Questions for our American friends

[eelcat]

Originally Posted by heatmiser

America generally operates under "at-will" employement laws which means that you can let someone go for any non-illegal reason you want.
I can't imagine things functioning any other way. How can a company function without the ability to hire and fire as it see fit?

In a Utopian society a workplace without unionised labour would be ideal. I was once a union shop steward 15 years ago but left that place of employment and never bothered to join the union again. However in recent years our boss has tried to f*ck us around with manipulating enterprise bargaining contracts to the companies advantage and at the disadvantage of the workers so that he can earn his meaty bonus at the end of the year. One time the boss called a meeting and promptly stopped our morning break that we had been enjoying since times immemorial because the company was paying for that and didn't have to.
Mind you things have changed recently for the good with a new boss but I think it is in many of our best interests to belong to a union as an insurance against being taken advantage of.

[spoonfedmonkey]

Originally Posted by heatmiser

I can't imagine things functioning any other way. How can a company function without the ability to hire and fire as it see fit?

At great economic cost. That may be the single biggest economic problem in Germany.

A real job means guaranteed benefits which go beyond what Americans expect. But hey, this thread ain't about Germany. Still, it's quite interesting.

[heatmiser]

Originally Posted by eelcat

Mind you things have changed recently for the good with a new boss but I think it is in many of our best interests to belong to a union as an insurance against being taken advantage of.

I'm not saying unions are evil or anything, but like any other large organization, the longer time passes the more there is a flow towards self-preservation and money/power consolidation.

Perhaps in 1920 when you had kids working 14 hours per day in dangerous factories, unions were an essential need. But in the modern world with numerous state and federal laws in place and a fast moving and rapidly changing work environment, the old structured unions operate more and more like big-business entities complete with political donations, incompetence, bribery and corruption etc.

[brianwp]

Originally Posted by Nick Danger

You're lucky. I wish I could live somewhere like that. Unfortunately where I live you can lock your car, but if they want something inside bad enough, they'll just break the window

Hey, I'm talking about Moultrie, Georgia. Before this I lived in New Jersey, right across the Hudson from NYC, and you wouldn't dream of leaving your car unlocked! Just depends where you're at.

[brianwp]

Originally Posted by eelcat

And speaking of getting fired. I've noticed far too often (enough to make me think that this may be true) that a boss or employer can just fire someone for no apparent reason. This sort of thing would never happen in Australia without the unions getting involved and/or an unfair dismissal case in court.

Again, it depends where you are. Remember, the United States is a collection of 50 states, each having their own laws, besides federal law. Back in New Jersey, unions were all over the place. I worked on the freight docks where if you wanted to finish loading a truck after the break or lunch bell rang, the other guys would stop you, because it was against union rules. Down here in southwest Georgia, unions are scarce, and employers get away with murder. They'll fire you in a NY minute, just because they don't like the way you look, and nobody will say squat about it. Sure, if you go to unemployment, and file an appeal, they'll look into it, but the employer still won't be held accountable.

[dohupa]

Originally Posted by brianwp

Down here in southwest Georgia, unions are scarce, and employers get away with murder. They'll fire you in a NY minute, just because they don't like the way you look, and nobody will say squat about it. Sure, if you go to unemployment, and file an appeal, they'll look into it, but the employer still won't be held accountable.

Christ! That's hell on Earth; are you sure you're not exagerrating a little bit there Brian?

[brianwp]

Believe me, I wish I was!

[brianwp]

I just read a post in the "questions for our British cousins" thread about the word "bollocks", and it reminded me very much of our word "shit", or shite, to you. (Don't mean to be offensive by cursing, but this is actually a treatise on the word itself, and couldn't be properly explained by using a pseudonym).

I had an article about this, but I can't find it, so I'll try to tell you what I know from memory, God help me.

"Shit"..human waste

"You look like shit"..you look bad

"Shithead"..idiot

"Shit for brains"..see above

"That don't mean shit"...that don't mean anything

"You stepped in shit"...you got lucky

"They're the shit"...they're really great

"Holy shit!"...wow!

"You're shittin me"...you're exaggerating, or lying

"How do you like that shit"...how do you like that, uh..how do you like that?

"Tough shit"..too bad

"I'll kick the shit out of you"...self explanatory

"I got shitfaced last night"...stoned

"Don't give me any of your shit"...don't hassle me

"That's bullshit...horseshit"..you're lying

"You're shittin me"...you're putting me on

"I like that shit"...I like that stuff

"Like your shit don't stink"...you're like anyone else

"You're talkin shit"...nonsense

"I don't give a shit"..I don't care

"Shit or get off the pot"..hurry up

"You're full of shit"...you're a complete liar

"Oh shit"..uh oh

"I shit you not"...that's the truth

"Get your shit together"...compose yourself

Alright, that's the most I can think of right now, but I'll get back to you if I think of any more shit.

[eelcat]

Just an observation here that really doesn't warrant a reply as I don't want to be drawn into debating each countries health care policies
Yesterday I was watching Carry On Loving and Mannix and each involved someone being in hospital, and it dawned on me that every British scene in a hospital I have noticed has the patient in a ward...whilst a hospital scene in the U.S has the patient in a single room.

[Clouddancer]

Could someone enlighten me as to the exact role of this person.
Does he work for the police? Or do thet have jurisdiction over them?
I read somewhere that he\she was elected, how does that work? How long is their term? Does an assistant DA have to be elected?
Does every town city have such a person?
I really am curious, because I have obviously read quite a bit about them, but was never really sure re the above.
Thanks in advance.