sooooo.... working in the UK...

[Mary Jane]

I'm going to be moving to the UK shortly, and have already had some interest by UK based headhunters in my skills.

I was just wondering if anyone has any advice for me about how things are done vs how they are done here. Can an employer legally ask you your age and marital status and use those as a determining factor in hiring?

Also, I'm used to most companies offering benefits packages in addition to salary... health, dental, 401K (retirement savings with employer-matched contributions), and vacation. What kind of benefits package might I expect from a UK employer?

Also, any faux pas I might potentially avoid by knowing what things just aren't done in a business/corporate/IT environment over there? (Think typical American things)

Any help at all is appreciated!

[killa]

[Louise]

The new rules state they cannot ask your age.
You simply tick a box (ie) 18-25 26-30 ect ect. This came into affect last week in my pub I was told

[JonB]

Yep anti-discriminatory rules have come in, luckily in the past month, so they cannot refuse employment based on age.
____________________
Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[MarJay]

You'll be extremely lucky (and I'll be very very surprised) If you get dental. Similarly Healthcare is very unlikely.

You won't get a pension unless there is a company approved pension scheme.

However, you will get 20 days holiday (vacation) at least.

I hear in the US you are lucky to get ten days.

Things that aren't done?

We don't use the word 'Awesome' unless its *really* warranted.

We don't ever say 'out there' as in, "I did a great job out there".

Oh and we never ever ever say "connectorize"
____________________
British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[MarJay]

"The way I connectorized that server out there was awesome!"


____________________
British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[.....]

I get pension, BUPA, dental and buy one get one free share options.

I think it's getting more and more common for companies to start looking after their employees, particularly larger companies. They don't do it for the good of your health though, they do it so you don't have to take time off

[Shaun]

Nobody works in the UK, you do know they give out benefits here, don't you?

[Annabella]

They also cannot ask your marital status nor whether you are intending to have children etc. If you are asked these and refused a job, you can put an appeal in against the decision.

Most larger companies have a reasonable pension scheme I have my contributions matched by my employer - this has recently changed they used to contribute 60%.

Healthcare generally isn't offered, nor is dental cover because we have the NHS - a free (well, you pay for it through your taxes), public service.


Good luck
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[Louise]

Classy

[Clanger]

A lot of companies do offer BUPA dental and/or healthcare, some give it free but others will deduct a certain sum from your wages each month.

Most places offer % pensions too, but you might be better off having your own private pension, due to the state of the schemes here.

Employers cannot ask for age now, a new legislation came into force just last month. BUT they could work it out from your education details. So its not exactly a fool-proof system.
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[Speedy3]

Surely though on an application form or your CV, you will have put your Date of Birth... Surely that is a give-away. What is the big deal about asking age?

[Annabella]

[feef]

[Dan 4RR]

The UK is already full, we don't need anymore migrants.

[LustyLew]

[dainesefreak]

We use Pounds and Pence as currency, this one = £, don't accept Shekles or Rupees if offered.

We speak English, as in the language we invented. Great Britan, United Kingdom is a collective of countries, England being one of these countries = English as a spoken language.

We live in houses and flats (some times known as Luxury Apartments), no mud huts of castles for most of us.

[techierob]

[Tarmacsurfer]

[feef]

[dainesefreak]

I couple of those come from things said to people I know.

"Do you live in a mud hut or a castle?". 15 yr old girl from a family a mate stayed with on an exchange visit.

"What language do you speak in England?". Common one heard from a couple of people.

My boss also said that is American brother-in-law showed him a cash point on a recent visit. Showed it to him like he would never have seen one before and told him money came out of it!

Don't mean to take the piss but a country that has a "World Series" with only itself in the competition??? I mean come on.

[Mary Jane]

[feef]

[Dan 4RR]

[feef]