Assignment 4

Cultural Information Paper

Anna Fulton

HRM 500: HR Management

Dr. Obioma Iwuanyanwu

06/10/19
The Country and Customs

The Coordinator of Residential Services has accepted a position transfer abroad as

Service Coordinator for Addaction Liverpool. She will be relocating to Liverpool, England.

Addaction Liverpool is a facility that addresses the needs of persons seeking assistance and

treatment for drug and/or alcohol issues and to assist them into recovery. The job functions are to

coordinate and supervise life skills development for inpatient and outpatient residents of the

recovery program.

Liverpool is a vibrant city and metropolitan borough situated on the eastern side of the

mouth of the Mercy River in Merseyside, England, United Kingdom. The city has a population of

nearly a half million people. The borough is the fifth largest in the United Kingdom. It is Great

Britain’s second largest port. Liverpool is recognized for its two football teams, Liverpool and

Everton. It is most known as the birthplace of the Beatles.

Liverpool is the city in the north-west of England, located at the mouth of the Mercy

River. It also the second largest export port of Great Britain. Liverpool is famous for its

outstanding football clubs - Liverpool and Everton; and music fans recognize this city as the

birthplace of the glorious band - the Beatles. The local people are known as “Liverpudlians” or

“Scousers”. The Liverpudian nickname come courtesy of the lobscouse soup which was invented

by Norwegian sailors and is the main food of the poor port folk. The locals are also called

Scousers because of the special English dialect they speak called scouse. In Scouse the letter "L"

is added to the end of the words. Liverpool is a vibrant city with stunning sights, incredible

shopping venues, sporting events, and spectacular nightlife.

 It is the custom to leave tips, 10% of total bill, in restaurants for services provided. You

are still expected to tip the waiters, maids and taxi drivers. You will need to exchange your US

dollars in the US because exchange rates in Liverpool are extremely high. Also, you need your

passport to exchange currency in the UK. The locals are polite and considerate and appreciate it

in others. They consider it disrespectful not to show your gratitude for services rendered. Always

remember that the city has very high fines and punishments for traffic violations. You do not

have to carry a cell phone everywhere because telephone booths are plentiful on the streets. Free

internet access is provided by many of the cafes, bars and shopping centers. The city is a mecca

of multicultural and musical events. Liverpool has the oldest African communities in the country

and the oldest Chinese community on the continent.

Work Needs

A valid passport is a requirement for anyone moving to Liverpool from outside of

the United Kingdom. Because you are transferring to an agency under the umbrella of

The Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs Commission (ATOD), you will need to apply for a

Tier 2 (Intra-company Transfer) visa.

You will need the following items, many of which will be supplied through the agency:

 a valid certificate of sponsorship for your position

 proof of adequate and appropriate compensation, “salary”, for your job
 your last five years travel history
 Tuberculosis skin test results and any required immunizations.
 Proof of employment by company outside the UK

A certificate of sponsorship is an electronic record the contains your personal details and job

information. Your sponsor, employer, will give you a certificate of sponsorship reference

number for your visa application. The reference number is valid for three months.
You must show a bank account containing at least £945 for 90 days prior to applying. This is

proof of self-sufficiency. This proof is not necessary if you have an approved sponsor who can

supply your living costs for a month should you need it. Your sponsor must confirm this on the

certificate of sponsorship. Addaction will apply for a work permit for you and aid you in

obtaining the certificate of sponsorship.

Housing and Transportation

In the 1990’s, the dilapidated seafront of warehouses and dock buildings were

converted into luxury apartments and penthouses. These properties are well sought after

for their spectacular views and come with an expensive price tag to match. More

modestly priced accommodations can be found in the neighboring boroughs. The suburbs

of West Derby, Knotty Ash and Childwall are popular with expatriates. They have lovely

terraced houses excellent for families. The local amenities are good as well as the

schools. Expatriates can find a strong sense of community. Woolton and neighboring

Allerton also have attractive properties for sale and rent. Try housing search

engine Rightmove  to get the most accurate and up-to-the-minute prices for property in the

city. Addaction will help with securing a rental property close to the agency.

Liverpool boasts an effective transportation system. Getting around will not be a

problem. It has the Mercy Rail, city buses and black cabs that can be flagged down

anywhere in the city. Rush hour traffic is horrific, and parking is costly, so most locals

avoid driving into the city. There are always construction impediments at the Liverpool

Airport because it is always in process of expansion. They have direct flights to many

cities in Europe. London is a mere 200 miles away and is just a two-hour train ride away.
The Mercy Ferries provide scenic trips between the city and Wirral. They also travel to

Belfast, Dublin and Isle of Man. Cycling is not as popular in Liverpool so riding routes

are not as established.

Benefits Program

Addaction offers a comprehensive benefits program comparable to Chrysalis Center.

Expatriates must pay a yearly fee for health coverage because Liverpool has government

subsidized health care for all. Addaction will pay the heath care fee. Addaction offers a dental

plan, pension plan, sick pay, annual leave and bereavement leave. Addaction recognizes the

following holidays:

New Year’s Day

Good Friday
Easter Monday
May Day (1st Monday in May)
Spring Bank Holiday (Last Monday in May) Christmas Day
Boxing Day
Addaction also recognizes four additional local observances. This is a total of twelve recognized

holidays.

Addaction provides an occupational pension to its employees. Occupational pension

schemes are arrangements established by employers to provide pension and related benefits for

their employees. Enrollment is automatic. The pension fund is jointly funded. The employee

contributes eight percent of their annual salary and the employer matches the contribution.

Most full-time employees in the United Kingdom are entitled to a mandatory 5.6 weeks

of Annual Leave per year. This amounts to twenty-eight days of paid time off. Addaction offers
extra time in the form of Sick Leave and Bereavement Leave. Sick leave is accrued at a rate of

1.2 days a month. Bereavement leave is provided to employees for death of immediate family.

Immediate family is defined as spouse, children, Parent and grandparent, and siblings. Three

days paid days off is given for bereavement. Addaction offers limited time off for dependent

care and emergencies. Please read your contract carefully regarding dependent care.

Statutory Sick Pay is provided by Addaction. You are entitled to a minimum of 94.25

pounds per week of Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) if you are too sick to work. It is payable for up to

28 weeks by the employer. To qualify you must be out of work sick for 4 consecutive days. A

doctor’s note must also be provided.

Addaction provides training and employee development. The agency is a firm believer that

employees at every level should be given the opportunity ad means to learn fundamental

proficiencies and develop as professionals. They believe that employee training crucial to the

long-term success of the agency. Organizations that care about the success of the employees

develop assets through ongoing learning and opportunities for growth. Addaction thrives through

improving employee performance and productivity. Developed individuals work to thrust the

organization forward.

Addaction had a high attrition rate and saw many high-potential employees leave the

organization because it lacked a strong commitment to employee training and professional-

development opportunities. The cost of replacing workers ate at the agency’s bottom line. A

revamped attitude, commitment and policy toward employee development has propelled the

company forward.
 The average work week is forty hours (40). You cannot work more than forty-eight hours

(48) in a week. Your position is Monday – Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm with an hour for

lunch. Because you will be implementing a new component, work hours may be adjusted

according to facility needs. There is no labor union associated the Addaction.