When is far too far?

After all the excitement from yesterday's snowfall, I was astonished to learn that a few of my work colleagues were unable to make it to work. You would think this not surprising bearing in mind how difficult conditions were, but:
I work in Southampton; one manager travelled from Salisbury, Wilts,; one from Chichester, Sussex, and one from Christchurch, Dorset. the distances they travelled were considerable yet one colleague who lives literally a 10 minute walk away rang personnel to say that she couldn't get in because of the snow?????

Keep ice from forming in the snow

How soothing is to watching the snow falling! Especially if you don't have to go out in it!
I use to love snow when I was a kid, now I just like watching it.
A good way to keep ice from forming on your paying slabs and drive is to spinkle table salt. Great for drives as well. And you don't have to use vast amounts of salt to make a difference - table salt is only a fraction (pence) compared to all these other things.
Salt is also good for keeping weeds at bay inbetween paving slabs.

Your life can change in a matter of minutes

It is amasing to think that the outcome of todays drama when a US Airways pilot saved the day by landing his plane, in tact, on the Hudson River in New York. On a wing and a prayer was the headline in one of the tabloids and how appropriate that was. Deemed as "the Miracle on the Hudson River" this incident has put a "smile on the faces" of many people in a week when there has been little to smile about.

Milk the system and be popular with your manager

This week has been interesting to say the least. My manager read me the riot act for taking my tea break at a different time. I did it to help out my colleagues. When I pointed how stupid this was she threw back in my face how she had been helping me??????
Then I pointed out that she should be clamping down on the people milking the system - what about the time stealers? What about the people who spend excessive amounts of time doing simple jobs? What about . . . being a manager to them?
She didn't like that and hasn't spoken to me since.
At least mega mouth is gone - hooray!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

when is bullying not bullying?

I'll tell you next week after I have taken my claims to senior management and the union.

One handed checkout opering

I can't believe that my store won't allow me to have an afternoon teabreak because I don't work an 8 hour day - only 7 1/2 hours and therefore only qualify for a morning break and unpaid lunch. The problem is that because of the cold weather my joints have swollen up in my right hand making my fingers go into spasm i.e. I spend all day working as a checkout operator on tills. The worst part is that I have been there 14 years.

Surely this can't be right?

The best day of the week

Having been on holiday for the past could of weeks, it makes you appreciate how precious life is and how some people i.e. the supervisors I work under make life so unbearable for some of my colleagues. However, the trouble is, who do you complain to?

Your immediate manager - she has, unfortunately, become ineffectual as a manager. She started well, but due to one particular supervisor (who has endless amounts of issues and a very loud mouth) she has lost her spark and let this individual manage her. If I were her, I would transfer her out of our store - but that is logical and an easy solution. Anyway that is not my problem.

The union rep - she too has little impact even though she has the union behind her.

The store manager - he thinks everything in every department is rosy. Probably because he has his own problems and this one should, I emphasise should, be sorted out by my manager.

Leave - the problem is especially in this current economical situation it is not a good idea.

Grin and bear it - that is the easy way out. However, I am fortunate because for me there are ways out. But I do feel very sorry for the meek amongst my colleagues. I have told them that I will help them "get action" and that they need to "group together" because that way somebody, somewhere will have to do something.

It would be nice to be able to do the job you get paid to do without the bullying that goes on.