"The Italians, at least, do care about their quality of life."
Yeah, southern Europe seems a lott more laid back. My comments were based on discussions and experiences with companies in northern and central (Austria, Suisseland) European areas. And of course it depends on industry and also by company - cultures differe between organizations and even between departments.
As a very general comment - and it's just my impression based on personal anecdotes and convos - is that merit-based advancement in many northern/central Euro companies is harder - they seem more into seniority and personal/corporate politics. It also seems to be much less tolerant of making mistakes, so every hour and every day seems high pressure as the fear of making an error or being seen to be less then completely rigourous in your work is bigger deal, at least socially there. It seems more stressful and regimented.
That said, my perspective comes from Silicon Valley, so to me even US large companies on the lEast Coast seen extremely hidebound in their employee relations and policies. However, even Euro and Asian companies treat their US-based employees badly, in my experience and discussions, compared to other US companies in he same industry.
If I had a buck for every USA or Canuckendia person I know who worked for a Euro company either abroad (in Euroland or SE Asia) and then was glad to leave and work for a USA, Canadienska, or even UK (semi-Euro) company and vow never to work for a CONtinental Euro or SE Asian company every again, I'd have enuff munny for a nice vacation. One anecdote - a guy a know who is a long-time friend worked for Japanese pharma company with a USA HQ in the Chicago area in IT - he worked there for a long time - when he was laid off when the Chicago HQ closed, he found a yobb with Hillshire Farms - he was amazed that he LOVED his job and looked forward to going to work - then Tyson Foods bought Hillshire Farms and he was travelling to the new HQ in Arkansas several times a month to harmonize the two companies IT systems. Tyson promoted him twice in 18 months and then offered him to move to Arkansas and work at the new HQ at a position even higher. He turned it down only because he has other ties in Chicago area (his Japanese wife and another fambly member own and operate a restaurant there). So he chose to stay at the Chicago office of Hillshire Farms and just fly down to Arkansas a few times a month. He said both Hillshire Farms and the new parent, Tyson Foods, were vastly different that the Japanese pharma - other employees seemed to be happy, friendly, and could move up the ladder based on merit and motivation, nott time-in-grade or 'experience'. He said he wished he knew much earlier in life that nott every jobb was like his experience at Astellas, he would have quit the Japanese pharm yobb long ago and would have had much less stress and more friendly co-workers. Tyson and Hillshire HR has been very accommodating to him and his personal needs - dude's happy as a clam nott at a clambake, and he love Arkansas and the BBQ joynts and Southern cuisine there. He wants to move there and retire to be a beekeeper, and if his wife's restaurant ever closes, he'll relocate to the Tyson HQ and buy a chunk of land and start his bee colonies even before retirement. He and the wife (who Tyson pays to fly down sometimes with him if she has time - restaurants are a more-than-fulltime pursuit) - have already been shopping for acreage in the area.
So that's just one example, there are many others. I mentioned the friend who worked in Chicago for French SocGen and then in London and hated it - and the people - and especially the French management both in Chicago, London, and when she was seconded to Switzerland, Paris, and Lyon. Then she moved to Frisco (!!) and loved working at Montgomery Securities. Before SocGen she worked at a US real estate investment trust in Chicago (Vornado) and liked that. She also will never work for a Euro company again.
So it's anecdotal and based on just my personal experiences and convos - and observations when abroad. In general and on average it seems to me to be better to work for a Merrikun or Canadia-based company than many north/central Euro or SE Asia-based ones.
As always, your mileage may vary.
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