Channel Islands

Job Placement on the British Channel Islands

The Channel Islands are a small group of beautiful craggy islands off the north-west coast of France, 90 miles south of England. They are comprised of Jersey and Guernsey and three smaller islands – Alderney, Sark and Herm. EHA partner hotels are located on the two larger islands. The official language on the Channel Islands is English. The main tourist season on the Channel Islands is from April to September, but most hotels are open year-round. Visitors to the Channel Islands are mostly from Britain but also France and Germany. The Channel Islands have a very low crime rate and are therefore quite a safe place. An incident of purse-snatching would make the headlines of the local press. Class A drug trafficking or possession can lead to severe prison sentences. The official currency in the Channel Islands is British Pounds Sterling, although the Islands do have their own banknotes. Curiously, you can pay with mainland UK banknotes on the islands, but you cannot pay with island banknotes on mainland UK. The best connection from Germany to the Channel Islands goes via London Gatwick or Stansted. London Gatwick has direct flights to Jersey as well as Guernsey with the airlines Fly Be (www.flybe.com) or Aurigny (www.aurigny.com) The cheapest way to book flights is booking online, for which you will need a credit card. You can also go to Jersey or Guernsey on the ferry from the French coast.

Health insurance

The Channel Islands have a very elaborate national insurance system, which includes health insurance. During the first 26 weeks of your stay you will pay insurance contributions but you won’t have a right to claim any benefits off social insurance. You will have health insurance but there is an additional payment due with every visit to a GP’s practice of approximately £12.00 - £40.00, depending on the type of treatment. We advise you to take out a special insurance policy that is suited to the program and includes coverage for all medical bills, accidental injury, and liability. This will cost you € 66,00 per month, but is optional.
The British Channel Islands are not part of the European Union. For European citizens, this means that all social insurance contributions as well as health insurance contributions paid during their stay in Jersey or Guernsey will not be accredited in their home countries. Apparently it is possible (and strongly recommended by us) to keep paying social insurance contributions in your home country during your stay abroad, so that upon your return you will have a right to claim benefits and avoid gaps in your state pension contributions. Please enquire with your local employment agency or other authorities.

Wages

The minimum hourly wage in Guernsey is £ 6.13 for workers aged 20 and over and £ 4.36 for young workers aged 18-19. The minimum wage in Jersey is £6.32 (20 and over) and £4.74 (18 or 19-year-olds) per hour. A small amount will be deducted for the payment of your accommodation, which your employer will provide or organize. In some rare cases, employers will request that new employees find their own housing, but they will offer a free hotel room for the first few days. Further deductions will be made for taxes (approx. 15%) and national insurance (6%). Wages vary depending on which hotel you work at. You will be given more detailed information on this subject when you receive a job offer.

Average gross pay per month:

£1060.00

Average net pay per month after deductions for accommodation:

£950.00

Best time to start the program

Generally any time of year, but especially January - May

Preferred duration of job placement

10 - 12 months, 6-month stays may be possible at the start of the high season.