USA Employment "Law".

Hey everyone!

It's never easy when you lose your job, but it got me thinking about how this works in other $COUNTRIES.

When I see posts about "I just got laid off", I imagine most of those in the USA, where it seems "loyalty" is meaningless and you can be fired at any time, for any $REASON (if there is one).

Is that predominantly true?

In the United Kingdon for example, employment law is a lot tougher, after two years of continued employment.

I guess I have it lucky -- but it's got me thikning about how other countries operate.

Losing your job is never easy -- and I really do feel for those affected by such things.

@brettm Right -- this depends on your employment type (temp/perm/contractor). If you were a contractor, IR35 comes into play...

But you've reminded me of something... there was a spate of "signing away your EU rights". I remember that form doing the rounds. I didn't sign it... That was around 2006 or so?

Don't get me wrong, the UK is shit at most things, but from a basic level, it's not easy to just tell someone not to turn up to work, which I gather can be the case elsewhere...

@thomasadam in france its extremely hard ( regulator needs to accept your layoff and you can just fire anyone)

In Poland it’s easier, but it’s not a 5 minute event

@mms Sounds ominous.

It's just something really interesting to see how true my original question is.

In films and TV, they (the employers) make it seem easy to get rid of someone they don't like... I saw this in the X-Files, recently, and that was from the early-to-mid 90a.

I wonder if it's changed.

@brettm You'll need to explain that to me...

Bonus points if you talk slower and shout at me, so I understand it. :)

@thomasadam in USA it’s still hell. You get some severance package, but you are out of job within hours.

@mms That's dreadful -- you just need to look at how Elon Musk """"dealt"""" with Twitter to see how fucked up this is, and he's only just settled a "deal" out of court, so even his actions are nonsense.

@mms @thomasadam

If you even get severance.

@rl_dane @mms Uh oh. So that's discretionary is it?

@thomasadam @brettm
'At-will employment is generally described as follows: "any hiring is presumed to be 'at will'; that is, the employer is free to discharge individuals 'for good cause, or bad cause, or no cause at all,' and the employee is equally free to quit, strike, or otherwise cease work."'

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/At-will_employment

@jmtd @brettm Wow -- so this is also considered at an "at state" level, rather than per-employer?

@thomasadam @mms

It depends on your employment contract.

The thing that people (even in the U.S.) fundamentally don't understand about the U.S. is that it's all Shark Tank, all the time. You're either a fish with teeth (of varying size), or chum.

Everybody should have some business training/acumen to do well in this country, or at least have a skill set that people will beat down your door for.

I hate it so dang much.

Take a very critical look at Rich Dad, Poor Dad to understand the deep and prevalent sociopathy of how this nation is run.

@rl_dane @mms I shall, thank you.

I've clearly opened up a can of worms here, which is not my intention, and yet it's also interesting.

@thomasadam @rl_dane @mms Depends on the company. The nasty ones will do what they want, knowing that they can probably outlast/outspend any legal challenges. Folks who are lucky enough to have a union or other trade group may be in a better position to avoid/challenge unwarranted firings, but it again, it depends.

@rowens @thomasadam @mms

Tech workers seriously need a guild.

Even if it's a toothless one. Just at least a group that can raise awareness.