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We often read of things that are totally normal in America but look super crazy to the rest of the world. Like free refills, medical debts, the sheer portion sizes, you name it. But hey, the place and time is everything when it comes to which things we view as typical and which ones raise our brows.

So this time, we are setting our eyes on Europe and the weird customs, things, and manners people in its 44 countries have that look totally crazy to Americans. “What's considered normal in Europe but horrific in America?” someone asked on AskReddit, and 12.7k comments followed.

We picked some of the most telling and thought-provoking responses that prove European countries are also home to a bunch of weirdos!

#1

People Share 30 Things That They Think Are Normal In Europe But Horrific In America Old things. Houses especially. "Someone died in this house" yeah no s**t Sherlock, this house has been here more than your country

flawed_yet_fun , Mike Report

#2

People Share 30 Things That They Think Are Normal In Europe But Horrific In America The metric system

rmbl88 , pxfuel Report

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Sam Yobado
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Favorite metric system quote is by Josh Bazell. “In metric, one milliliter of water occupies one cubic centimeter, weighs one gram, and requires one calorie of energy to heat up by one degree centigrade—which is 1 percent of the difference between its freezing point and its boiling point. ... Whereas in the American system, the answer to ‘How much energy does it take to boil a room-temperature gallon of water?’ is ‘Go f**k yourself,’ because you can’t directly relate any of those quantities.”

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#3

People Share 30 Things That They Think Are Normal In Europe But Horrific In America Taking the bus. There is so much stigma around public transport in the US, especially busses, and in Europe it's just a totally normal way to get around because nobody wants to deal with driving and parking in a big city.

Also from an employer's perspective: 25+ vacation days minimum for all employees and unlimited sick days. The absolute horror.

Zack1018 , Pofka Report

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October
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This! When I was a nanny in the US, the family I worked for was always nagging me for using public transport. I never unederstood what the big deal was.

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#4

Songs with swear words being broadcasted on the radio, or swear words not being covered with a beep tone on tv. It’s always felt weird to me that Americans are all about being free and freedom of speech but then again they are scared of some stupid words.

Elisiana12 Report

#5

People Share 30 Things That They Think Are Normal In Europe But Horrific In America Pro union laws. Pro worker labour laws. Mandatory paid vacation days (including fines for companies if the workers don't take their vacation days or get them payed out. They NEED to actually leave work legally for around 25 days per year).

AgarwaenCran , Alex Kotliarskyi Report

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LH
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Rested and healthy employees = higher productivity. Who'd have thought?

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#6

People Share 30 Things That They Think Are Normal In Europe But Horrific In America Letting kids go to school or walk around the neighborhood by themselves without supervision.

A Dutch family moved to the USA and their kids went to school on their bikes like they always do, after a while the police showed up on their doorstep and child protective services letting them know they’re being irresponsible and to not do that again.

ik101 , Elizabeth Report

#7

People Share 30 Things That They Think Are Normal In Europe But Horrific In America Mailman doesnt leave packages unattended on your porch. He eather gives you it on the doorstep or you go get it at the post office. Much less infureating than getting it stolen or thrown accros your yard by a mailman...

haberg6 , MobiusDaXter Report

#8

People Share 30 Things That They Think Are Normal In Europe But Horrific In America Taking of your shoes when getting home.

Fliggan , Cade Martin Report

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James016
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'd rather not have muddy footprints/ dirt from outside around the house.

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#9

People Share 30 Things That They Think Are Normal In Europe But Horrific In America I don't know if this would horrify Americans as I've never heard it discussed, but where I live in Europe (Luxembourg), voting is mandatory and you can get fined for not voting in an election. You can still spoil your ballot, so you don't have to decide between lesser evils if you don't want to, but you have to make the effort to go to the polling station or submit a postal vote. It guarantees a high voter turnout and by extension more representative elections, coupled with a proportional voting system so we're not locked into a two-party mess like the UK or the US - not that it's without its issues of course, but I think it's an improvement.

MrLuxarina , Santeri Viinamäki Report

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#10

People Share 30 Things That They Think Are Normal In Europe But Horrific In America Being expected to know another language other than English.

