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Post by misterc on Jul 5, 2022 8:23:45 GMT
Thanks mate. Although I was wandering around Newcastle yesterday (not the Geordie one) and it was amazing how many shops had 'Staff Required' notices up. So I think it's just how things are at the moment, employers are desperate to fill vacancies. I would say thats a good observation Martin, it took us 6 months to find the last memeber of the team, far to many ex grads looking for 55K a year with little to no experiance at 24 Two of the chaps that work with us, job share as they are like you retired, so they split the week up to 2.5 days a week each, keeps them fresh mentally, no pressure and they have a nice holiday/home improvment fund from things they enjoy doing. Have always found that a good enjoyable working environment promotes healthy and happy staff, no phone in's with ' Gastric Flu' on a Monday morning due to a skinfull over the weekend.
Its the balance that is desriable to achieve, not always possible at certain points in life, however I feel it's a worth while goal.
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Post by macca on Jul 5, 2022 9:50:26 GMT
Thanks mate. Although I was wandering around Newcastle yesterday (not the Geordie one) and it was amazing how many shops had 'Staff Required' notices up. So I think it's just how things are at the moment, employers are desperate to fill vacancies. I would say thats a good observation Martin, it took us 6 months to find the last memeber of the team, far to many ex grads looking for 55K a year with little to no experiance at 24 Two of the chaps that work with us, job share as they are like you retired, so they split the week up to 2.5 days a week each, keeps them fresh mentally, no pressure and they have a nice holiday/home improvment fund from things they enjoy doing. Have always found that a good enjoyable working environment promotes healthy and happy staff, no phone in's with ' Gastric Flu' on a Monday morning due to a skinfull over the weekend.
Its the balance that is desriable to achieve, not always possible at certain points in life, however I feel it's a worth while goal.
That's what I'd rather do, maybe a 20 hour week max. But that's just not available in my line of work, it's full-time or nothing. years ago one company I worked for were brutally demanding of their staff, and paid low wages. Even though unemployment was over 3 million nationally (and at 35 percent in the local area) they could not recruit and existing staff left in their droves as they were mostly youngsters living with their parents and could walk out of a job if they were not happy without risking starvation and homelessness. The team I was in went down from seventeen people to three in just a couple of months at the same time as the business (cellphones) was expanding massively. Eventually they sacked the slave-driving managers and massively increased the pay but it did a lot of damage in the meantime. No way to run a railroad.
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Post by antonio on Jul 5, 2022 10:07:00 GMT
Thanks mate. Although I was wandering around Newcastle yesterday (not the Geordie one) and it was amazing how many shops had 'Staff Required' notices up. So I think it's just how things are at the moment, employers are desperate to fill vacancies. I would say thats a good observation Martin, it took us 6 months to find the last memeber of the team, far to many ex grads looking for 55K a year with little to no experiance at 24 Two of the chaps that work with us, job share as they are like you retired, so they split the week up to 2.5 days a week each, keeps them fresh mentally, no pressure and they have a nice holiday/home improvment fund from things they enjoy doing. Have always found that a good enjoyable working environment promotes healthy and happy staff, no phone in's with ' Gastric Flu' on a Monday morning due to a skinfull over the weekend.
Its the balance that is desriable to achieve, not always possible at certain points in life, however I feel it's a worth while goal.
I like that you are employing two chaps, that are as you say retired, to do a few hours of work per week which I am sure suits them both, well done Tony.
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Post by misterc on Jul 5, 2022 10:07:51 GMT
I would say thats a good observation Martin, it took us 6 months to find the last memeber of the team, far to many ex grads looking for 55K a year with little to no experiance at 24 Two of the chaps that work with us, job share as they are like you retired, so they split the week up to 2.5 days a week each, keeps them fresh mentally, no pressure and they have a nice holiday/home improvment fund from things they enjoy doing. Have always found that a good enjoyable working environment promotes healthy and happy staff, no phone in's with ' Gastric Flu' on a Monday morning due to a skinfull over the weekend.
Its the balance that is desriable to achieve, not always possible at certain points in life, however I feel it's a worth while goal.
That's what I'd rather do, maybe a 20 hour week max. But that's just not available in my line of work, it's full-time or nothing. years ago one company I worked for were brutally demanding of their staff, and paid low wages. Even though unemployment was over 3 million nationally (and at 35 percent in the local area) they could not recruit and existing staff left in their droves as they were mostly youngsters living with their parents and could walk out of a job if they were not happy without risking starvation and homelessness. The team I was in went down from seventeen people to three in just a couple of months at the same time as the business (cellphones) was expanding massively. Eventually they sacked the slave-driving managers and massively increased the pay but it did a lot of damage in the meantime. No way to run a railroad. Hi Martin
This is what we found when advertising the positions, so we merely adjusted our situtaion to make that happen. I realise we are only small compared to the big boys, but a flexible working attitude does also attract the right type of candidate for the positions imho
One chap who was really interested in one of the vacanies is now driving a parts delivery van for a local motor factors 3 days a week its 9-4, 1 hour lunch, he not lifting anything heavier than the suspension strut, new van he's worked his routes out so absolutely minimum traffic. Takes home around £225 a week. zero hassle always in for evening meal at a sensible time. He works Tues/Wednes/Thurs so no silly Monday morning or Friday Afternoon rush hours!
