WORKING CONDITIONS IN THE USA.
Work environment
Salaries,
working hours and vacations
The U. S. was founded on the principle that good,
honest, hard work is rewarded. Because of this work ethic, time is money and
punctuality is highly appreciated. The culture and geographic location of an
area influences the way business is done.
Traditionally,
the East Coast is more conservative and formal in terms of dress code and
manners than the West Coast. But don’t think a meeting in California is not
less important than one in New York. The climate and lifestyle are just more
relaxed, which is reflected in the pace and informality.
Working hours and vacations
You can work
full-time or part-time. Usually full-time means working for 40 hours per week.
Part-time could be anything up to 30 hours per week. Traditional working hours
in the U.S. are Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 6:00pm, with one hour for lunch
and, usually, two breaks of 15 minutes.
However,
about on third of Americans work longer than the standard 40-hour-week, and the
higher you move up the career ladder, the more you are expected to work.
If you’re
used to European holiday times, American holiday schemes may come as a nasty
surprise. Most new employees receive just one or two weeks paid holiday per
year, which is less than in any other industrial nation except Japan. As you
continue working, your holidays are increased by one or two days every year, so
it can take up to 10 years until you get four weeks of vacation per year.
According to a UN study, the average American works some 250 hours more than a
British worker, and 500 more than a German one.
If you feel
that working is not all there is to life, don’t expect too much sympathy from
your American colleagues. The biggest goal of many Americans is making money
and, since time is money, it’s better not to spend it on anything other than
making your fortune.
Job security & company rules
Job security
is basically unheard of in the States. If your employer decides that they no
longer need you, they are free to fire you. Your only security is your own
potential and willingness to work – which either convinces your boss to keep
you on and fire others, or enables you to find another job quickly.
Smoking is
banned in working environments and nearly everywhere else, except outside and
in your own home.
In the
American work environment, diversity is also very important (at least in
theory). Looking for a job, adverts will state “We are an equal opportunity
employer offering competitive salaries and benefits in a professional work
environment.” This means that, in the U.S., you will probably be working with
various people from different backgrounds and cultures.
Salaries & other compensation
Salary is
just one component of the overall job offer but, at least for Americans, it's
usually the most important one. The cost of living in the U.S. can be very high,
particularly in the big cities. However, salaries are usually also higher
there.
Average
salaries for workers range from $8 to $12 per hour (entry level) depending on
the job title. The legal minimum salary is around $7 per hour in most states.
We know that
salary is very important but it isn’t everything. Another important factor that
you need to consider is the benefits plan. Most good companies have additional
benefits for their employees, including bonus schemes, medical and dental
insurance, vision-care, life insurance, disability insurance, retirement plan
(401k), and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) benefits. Ask your
employer about these.
Salaries and
benefits packages vary according to the location of the job and market
conditions. It is a good idea to be well-informed about the changing market
conditions or other factors that might affect your salary and benefits. Analyze
your particular situation before making a decision.
Workers Compensation
In the United
States you have the right to a safe workplace. Workers compensation is
insurance paid for by employers. It provides cash benefits and medical care if
an employee becomes disabled due to work-related injury. In other words,
workers compensation laws are designed to protect employees who are hurt on the
job.
Companies
with 4 or more employees (although this varies by state) are legally required
to provide workers compensation insurance. If an employee is injured, the
employee will file a claim with the workers compensation insurance company.
Most laws require that you file a claim within 30 days of the accident. In
general, workers compensation provides replacement income, medical expenses,
and vocational rehabilitation benefits. Usually, workers compensation will pay
you 2/3 of your salary while you are injured. You may also be eligible for
life-long benefits or a lump sum payment if you are permanently hurt while on
the job.
WORKING CONDITIONS IN MEXICO
Working conditions
Working
hours, holidays and salaries in Mexico
Working conditions and salaries in Mexico might be
quite different from what you are used to in your home country. Be aware that
cliché of “lazy Mexicans” does not apply to a modern Mexican work environment
and many jobs are very demanding.
Salaries in Mexico
Salaries in
Mexico are usually a lot lower than in Western European countries or the US,
although there are some exceptions for highly qualified positions. In general
the lower your qualification is, the wider the salary gap will be compared to
industrialised countries, with unqualified jobs often paying a mere survival
salary.