Coygon , Thirdman Report

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MiriPanda
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think they meant: While it is normal for Europeans to speak at least one language other than their mother tongue, Americans are not expected to speak any other language than English.

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#11

At least in Germany, nudity. No one cares if you're naked, no one thinks you're a sex offender, no one thinks it's even sexual to be naked unless you're actively having sex, and no one makes it weird.

You can be naked in public parks to soak up sun, on beaches, swim naked in lakes. Saunas are all naked, mixed sex areas in spas and saunas are naked with no issues and in general, it's just not an issue.

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Tassenküchlein168
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At least where I live in Germany it’s NOT usual to be naked in parks or bathing naked in crowded places, except they’re designated as nude areas. Topless is tolerated in most urban parks, if you don’t Walk around. Otherwise it’s a "Public nuisance", which is an administrative offense and is punished by a penalty fee.

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#12

People Share 30 Things That They Think Are Normal In Europe But Horrific In America From what I’ve heard, allowing retail workers to sit. I’ve heard it’s regular for people to be sitting in Europe as cashiers, but in the us it is seen as lazy. Only store I know of that allows it is Aldi and that’s because it helps their cashiering metrics.

whovian1087 , Wolfmann Report

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Natalie
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Seen as lazy, huh? So the management only have standing desks?

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Jace
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Absolutely not. It’s another type of class warfare in the USA.

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Kathryn Baylis
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The last sentence should be a wake up call for American management: “it helps their cashiering metrics”. Yes! People whose feet aren’t killing them because they’ve been forced to stand for hours on end actually do better work. What a f*****g amazing concept. Heads up, American business schools, you sociopathic m***********s! Time to add a class in Humane and Ethical Employee Management.

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Venic
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Americans have a weird, masochistic relationship with work. For instance, providing free housing for the homeless would generally cost LESS than paying for the various fallouts of rampant homelessness - but we won't do it, because nobody should get "handouts." We'll actually pay more and suffer greater inefficiency in order to punish people for their perceived wrongdoings or moral failings. For so many of us, it's not about what gets the best results. It's about what satisfies this weird, self-punishing sense of morbid justice.

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Miss Cris
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Europe it isn't only regular but mandatory. Workers have the right to sit!

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lemsip
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Only in some shops are till staff standing and that's because they are only behind the till for short periods such as in a department store where they are walking around and doing other things.

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D S
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So they´re supposed to just stand in the same place for the entire shift??? Seriously? That would be torture for me... I´m able to walk for a long while but to just stand on my feet in the same place for hours is the recipe for getting severe lower back pain.

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LH
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also Aldi is German...they do seem to treat workers a whole lot better in Germany.

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J. F.
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Despite being seen as low class market and cheap they are on the upper end when it comes to retail employers

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Brendan
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To put things into perspective, a form of torture adopted by the Nazis in their concentration camps was to force people to stand in one spot for hours at a time.

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DonS
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Happens in Canada too... For me, personally, when an employer doesn't alloy his employees to sit, it's a red flag and I get the F*****K away from there. In my experience, it means management is toxic as anthrax.

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Laura Pantazis
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm an American and I really wish more places would let cashiers sit. I feel awful for them every time I go in the store.

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Ole Peder Amrud Hagen
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The picture is from Norway, and yes, of course they're allowed to sit. They can also stand up whenever they feel like it, as it is beneficial for your body to change positions every now and then.

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Alina Rainer
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

u guys over there really like treating lower class jobs as servants huh? standing all day long sucks for your veins and can cause multiple helath issues (which again is another problem)

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Allen Lavine
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

See in America you live to work and not work to live I hear people bragging about working 50-90 hours a week or people bragging cause they go to work sick real conversation dude: man I had a bad cold or the flu last week Me: so you went to the hospital or you stayed home and self medicate Dude: no I went to work I'm not no b**ch I'm a man Me: no you stupid cause you put others at risk to make a man who cares so less about you he let you stay a work

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lemsip
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I get the impression when somebody only works 40 hours a week and is lucky to be earning enough from that job to live on they get bored at weekends and in the evenings because everyone else they know is working their second job or doing overtime so they can't hang out with them.