He occassionaly does the odd Saturday with us to keep his hand in.
Its that work/life balance again that is key I feel Martin.
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Post by macca on Jul 5, 2022 10:56:29 GMT
Rush hours, yes don't talk to me about them. My last job I had to leave the house at 0730 to ensure I was always there for 0900. Finish at 1700 and do well to be back in the house for 1800. 1830 or later wasn't unusual. That's a long day. When we went to home office with the pandemic it made working so much easier and less stressful it was untrue.
Don't know what the traffic situation is like now but pre-covid it was broken. Too many cars using an inadequate road system all at the same time. If there was a problem on the M6 (which there was at least twice a week) all that traffic would divert through the town as well and you'd just have gridlock.
This new job is just a twenty minute walk away so I'll be immune to all of that which is a huge bonus. One of the reasons I applied for it. Working I don't mind, it's all the associated hassle that pisses me off.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 5, 2022 10:57:11 GMT
That is why I see no reason to change. I am paid enough to have a relatively comfortable level of living, with minimal stress in my job.
I can pick my daughter up from school, rather than kids club several days a week.
I am in a small, but friendly team.
Sure I could earn more, but I would have to work much harder/longer to do so, and sacrifice time spent with my daughter. That is not my priority.
More money would mean more hifi purchases, but less time to listen to it.
A lose/lose situation in my book.
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Post by misterc on Jul 5, 2022 11:02:19 GMT
. More money would mean more hifi purchases, but less time to listen to it. A lose/lose situation in my book. Kevin,
Self control is easy, as Martin says the hassle of getting to and from work now's that the real BS
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Post by Deleted on Jul 5, 2022 11:41:42 GMT
I work from home a lot, and when I come in to the office, I travel when the traffic jams have finished.
Works for me, and leads to a good work/life balance.
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Post by Pigmy Pony on Jul 5, 2022 17:03:09 GMT
Just seen this. Well done mate! A job you was ably qualified to do, all you needed was for them to like you, and how could they not? Inevitable really. Time to seek out that Krell then Thanks mate. Although I was wandering around Newcastle yesterday (not the Geordie one) and it was amazing how many shops had 'Staff Required' notices up. So I think it's just how things are at the moment, employers are desperate to fill vacancies. Yes I've noticed plenty of "staff wanted" signs, but generally in retail and hospitality. probably a lot less migrant workers these day, who would be taking on those jobs. Your sort of work, where you need qualifications and/or experience, not so much. Strangely, we have this happening in the building trade. More work to do than there are people to do it. Surely it can't last as people start to tighten their belts, but for now we are all super-busy.
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Post by hifinutt on Jul 5, 2022 18:49:34 GMT
Called at 7.40am about broken tap ...fortunately my wonderful gas man will fix tomorrow, sadly he is emigrating imminently which is very very sad as he is amazing .
Nearly finished bathroom 1 refresh , so wonderful to decorate on summer days as dries so fast
Evening still very warm and nice walk by the beautiful blue sea
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Post by robbiegong on Jul 5, 2022 19:52:55 GMT
DPD delivered my amp, which has been away for a check over and service, so nice to be back in music again. Sounding good, and even though I'm hankering for a Belles Signature, after recent time with the Belles Aria * EDIT: Just realised I've been listening for the past few hours with the thing set to MM for my MC - lol ! I was thinking that the mids were a tad recessed to what I've been used to and things seemed a bit less defined / dimensional, now I know why. Doesnt matter how long you've been in this game, occasionally things pass you, that you'd swear woulndt, again
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Post by macca on Jul 6, 2022 6:30:56 GMT
Thanks mate. Although I was wandering around Newcastle yesterday (not the Geordie one) and it was amazing how many shops had 'Staff Required' notices up. So I think it's just how things are at the moment, employers are desperate to fill vacancies. Yes I've noticed plenty of "staff wanted" signs, but generally in retail and hospitality. probably a lot less migrant workers these day, who would be taking on those jobs. Your sort of work, where you need qualifications and/or experience, not so much. Strangely, we have this happening in the building trade. More work to do than there are people to do it. Surely it can't last as people start to tighten their belts, but for now we are all super-busy. well the shops that are advertising are retail jobs ofc but I noticed yesterday there's a debt collection company just down the road from me with a banner outside advertising seventy vacancies. Seventy! I had to read it twice. Crap job as you're chasing private individual's debt by calling them at home or work, not what I want to do at all but for them to have that many vacancies shows there must be a shortage of labour even in the credit and collections industry. I've also had leaflets through the door advertising jobs at JCB and Macro. That's never happened before. JCB it used to be that the only way you'd get taken on there is if you knew the foreman.
