Work / I'M SO SURPRISED BY THIS SALARY FOR IBM in WROCLAW 3000 ZL gross [135]

Very true that! If the demand is high enough, you can be treated to all sorts of niceties and freebies. I know quite a few rich folk and I just need to ask if I want to vary my working repertoire. An office to use through their expenditure really saves me a lot.

Back to the topic, this guy needs to do the same and improve his skillset. He got a foot in the door which is a major plus in and of itself so he can take it from there.

News / Why is Poland developing so slowly or in the wrong direction? Who is responsible ? [317]

There is absolutely no doubt about that. 43 years under communism is only part of the story. Poland has been under Russian oppression in one form or another since early in the 16th century. The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth wanted to pursue a Western model but the Russians wouldn't allow it. When you have people blocking you, that's automatically unfair. Besides, the EU is full of arrogant players that don't want to see Poland as a leading force. Like it or not, it is an emerging entity :) :)

UK, Ireland / The more subtle differences: Ireland/Britain v Poland [310]

That's more of a fairytale, Trevek. You know what those travellers are like with their hallucinogens ;)

The red ones are more visible ;)

Work / I'M SO SURPRISED BY THIS SALARY FOR IBM in WROCLAW 3000 ZL gross [135]

Good point, war! The perks are the lures. Plus, I'd imagine that they maintain the old career ladder idea. It doesn't apply to so many industries these days.

UK, Ireland / The more subtle differences: Ireland/Britain v Poland [310]

The difference lies in their symbolic value. To a Pole, blood and freedom are represented on their flag. To a Scot, it's the victory cross on the backdrop of a pale blue sky. Wales have a leek and a dragon as theirs.

As for subtle differences, Polish women wear thongs much more than Irish and British women do. It's subtle as you can't see it so readily but we know it's true ;)

News / Smoking ban in Polish bars and restaurants (AT LAST!) [400]

Sascha, I recommend Alex Jones but with a pinch of salt. He raves a bit much for my liking but he does outline the incursions into our private lives and smoking is but one of them. He will paint a bigger picture but runs segments on the tobacco industry as well as other encroachments. It's all based on control. Weaken people through drugs and you will generate profits for industrial players, private health care agents and all manner of others.

News / Smoking ban in Polish bars and restaurants (AT LAST!) [400]

Did you tell them you were a Mod and that you will respect my authorita? :) :)

Joking aside, Wrocław raises a good point here. There are designated smoking areas and I can confirm that it applies to the bus station here too. They don't make exceptions and you can expect a firm rap on the knuckles for breaking the rules.

Life / The Polish people have a strange attitude to cats and dogs? [84]

I can't remember if there was an amendment to the Dangerous Dogs Act 1976, I believe there was. In Scotland, one bite can get the dog put down and I find that a horrible position as it is usually the negligence of the owner in not controlling it well enough.

Life / The Polish people have a strange attitude to cats and dogs? [84]

It's you, yes. Poles tend to take good care of their animals.

News / Why is Poland developing so slowly or in the wrong direction? Who is responsible ? [317]

I really don't think Poland is developing slowly either. Geez, entrenched attitudes under 43 years of communism are hard to change. Poland's achilles heel is its pessimism but, thankfully, optimism is on the rise amongst some Poles. The troubles of other economies may distort Poland's true development rate but there is potential here to go onwards and upwards.

Work / I'M SO SURPRISED BY THIS SALARY FOR IBM in WROCLAW 3000 ZL gross [135]

Let's try and keep on track with the IBM guy. I've heard of this before whereby young guys starting out get that wage but if he has experience of note then I am surprised. Companies are tightening their belts but IBM don't need to be so stingy.

Zeti, please feel free to PM me and I'll tell you there. It's a private matter in terms of specific details.

News / Why is Poland developing so slowly or in the wrong direction? Who is responsible ? [317]

Poland had a fruitful spell in terms of GDP around 3 years ago. A lot of inward investment really aided the country and that development has been continued if we are to look at and contrast Poland with other world economies that struggled.

The biggest test will be for Poles themselves. Will they be able to hack it here and accept that success in business takes time? Many that come back from the UK want to set themselves up but I wonder if the 'quick buck' mentality will have changed them. Simply put, people have to accept less money here and get on with it. Surely living a more Polish life takes precedence over a lot of cash anyway.

Work / I'M SO SURPRISED BY THIS SALARY FOR IBM in WROCLAW 3000 ZL gross [135]

Zeti, it depends on different things. Around 5000PLN now if you have a solid contact base. Solely through school? Not likely. I'm surprised that the OP gets so little given that Wrocław is a bit more expensive than here.

News / 30 to 40 thousand abortions by Polish girls in foreign countries [142]

'Thou shall not abort, kurw*'?? Or am I thinking about some other publication? ;)

That may have been the mohair berety flyer I picked up, sorry.

Life / Is parity the answer for Polish women? [262]

Yeah, deception plays a large part. I think we'll also see growing conflict as people become more upwardly mobile. For example, Japanese men didn't have a clue how to deal with strong Western women bosses when they came across. There is no effort at parity but a digging in of the heels and a locking of horns.