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Tamara Kroonen
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So you call it lazy? We call it ergonomic. Because we are...after all....humans. And humans can have backpain and pain in legs and feet after prolonged standing still behind a counter.

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Frozengeckolover
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I agree that this is horrible. I've also worked places in America where you were not allowed to read while you were on the clock. I got written up for reading a newspaper article while waiting for a delivery. And some cashiering jobs do not allow an actual lunch break; you just have to grab a bite when you can (but you can't sit down to eat). It's horrible!

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Luka Hamer
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Aletta Jacobs, the first female doctor in The Netherlands, saw a lot of young woman who worked as cashiers in her practice with leg, joint and back problems. Because of her there is a law you are obligated to give cashiers a chair of some kind so they can sit. This was somewhere in the 1880's.

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Blakkur Sverrir
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A few years ago Aldi got into a bit of negative media coverage in Germany, for treating their workers poorly. As far as I am informed they are still not very popular as an employer. By german standards of course

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Mica Silvia
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I was at college I worked part time at a local co-op.. it was seen as lazy there too so no chairs allowed although they had one on the shop floor because of a pregnant employee ..a member of staff sat on it every time the pregnant employee wasn't working and in the end got sacked! ...she lost her job for sitting down working a 9 hour shift .. it's just stupid ! I was in my early 20s and it is hell standing for that long trust me.

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Noel Benavente
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is terrible... poor people. It's not about laziness, it's about health.

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Chloe *Leah* Pheonix
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I dont see it as lazy I see it as the manager treating his workers like humans

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Karl Baxter
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Totally normal in the UK and no one thinks the cashier is lazy

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Alex K
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

all cashiers sit down here, that's ridiculus (greece)

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Ceili Ann Tibbitts
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don’t get to sit at my job. It would be really nice, though. I have feet problems and they get sore easily. I can’t work more than four hours without lasting pain.

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Demongrrrrl
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would go back to work as a cashier if I could sit. I can't stand for long periods of time the way I could when I was younger.

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Pariah Mouse
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's my dilemma, all I've ever done is retail, but I can't do the standing anymore, and I won't- I will sit the f*** down if my body is experiencing discomfort, life is too short, they can wake up to what is right or they can fire me- I say that knowing my livelihood doesn't depend on said job, I don't know how people do it, and what's more, they shouldn't have to...

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Ines Olabarria-Smith
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Remember seeing a very pregnant woman standing at the cash register in a supermarket in the States. Felt awful for her.

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Zaza
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also having retail workers take all sorts of abuse. Make a mess of the store, let your demon child break stuff or yell at the cashier in Europe and you're out before you can blink twice. With a ban to boot

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Suzanne Haigh
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have seen a black man give awful abuse to a white till girl, no one dare saying anything because it would be "racist" This is the only time I have seen definite worker abuse

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Robin Roper
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Aldi is a German i.e. European store, of course, they would follow European custom for the cashier to sit.

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Angela Meredith
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I worked, in the US, in retail several years ago when I fractured one foot and severely sprained the other. I was in a situation where I couldn't afford to take off work for 12 weeks while they healed. My boss would not allow me a stool to sit on until most of the people I worked with weighed in with their dissatisfaction with management and in support of me. I got a stool after standing for nearly 2 weeks on two bum feet. That was about 5 years ago and the employees who are still there, not me, still talk about it as a sore spot with the management.

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lemsip
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Brainwashing. It was all over the TV a few years ago about how sitting is bad for your health so you should have a standing desk and stand at it for hours at a time instead. Then history was rewritten about how people lived before the Second World War and that there was only one armchair instead of a three piece suite in the living room so everyone apart from the man of the house stood all the time. What poppycock. There would have been two arm chairs and probably stools or hard chairs to sit on as well..

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Ola Pe
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It makes the work a 100 times more exhausting!!! Horrible and pointless!

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Rosemary Moreland
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think everyone who stands constantly for their jobs, should have the option of sitting down. Think baricoseveins and haemorrhoids!

