The Joys of Working for a British Company

Despite my many grumblings (£100 gift certificate to Mark's & Spencer is not the same as a bonus, just saying), there are a few perks to working for a British company.

Minimum 25 days vacation

Just typing that seems outrageous and awesome at the same time.  Thanks to an EU directive, all EU countries must give their employees a minimum of 25 days vacation. Note, that this does not include national holidays. I still to this day have no idea what to do with all of this time and equally wonder how I survived with the measly 2 weeks that I was given in the States.  Oh, wait, now I remember.  I was conveniently sick on Mondays and Fridays.

Pub Lunches

It's Friday! And after a long week in the office, there is nothing better then getting together with a few co-workers and celebrating the forthcoming weekend with a glass of wine or three if you work in my office! 
Got a bit drunk? It's okay.  It seems to be perfectly acceptable to return to your desk a bit tipsy. After all, you were just at the pub.  Your boss may even be a bit offended if you came back completely sober as it would show you're not a team player!

9 to 5 really means 9 to 5

Now I'm used to 9 to 5 really meaning 9 to 6 as you have to account for your hour lunch.  Not so in the UK where you effectively have a 7 hour work day as that one hour between 9 and 5 is blocked off for lunch and nothing else.  Also the moment and I mean the very second that the clock strikes 5, your office will be deserted.  You'll know when its happened, because the office will suddenly become so quiet that your typing will start to echo throughout the building. 

Unlimited sick days

Again, this is an alien concept to me.  The first time I asked HR about sick days, they looked at me completely baffled and asked "How can you put a limit on the number of days that you're sick? If you're sick, you're sick."  Translation:  You have unlimited sick days. Now keep in mind, you have a legal obligation to produce a doctor's note if you have been sick for five consecutive work days. Most companies will require you to fill out some sort of sick leave form upon your return to the office and you won't get full pay if you are sick for an extended period of time.  However, if you wanted to call in sick for four days due to a  last minute holiday to Spain nasty flu, there really isn't anything that you're company could do to stop you.  But you might get a few questions about your amazing tan upon return so be sure to cover up!