Should always mention this is my specific experience and can be different depending on others situations. Also by country!
- All jobs work by contracts; both full time and part time. Usually a job will give you a part time contract for a while, and then if they deem you worthy to work you will be hired. When you land a full time contract, there are more rules.
- Vacation is mandatory, and must be paid/taken, by law. It differs where you work, but is usually ~around a full month of time (when you've worked a full year). Unpaid 15 min breaks, are also mandatory by law. 30 minute lunch as well.
- Also, you're paid more in the evenings, even more on night shifts, more on the weekends, and more on holidays. These also stack.
- Overtime is taxed heavily, so it is heavily avoided when possible, even cutting into your other shifts to go home early.
- You are also required to work a certain amount of hours, so you can't just be given 10 hours a week and that's that. I don't know anyone personally that works two jobs.
- You also cannot work more than a certain amount of hours per week as designated by your contract, unless that means cutting into your shifts on other weeks.
- No matter how much you end up working, you are paid almost the exact same at the end of the month. This is the condition of your contract.
- On top of that, by certain contracts you are also under the rules of being made to work so many days a week. For example, if you work a limited amount of hours, you can't be worked for 4 hour shifts 7 days. You have to have a certain amount of days off per week, so because of this people with smaller hours have very few half days. I think with 28 hours you are required to be off at least 2 days a week, not including the day the workplace is required to close.
- One of the biggest changes is the Vacation/End of the year check. Around June, you're given an extra check worth of your salary. This is the case at the end of the year as well. As far as I know, this is the same for most or all jobs. Not the same thing as a bonus from such and such goals or money made for the company.
- Another big change is that you are given money to eat lunch. Whether it's on a specific “meal” type card or with vouchers. There are also environment-checks which is the same thing except for things like plants/bikes, etc. There is also “gift” checks (usually during the holidays) that you will be given every so often that you can use most anywhere.
- There is both maternal and paternal leave. I'm not 100% sure of the numbers; I had a co-worker who's wife was home for several months both before delivery and after, and I know the father decided to split his paternal leave to have an extra day to go home for a while.
- YOU CAN SIT ON A CHAIR AT THE CASH REGISTER, LITERALLY NO ONE CARES ABOUT THIS
- You are required to do your job, and as long as you are polite, you'll be fine. No sickly sweet bowing down to other people in most cases.
- People just also treat everyone else like humans. Whether you work at a shop or construction or as a doctor, people don't really look down at others; at least from my experience. Yes, there's still jackasses. There always will be.
- Most work places close around 5/6pm with obvious exceptions, but most stores are usually closed before or at 9pm, so wherever you work you can often come home and actually have time to do something. This is obviously different for third shifts, but they are also paid a lot more.
- Most companies have to close one day a week, which guarantees you a set day off; Usually Sundays. However, if you are over a certain number of employees, this can be circumvented because people have enough days off.
- Oh, yeah. In case it wasn't obvious, there's plenty of unions.
- As long as you have a doctors note, sick leave is also requited for a month.
- After that, the insurance has to contribute to your salary instead of completely relying on your work. After a year, instead of being paid your full salary, you will only receive around 70%. When you decide to return to work, you can go back for a bit at half time, in which you will then return to being paid 100%.
- However, in terms of being injured because of work, work will always need to pay that.
- You are also paid for going to work! Whether its by bus, train, car or bike. More eco-friendly options are paid back more.
- My health insurance is around 50~ for 3 months. This is just paying for myself in my own situation.
- Going to the normal doctor is about 25 euros, but insurance pays back so it's really only around 2-4.
- My 60mg of Ritalin costs about 10-15 euros. I go to a specialist where I pay 80 but 60 is paid back, however this is specialist different as this is deemed a necessity. Other types of specialists are not paid back or only very limited.
- Insurance will also pay you back if you purchase a gym membership, though I am unsure of how much that is, I only know its an option.
- One time I had to call the ambulance and the bill was around 60 euros (not taken to the hospital however, not sure if it costs more then.) I had a friend that was in the hospital for a full week (in critical condition) and I think it was around 2,000~, however I'm not 100% sure.
- Insurance is insurance, eye and dental insurance is just all the same thing.
- Did I mention access to abortion?
- My ID card has a chip in it with a password.
- Identity theft is much harder.
- You can use it with a card reader to access things like tax info online.
These are the examples I can think of that were a culture shock for me.
…Oh, and one more thing, since it's a hot topic.
Voting day is on a Sunday. And absolutely everyone is LEGALLY REQUIRED to vote. No choice.