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Makabert Abylons
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is it lazy to work smarter? Why stand if you might as well can sit.. I have a hard time standing still, my shoulders and neck starts to hurt really bad.

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Winna Libert
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yup, had to get a Drs note so that I could sit behind a counter. Standing all day in one spot had me to where I could hardly walk after a couple of hrs. I have a large leg discrepancy which causes all sorts of issues but even if I didn't, standing in one spot is horrendous and bad longer term. BUT that is exactly the circumstances here. It's disturbing what we allow in regards to employment, among many other things.

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Pat Shelby
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sitting would probably help lots of metrics if measures were taken of the results.

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somnomania
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i had to quit my job as a cashier because i'm hypermobile and standing in one place for four hours was leaving me with crippling pain in my legs the next day. it was a bad job anyway, we weren't allowed to have water at the register, we always had to "look busy" if we weren't helping someone (idk about you but if i see a cashier wiping down the belt, i assume they're closing and don't want to deal with me).

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Winna Libert
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had to get a Drs note to be able to sit at my retail cosmetic counter, which I found to be ridiculous and degrading having to get "permission." I could barely walk by the time I left for home.

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K Miller
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I worked as a cashier a couple summers ago and this was probably the hardest part of the job. I could barely walk by the end of my shift even with a pair of good shoes.

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Boii
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Waiiit.. they aren't sitting in the US? Like, why tf?

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Lara Harris
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lazy? You're telling groceries. Why the hell do you have to stand to do that? All cashiers sit in the UK unless you're in a small shop and your job is till and other things m

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Hannah
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No no no. Aldi wants you to sit because they like making it LOOK like they're kinder to their cashier's but in reality they want you to trip and die and crack your head on the stupid tile floors when you have to get up every 20 seconds to do other jobs and NO YOU CANT JUST STAND, HOW UNGRATEFUL OF YOU TO NOT WANT THE CHAIR WEVE SO LOVINGLY FORCED UPON YOU!!

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Mary E Perry
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For sure the flaggers on road construction need to have a stool they can perch on. It's just terrible to be out there in the Sun and rain and not even be able to perch. Sitting would not impair their flag work at all and it would certainly be easier on their bodies.

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Laura Elizabeth
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I worked in retail from my early to mid 20s and even if no one was in the store I still couldn't sit down. Lazy.

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Sierra Burton
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I work at a mall in the US, and one day my coworker and I looked across the food court and saw a cashier at another food place sitting down as he worked. We spent a solid minute looking at this guy and thinking how lucky he was that he didn't have to stay on his feet all day... and then he came around to the other side of the counter. He was in a WHEELCHAIR. We were complaining to each other being jealous of someone in a wheelchair.

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Courtney Standard
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I always hear managers tell the employees “If you have time to lean, you have time to clean.” I was always told this if I was seen leaning against the counter for even a second.

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tara
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can't imagine standing in ONE SPOT for an 8 hour day. I can't stand in one spot for 20 minutes!

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Lizzie Conkey
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We have an elderly lady who works for my store and she asked us recently if she could use and stool and I said of course. I won’t tell someone they can’t sit. We have chairs from the office that we bring out of someone really wants it.

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AAPnonraeba
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Only several cashiers are sitting. Others are running around. Poor guys.

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Veronica Grey
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't know if it's changed since but, when I was working in a casino, we had a 15 minute break every hour. If there was an important punter who wanted us to stay, we were asked if we minded doing a bit longer at the table and the punter was told that we could only stay a certain amount of time. Shop workers also had the right to sit for 15 minutes per hour. A chair would be behind the counter and we would take turns sitting down. Of course, if it was very busy, we didn't have time to sit.

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Kate Jones
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ugh I wish. In the US there is a saying in all restaurants, retail, etc.: If you have time to lean, you have time to clean. I have a nice job now in an office and I still get paranoid when I don't have a customer/call that I'm going to get in trouble for not actively doing work.

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The Scout
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There is absolutely no reason to deny cashiers to sit - except that class warfare is deeply embedded into American society.

