sort of government intervention might be called for.