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Post by Pigmy Pony on Jul 6, 2022 21:02:47 GMT
well the shops that are advertising are retail jobs ofc but I noticed yesterday there's a debt collection company just down the road from me with a banner outside advertising seventy vacancies. Seventy! I had to read it twice. Crap job as you're chasing private individual's debt by calling them at home or work, not what I want to do at all but for them to have that many vacancies shows there must be a shortage of labour even in the credit and collections industry. I've also had leaflets through the door advertising jobs at JCB and Macro. That's never happened before. JCB it used to be that the only way you'd get taken on there is if you knew the foreman. They're probably expecting a big increase in the number of debtors, what with the country heading for skint-ness. I'm not sure what kind of person would want such a job, but I know I couldn't do it.
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Post by hifinutt on Jul 6, 2022 22:00:52 GMT
Indeed we had our first brush with bailiffs recently over an energy bill at a family member . Caused a big scare ..heaven help those who are falling into their hands through all these rises
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Post by Deleted on Jul 8, 2022 7:12:01 GMT
. More money would mean more hifi purchases, but less time to listen to it. A lose/lose situation in my book. Kevin,
Self control is easy, as Martin says the hassle of getting to and from work now's that the real BS
I have plenty of self control, but I think you are missing my point. If I earnt more, then maybe I would invest in a €3k DAC, or some PC-CCC cables as I would have a larger “disposable” income, so would be happier buying something that is just for me. I got paid my bonus at the end of June, but rather than buy a new DAC, I am keeping the money to have an awesome summer holiday, and make some memories that my daughter won’t forget. Much more important in my book. Especially as when the weather is good, I don’t sit inside the house much. Then there is the law of diminishing returns…
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Post by misterc on Jul 8, 2022 8:33:26 GMT
Kevin, at the end of the day audio is audio its not the a life or death thing, you make the choices whoch are right for you and yours what ever they are that is the key factor here and I agree the weather to nice to been indoors no question
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Post by macca on Jul 8, 2022 10:00:28 GMT
well it might be in France, it's not doing an awful lot here.
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Post by firebottle on Jul 8, 2022 11:46:57 GMT
It's fabulous at the Paramotor Club fly-in in Oxfordshire at the moment.
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Post by pete on Jul 8, 2022 11:59:57 GMT
Not a cloud in the sky in Wiltshire
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Post by robbiegong on Jul 8, 2022 12:51:21 GMT
Very warm, bright and sunny dawn sarf in London, looking forward to a meet up with my mate this evening, for a catch up, curry and a few beers
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Post by macca on Jul 8, 2022 13:18:42 GMT
Has improved here quite a lot since I last posted. Now sunny and warm.
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Post by sq225917 on Jul 8, 2022 15:05:16 GMT
It's been lovely since those dreadful clouds lifted yesterday, around 11am at number 10 downing Street...
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Post by lurch on Jul 8, 2022 16:27:19 GMT
To bastard hot here, hate the frigging Summer. Spend my days indoors with curtains pulled and fans going. If I wanted to fry like this I'd go live in the Sahara.
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Post by macca on Jul 8, 2022 17:53:57 GMT
You'd like my house then, my living room always feels like there's aircon running. Proper Yank aircon too, not what passes for it in this country.
Baking outside but I'm sat here with a fleece on.
Upstairs is like a sauna though.
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Post by hifinutt on Jul 8, 2022 18:06:50 GMT
cleaning this morning before a long train journey . managed a few glorious moments by the sea though . pretty hot and beautiful . back home its eid over the weekend so roads are manic with cars etc
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2022 11:16:32 GMT
Today, I am going to be sweating my nuts off, running a “bottle rocket” stand forv5he kids in the village. How do I get myself into these situations?
I wanted to hook up my compressor to one, just to see how high it would go, but this has been frowned upon.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Jul 9, 2022 12:00:18 GMT
Today, I am going to be sweating my nuts off, running a “bottle rocket” stand forv5he kids in the village. How do I get myself into these situations? I wanted to hook up my compressor to one, just to see how high it would go, but this has been frowned upon. Ha! i think they would pay to see that!
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Post by macca on Jul 9, 2022 14:09:38 GMT
Today, I am going to be sweating my nuts off, running a “bottle rocket” stand forv5he kids in the village. How do I get myself into these situations? I wanted to hook up my compressor to one, just to see how high it would go, but this has been frowned upon. 'Frowned upon'? All the more reason to do it then!
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Post by hifinutt on Jul 9, 2022 16:15:00 GMT
catching up on a lot of admin today
and looking to forward to a large pile of food our neighbours have bought round as its EID today ... EID mubarak to any celebrating on here
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Post by misterc on Jul 9, 2022 17:09:03 GMT
Just spent some time actually listening to music, whilst keeping the BBQ going, have some friends around we haven't see for a while, having a good catch up weather is simply glorious and its so good to be unwinding after some many long working weeks.
Hope everyone has a great weekend doing those things they wish to do
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