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Connie Leal
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I worked as a cashier once, and hated that I couldn't sit down

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Meami
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm not sure what stores they're thinking of in the US. Most retail workers are NOT sitting here.

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Jane Doe
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Of course they're sitting. 8 hrs standing? That's cruel ...

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Tai Buser
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How is THAT considered lazy and yet NOTHING ELSE we lazy ass Americans do can be judged as equally frowned upon!? Some times I do not understand the ways of my people!! 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

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Frannie Kaplan
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What happens jf you bring your own stool? Is management going to drop by every hour of your shift and fire you?

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Jb Dean
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just to be clear, ppl w disabilities that require they sit can sit as cashiers. But I agree, I see no reason why cashiers can’t sit.

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Josarah Ferryer
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wasn't "allowed" to sit on a stool for my job until I got a doctor's note stating I had sciatica. I was at least 6 months into a difficult pregnancy.

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Angelique Holmberg
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's more that it's considered unprofessional. Why? I have no friggin idea. It's just stupid.

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Laura Guerard
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Aldi is German, hence no single-use bags, seated cashiers, etc.

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Gina Babe
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I work at a dispensary and if they see you sit they make you get up.

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Samantha Hurrell
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Depends on the retailers, where I work in England, a chair would just get in the way and is only used for pregnant staff. We have joined up tills and a small space, so we barely have rooms for baskets.

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Sarah Grape
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

where i work, casheirs are allowed bar stools that cant be seen from the other side of the desk

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Robert Buxwin
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"From what I’ve heard" pretty much sums this up. Right up there with "many people are saying..."

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Stephen Branley
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I live in the UK and I've visited France. In both places cashiers have seats and can choose to use them (and most do) but some do also choose to stand. It's their choice though.

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lara
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I see people sitting all the time when they are behind a cash register. Mostly, though, people who work in stores are moving, constantly.

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T Mo
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That’s not true, there are plenty of stores and gas stations and stuff where the people up there have chairs. At a local grocery store we have chairs are built into the desk, so they can easily slide it in and out whenever they want.

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Stephen Branley
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The US way is a worse way of doing things (if it's true). Expecting people to stand all day is not good for them, and being uncomfortable makes you less productive. In the UK (and France, when I've visited) cashiers can sit or stand or change from one to the other as they see fit. How can having the choice be regarded as a bad thing?

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munkeylovin22
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

sitting is the new smoking! if you want your workers to die, have them sit all day

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Luka Hamer
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you want them to get all kinds of chronic joint and back issues, make them stand all day

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Linny H
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2 years ago

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No one's getting paid to sit there. And no, don't just stand there either. If you aren't with a customer then find something to do. You're being paid for your time.

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#13

You don't have to answer your phone on vacation.

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#14

People Share 30 Things That They Think Are Normal In Europe But Horrific In America The number of rooms in the description of apartments. 1 room in the US usually means 1 bedroom, a living room ,and separate kitchen. Was shocked when I realized it means everything inside one room in most European countries

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Robert T
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In the UK we normally describe properties as 1 bed, 2 bed etc. and give a separate count of other rooms. Studio is normally used to describe rooms of mixed use. So a 1 bed studio apartment will normally be a combined kitchen, living and sleeping space with a separate bath- or shower-room.

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#15

People Share 30 Things That They Think Are Normal In Europe But Horrific In America Open borders.

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Robert T
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I remember one work trip where I was in Germany, just over the border from France. All the staff were French and commuted across the border daily. Hell, we even went back across the border for lunch each day!

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#16

Not being super patriotic.

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Got Myself 4 Dwarves
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love being Scottish, I love living here, the people (mostly), the accepting and open culture, the sarcastic swearing humour, that we can take the piss out of ourselves - but I don't feel the need to fly a flag on my doorstep or cover myself in Scottish symbols and scream about my freedom and rights and chant some verse every morning - im sure there are plenty of Americans who also think that the stereotypical over the top patriotic American is as odd as outsiders do - but they do tend to be the loudest

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#17

Long paid parental leaves and month long holidays (vacations).