As you said, it's a game and one which I won't play, being a teacher.

Life / Is parity the answer for Polish women? [262]

True enough! I don't know about you, Wrocław, but I have encountered a lot of passivity when it comes to females in the workplace. Don't get me wrong, I have the utmost respect for my female colleagues but I was casting the net wider and looking at the broader picture. Some need the guiding hand of a man.

Life / Is parity the answer for Polish women? [262]

To the women here, are women really ready for parity when it comes to the workplace? I know Polish females tend to like it when the male takes the lead.

News / 30 to 40 thousand abortions by Polish girls in foreign countries [142]

Absolutely! Away from the watchful gaze of their parents, I'm sure they drop more than their guard. 30-40,000 is a staggering statistic given they are raised in a culture that strongly frowns upon abortion. They really give Poland a bad name as I don't generally see Polish girls as lacking in moral fibre. All it needs is one drunken fling, a bit of bara bara and who knows?

News / 30 to 40 thousand abortions by Polish girls in foreign countries [142]

There was a thread on this before but still a very good post, PennBoy. Isn't it strange how all these Catholic women cease being Catholic when in the UK? Abortion should really be made much more difficult than it is but it is a complicated matter.

News / Smoking ban in Polish bars and restaurants (AT LAST!) [400]

I was in a place today that had a no-smoking policy. I think it'll start out in the classy establishments and then spread. Poles will be out with their tomahawks if it's introduced across the board too quickly.

Life / Is parity the answer for Polish women? [262]

Timely, 1jola, timely :)

Or become mechanics and get their hands greasy/dirty for peanuts

Life / Is parity the answer for Polish women? [262]

Eeeekwallety, LOL :) Yeah, your quote about sums it up. Oh, I question it too but I was merely stating the actual position or what I see it to be.

Yeah, the more reminders the better as far as I am concerned.

Life / Is parity the answer for Polish women? [262]

Yeah, PP is really showing excellent maturity here. Many look to lock horns and wheel out combative talk but she is really reasonable and measured with her replies here.

Life / Is parity the answer for Polish women? [262]

Good point, PP. I try to ensure a good degree of fairness as I earn more than twice as much as my wife. I find it absurd that a manageress can earn so little as is the case here. Much of the money from my privates (students) goes to her. Marriage has to work two ways and she tries to buy some nice things when she can.

Life / Is parity the answer for Polish women? [262]

I'd say the man is expected to pay more without question. The Princess Syndrome (PS) can really shift the balance by excessive demands. Boots here, gloves there etc etc. If parity were to come about by whatever means, the pendulum would truly swing against those men that fell prey to the PS. It's not in peoples' nature to strive for equality. Look at the notion of communism and how it was abused (Animal Farm, for example). Maybe fairness is more the word to use.

Life / Is parity the answer for Polish women? [262]

The Princess Syndrome is where some women feel that they should receive pristine treatment due to their looks only. They get it into their vain heads that they merit all things under the sun based on a face which, let's face it, is overrated.

That's the gist of it!

Life / Is parity the answer for Polish women? [262]

The problem with parity is that society has already created such an imbalance. In an ideal world, there would be a movement towards it but now we have an awkward position for both sides unless lines can be drawn.

For example, in terms of holidays, shopping, credit and renovation goes, there is simply no comparison between my wife and I. Yes, we are married but isn't it funny that it becomes 50/50 when it comes to entitlements yet is 90/10 when it comes to outgoings/expenses? It grates me sometimes that my money is whittled away and that there isn't more of an even playing field. The man is expected to pay more but not that much. Some women here just seem to coast along on the Princess Syndrome. Then again, the man often consents to it through his own weakness.

A strive towards parity will only tip the scales the other way as give people an inch and they will take a mile (I prefer this to yard as a yard is too short).

Life / Poland's population predictions [59]

It will be a big problem in the future according to demographic trends. As long as we don't become desensitised to one another in terms of male/female. Japan (yup, again) has this problem and prn has really meant that they have lost real contact and are having far fewer babies. Then again, they have 126 million people so hardly alarm bells.

PO seem to provide a reasonable package for those that choose to have children but Poland needs to snap out of the mentality of 2000PLN is a great salary. When they start expecting a bit more and being more ambitious, things can change.

Work / I'M SO SURPRISED BY THIS SALARY FOR IBM in WROCLAW 3000 ZL gross [135]

Plenty :) :)

Oh, I'm a firm believer in optimism but also realism :)

It depends on fluctuations but perhaps 10-15 years to see meaningful changes. It depends on so many factors so it's hard to say.

Anyway, back to the topic. I really wonder what the OP will be doing as that's quite a low salary for an IBM employee.

Work / I'M SO SURPRISED BY THIS SALARY FOR IBM in WROCLAW 3000 ZL gross [135]

A couple, David? That's a bit optimistic, isn't it? The West built itself up on a capitalist model for a very long time. Poland, to its credit, made the transition from communism to capitalism quite well, all things considered. However, you are looking at a longer time frame to redress the imbalance between property prices and salaries.