German Culture essays

German Culture essays During spring break of my senior year in high school two of my closest friends and I went to Austria and Germany, for a ski trip. It was probably the most cathartic time of my life. My high school experience was the most stressful time of my life, but my two friends and I left all of that in the states. I had been taking German for four years, but it was on this trip that I realized that this was where I wanted to live. The German culture and I are completely harmonious. Just thinking about the Germans mixture of calm collective efficiency and socializing brings me out of the worst day. When I first stepped off the plane in the Munich airport the entire place was silent. The Germans people are quiet, even when in public. When I went there and did not get a single headache, I realized how loud Americans are. I am a very quiet person, and Americans in general are loud and questioning. One of the reasons Americans are disliked by most Europeans is because they are always asking questions and want to know what is going on. Europeans are very quiet and collective. They only talk to people they know. Most of the time in larger cities, they wont even say hello when you pass them on the street. If a European has an acquaintance, they generally will only say hello. Americans will ask them about their day, and their extended familys. Europeans think this is rude, and so do I. Germans are the most efficient people on the planet. When the Germans built the Autobahns in the 1930s they made them perfect so that their citizens could travel with complete efficiency. They made it wind slowly so that people would not fall asleep at the wheel. They made rules so that it would be completely safe. They are to drive on the right side of the road unless passing. They cannot eat, drink, talk on the phone, or even rest one of their hands. They must have both hands on the wheel at all times unless shifting or working other necessary c...

Everything you need to know about severance pay

Everything you need to know about severance pay For most of us, our professional lives are filled with a series of highs and lows that mark the journey along our individual career paths- highs that include praise for good performance, promotions and new work responsibilities, salary increases, and new challenges, as well as lows that include disappointment, frustration, burnout, and getting fired. If you’ve ever experience getting fired, you’re well aware that it can be one of the most difficult experiences a person can go through in life- on top of the professional setbacks and loss of purpose and identity that can come with losing a job, the financial repercussions can have a severe, profound, and lasting adverse effect.Getting fired is never something to look forward to, and most of us work hard to avoid it; but the truth is that despite our efforts there are times in our lives when things happen that we can’t prevent or control. If you’re newly unemployed or worried about getting fired, you may be t rying to figure out what financial options are available to you to help offset the loss of a regular paycheck, including the possibility of getting severance pay.What is severance pay?According to the U.S. Department of Labor, severance pay is a financial benefit that’s often granted to employees upon termination of employment. It’s designed to help ease the often-abrupt transition from gainful employment and a regular paycheck to the loss of guaranteed income that characterizes unemployment. One important thing to note is that severance pay it not a given; it is not a universal right granted to all employees, nor is it protected by the government under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Instead, severance pay is typically an agreed upon financial arrangement between an employer and employee, and the amount received is usually based upon such factors as final salary at the time of employment termination and length of employment. In addition, the reason(s) surrounding your job loss may be a significant factor regarding whether or not you’re eligible for severance pay- for example, you’re much more likely to be offered severance pay if you’re laid off due to the financial hardship or restructuring of your employer vs. getting fired for cause.How do you know if you’re entitled to severance pay?Although it’s at the discretion of your employer to offer severance to help employees cope with job loss, there are three potential scenarios that may help you quickly determine that you’re entitled:It’s a predetermined and previously agreed upon aspect of your employment contractIt’s an established company policy for all employees where you workYou’re entitled to severance under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN Act), a U.S. labor law that stipulates that any employer with 100 or more employees must give a minimum of 60 days of notice of a mass layoff, and failure to do so will entitle you to legally protected severance payIssues to keep in mind when navigating severanceIf your employer has a professional HR person on staff, consider utilizing them to get your questions regarding severance pay answered (HR professionals are trained to handle employee issues with discretion). Also, keep in mind that severance pay is short-term financial guidance- and it’s subject to taxation since it’s considered income- so having additional savings or alternate means of financial support to help you should you get fired would be a wise plan. Furthermore, acceptance of severance usually requires you to accept the full terms of your employer’s termination of your employment agreement; make sure you know precisely what this entails before accepting.Getting fired is never easy, but having a solid financial plan- which may include severance pay- to help you make ends meet while you’re unemployed can make a difficult time significantly less s tressful. Know your rights and know what you’re due, and you’ll be putting yourself at your best possible advantage.