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WilvanderHeijden
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Fun fact: These are all things that Unions achieved and next the government made them law. Some Americans would go bat shyte crazy over that. "The government has no right to force 25 mandatory vacation days on me!!!!"

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#18

People Share 30 Things That They Think Are Normal In Europe But Horrific In America Oh man... europe has so many different countries. Something that is completely normal where I live could be frowned upon as soon as I cross the next border. But in general we tip for good service, not bc we have to. A rude waitress won't get tipped by me. Also we usually remove our shoes before we enter a home. And yep, "free" healthcare.

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Roxy Eastland
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Absolutely, what's acceptable in Spain wouldn't fly in Denmark and vice versa. All countries have their own cultures. The first time, years before the internet through reading American magazines, I came across 'Europe' being referred to as a homogeneous whole I was extremely confused. I was also highly entertained by all the adverts stating 'Everyone in Europe is using this product' for something I'd never seen in my life.

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#19

People Share 30 Things That They Think Are Normal In Europe But Horrific In America Not giving your debit/credit card to your server but doing it yourself

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Jon Steensen
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It prevents them from copying you card information and using them to commit fraud by buying stuff online with your creditcard information. In fact I think we ought to memorise the control numbers on the back of the card and then remove them for the card. Having them there is like writing the pin code on the card with a marker, it is just making abuse way too easy.

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#20

People Share 30 Things That They Think Are Normal In Europe But Horrific In America Sitting a foot away from a complete stranger and then completely ignoring them.

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#21

People Share 30 Things That They Think Are Normal In Europe But Horrific In America Americans get so bend out of shape over naked children running around the beach.

On every beach in Bulgaria I've been, naked children is the norm, women sunbathing in monokini is considered absolutely normal, while naked men are okay only in the nude sections of the beaches. And every beach has a nude section.

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#22

Smaller food portions

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#23

Not enrolling your kid in extracurricular activities. In Europe, some kids are enrolled in a sport or club and the older ones are mostly responsible for getting there and figuring out their schedule. In America, some parents are so obsessed with kids sports that the whole family's existence revolves around it, or they get judgemental when they hear that a kid isn't involved in any sports or clubs.

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lenka
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am in the Netherlands and almost every kid I know does some kind of extracurricular sport. There are also special subsidies to make sure every kids even from low income families can participate. But we dont tend to get obsessive parents here.

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#25

Putting mayonnaise on french fries instead of ketchup.

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#26

People Share 30 Things That They Think Are Normal In Europe But Horrific In America Almost every car having a manual transmission. when i visited ukraine, i only saw rich people with automatic cars

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Moodles
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Personally, I dislike automatics. It makes me feel like I'm driving a go kart. If you're going to drive a car...well...drive it!

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#27

People Share 30 Things That They Think Are Normal In Europe But Horrific In America Charging for water at a restaurant.

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brukernavn340
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Norway you'll get tap water when you ask for water, and that's free.

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#28

Bidets? I was born and raised in the US and I think they're efficient and far more hygienic than TP, but apparently most other dudes in this country think it's gay to clean up after your business is done lol

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Ole Peder Amrud Hagen
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The only really gay thing I know is falling in love with someone of the same gender as yourself. If cleaning your ass after you've been to the toilet is 'gay' to you, you have some real issues.

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#29

People Share 30 Things That They Think Are Normal In Europe But Horrific In America In Germany, looking for a apartment doesn't automatically mean it will come 100% with a kitchen. 90% they don't have them in and you have to buy them yourself.

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Lila Launehase
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's one of the most stupid things in Germany. The kitchen should belong to the apartment.

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#30

People Share 30 Things That They Think Are Normal In Europe But Horrific In America Underage drinking seems more of a crime in the US - in most cases of a kid is caught with alcohol in the UK it's just confiscated and poured away. Strictly speaking the age you can drink alcohol is really low as well, so long as you're home with a parent I think it's like 5/6. When you're in a restaurant you're also allowed low percentage alcohol like cider with a meal so long as you're with an adult.

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Francis
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

in germany you're allowed to drink beer/wine with 14 when you're parents are around, at 16 without them and everything else at 18

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