Of course
your salary expectations will very much depend on your qualifications, the
business sector you work in, the area in which you are looking for work
(salaries in Mexico City are a lot higher than in the countryside), and your
position and role within the company. The following salary ranges can therefore
only give you a rough impression of salaries in Mexico City (in smaller towns
and villages salaries can be a lot lower):
·
Unqualified workers (minimum salary): US$ 300-500/month (though this can
be less)
·
University graduates: US$
1,000-2,000/month
·
Mid level business positions (3-10 years of experience): US$
1,500-3,000/month
·
Directorial positions:
US$3,000-10,000
·
Executive positions (VP- or President level): US$10,000 and more
In some cases
you can get a ‘foreigner bonus’ if you have international experience or any
other impressive qualification, which can double your salary compared to the
average. Highly specialised positions are sometimes paid as well as (in some
cases even better than) in industrialised countries, especially in senior
management or executive roles in large companies. Many people in the latter
categories sell their expertise as independent consultants, often working for
foreign-based companies.
Salaries in
Mexico are usually paid in Quincenas, which means every 15 days,
though some companies are starting to pay monthly. Many salaries are still paid
by cheque, though salary payments by bank transfer are starting to become more
common like in other countries.
The Aguinaldo
According to
Mexican law employees (not including independent contractors) are entitled to a
yearly bonus known as an Aguinaldo. Companies are required to pay a
minimum Aguinaldo each year, but many companies pay out a
higher Aguinaldo than required. In most cases the Aguinaldo amounts
to four weeks’ pay, in some (mostly larger) companies up to six weeks. The
bonus is normally paid in December for Christmas and New Year expenses.
Companies who pay six weeks usually pay four weeks in December and another two
weeks in summer.
Other Bonuses
In addition
to the Aguinaldo you may be entitled to other bonuses as well.
Sales positions in Mexico are often paid with a very low base salary, with the
vast majority of income being provided by sales commissions or bonuses that are
awarded upon reaching a quota. Management positions also often have high
variable payments which depend on meeting business targets.
Working Hours in Mexico
Working hours
in Mexico are not regulated by law and thus depend on your job and the company
you are working for. Most office job hours run from 8am to 6pm, although the
working hours of Mexico’s middle class are now becoming longer and often go
until 7pm or later. If you are working in tourism you can expect to work weekends,
public holidays and late hours.
Lunch breaks
in Mexico are longer than in most other countries, ranging from one hour for
normal workers to three-hour work lunches for executives. In general the
“Siesta-taking” Mexican is becoming more and more of a cliché and most modern
work environments are now very similar to those of other Western countries.
Holidays in Mexico
The image of
a relaxing Mexican work life is quickly brought to an end by Mexican holiday
regulations. According to Mexican Law, you are entitled to one week (5
weekdays) of paid holiday leave after a year of working at a company. However,
as many companies insist on employees working a three-month trial period, in
actual fact, you may have to wait fifteen months before being able to take a holiday.
For every year you work at the same company, this amount rises up to a maximum
of 20 days per year.
Some
companies, especially larger corporations, offer more generous leave
entitlements (though others stick to the letter of the law). In some cases you
will also receive some ‘personal days’ in addition to your annual leave, i.e.
for family issues, special events at your child’s school or for personal
emergencies. You are also entitled to all of Mexico’s public holidays, though
in some jobs (eg in tourism) you may be asked to work these days and get other
days off instead.
Pensions and Insurance
Many Mexican
companies, especially medium sized and larger ones, provide their employees
with a personal pension plan, usually through a scheme known in Mexico as an
AFORE. Under an AFORE scheme you can contribute a certain amount of your salary
to a pension plan, with your company and the Mexican government adding to your
contributions. AFORE pension products are administered by all Mexican banks
which invest the contributions in approved stocks and investment funds. You can
change your administering bank within certain limits and time-scales set by the
law.
Some companies also offer their employees a private insurance scheme as
part of their employment package. Although you may be entitled to the public
Mexican Social Security System (IMSS), private insurance is generally preferred
as it covers more expensive treatments
