The Work Thread

I'm in a similar position, and I'm not really qualified for anything else and I'm gooseberry fool at interview so sticking with it for now. As long as you get the length of your probation in writing and the wage increase too and it's a time frame you can live with then why not.

Rax wrote:Interesting, it is a bit of a different role than Im used to doing, basically its a young company and theyll be looking for me to guide a lot of the processes they put in place and that kind of thing so it is a step up from just being a guy who does the thing. Im not overly worried about it, I just found it an odd thing and wondered if anyone else had come across it. I think the benefits of taking the job outweigh the (temporary) drawback of a pay reduction.

How long is the probationary period?

6 months probation, everything in writing so Im not too worried by it.

what's the salary difference? its going to end up quite a chunk after 6 months.
depends on how much you want the job i guess.

Not too bad then-less than £2k once you factor in tax and NI.

Bit of an odd policy though.

Just got my first pay packet from my new job, and in one month I've nearly earned as much as I did with 3 months in that contract job

Me looking at my balance yesterday:

Today:

Tomous wrote:Not too bad then-less than £2k once you factor in tax and NI.

Bit of an odd policy though.

I asked for a good chunk more than Im on now so even them cutting back takes me only slightly below what Im on now and the shorter commute should make up a good bit of the shortfall so yeah its not terrible really.

Anyway, took the job, handed in my notice. Made the planning meeting this morning very weird but ho hum.

Ad7 wrote:Just got my first pay packet from my new job, and in one month I've nearly earned as much as I did with 3 months in that contract job

Me looking at my balance yesterday:

Today:

Congrats!

Give me some money. I'm povvo.

Nailed a job interview earlier, interviewer was an attractive woman only a couple years older than me which generally helps. Will be absolutely gutted if i don't get offered it on Monday now, sounds cool + new place to live and significantly more money。

Did you email her?

Rax wrote:Interesting, it is a bit of a different role than Im used to doing, basically its a young company and theyll be looking for me to guide a lot of the processes they put in place and that kind of thing so it is a step up from just being a guy who does the thing. Im not overly worried about it, I just found it an odd thing and wondered if anyone else had come across it. I think the benefits of taking the job outweigh the (temporary) drawback of a pay reduction.

tbh they can't afford you and have no management experience for this type of work.

Neither of these things strike me as a valid justification for paying you less. Just keep your chin up at the 6 month period, in case neither of these things hold up and try to get this in writing in your contract so you're free to go if they don't hold up their side of the bargain.

A contract is always negotiable, even if you've already signed one. You can always mark up a contract with things you take issue with and a contract can be updated.

Edit: I've just seen you said it's in writing so never mind, good work.

I have ascended beyond the pleb tier. I have been given an assistant at my new job.

In reality I know it's like the oldest child being put in charge of the youngest when the parents are stepping out but still nice that I might get to boss someone around.

First day back today after a couple of weeks off. strawberry floating hell, my motivation is so low. There's always going to be that post-holiday lull in mood I guess, but damn, it gets so tiring feigning enthusiasm in my work and putting up with annoying colleagues day-in day-out, and it's all so, so boring. It pays well, and has good benefits, but strawberry float me it doesn't half grind me down. Got a couple of weeks of pretty much constant bullshit coming up - pointless meetings and workshops, unbearably tedious presentations and training sessions, and some 'mandatory' social events and dinners which I'm already thinking of excuses for how to get out of them. I'm sure some people love this kinda thing, but to me it's just something else I'd rather not be doing. I guess I'll get ground down into the routine of it all soon enough, but the brief periods of time you get outside of the usual shite just makes you realise how soul-crushingly bleak the prospect of another 40 or so years of work is.

I've just drafted up my first minion contract of sorts for an in-uni (i.e. legal) work experience assistant for a few days. Should be interesting considering my business is a spare room at home but my last time working with anyone was years ago (gallery assistants and digital marketing types).

I'm trying to get a desk space to use again but strawberry float me is it expensive, I forgot most places want a deposit that doubles the cost. It's getting expensive fast just to accommodate someone for work experience. But I do need to get out into the real world again.

And I haven't gotten around to ordering a medical kit. I sliced through my finger just today.

Been running an exhibition/open house as well. The awkward gap between the question "Are you a professional artist" and "yes" (well strawberry floating of course, what else am I doing?) is getting shorter.

In retrospect corporate work really strawberry floated everything up, glad to get a bit of my identity back but having no money ever does begin to grate a bit. I've been on call to the bank several times in a single week. And what's my next financial goal? $100 to get some machinery add-ons so I don't have to constantly hoover sawdust up after every other job, which is - of course - completely strawberry floated by the weak pound (again). £75 for a deposit to rent a desk for 8hrs a week, and then pay for it. Some other money to scrounge some wood from a reclaimed wood warehouse and magically turn that into more money.

Well classy spends them are.

Oh well, at least I'm good at Photoshop and I can entertain myself making infinite wooden coasters.

Had an interview the other day that went well. What wasn't great was work texting me an hour beforehand to tell me I've to swap sides of the shift meaning all my days off this month are now days I'm expected to be in totally strawberry floating with my plans. Sent a lengthy formal email to the manager quoting policy stating 4 weeks notice for shift change, and jumped into her on the way out this morning. Initially she gave some bullshit about gender mix which would never have worked being the only female in my grade on a shift pattern, but I woke up to a text basically saying she caved and I'm to stay where I am with my pals. Mini win!

Also drafted negotiations for a meeting with head office. Everyone seems to be in agreement so hopefully they'll make some nice changes before I get offered work elsewhere and boost.

IT'S MY LAST DAY...for three months.

From tomorrow I'm on a sabbatical to go and live with my gf in France. If it works out, it might become permanent. I'm excited, and only have a few tasks left to do I think, but I can't get the last one done. I just don't care.

Still. I needed to get out of here for a while. And out of here I will get.

Bunni wrote:Had an interview the other day that went well. What wasn't great was work texting me an hour beforehand to tell me I've to swap sides of the shift meaning all my days off this month are now days I'm expected to be in totally strawberry floating with my plans. Sent a lengthy formal email to the manager quoting policy stating 4 weeks notice for shift change, and jumped into her on the way out this morning. Initially she gave some bullshit about gender mix which would never have worked being the only female in my grade on a shift pattern, but I woke up to a text basically saying she caved and I'm to stay where I am with my pals. Mini win!

Also drafted negotiations for a meeting with head office. Everyone seems to be in agreement so hopefully they'll make some nice changes before I get offered work elsewhere and boost.

I've had this before and it really strawberry floats me off.

On a Friday afternoon: Can you come in on Monday?
My response: That's effectively 3hrs notice, no I cannot. Please give me 7 days notice.
Reply: ......

Stop treating my time as if its worthless FFS.

Yeah. I was out of the country when I got a generic text saying my shifts had been moved somehow. No details given. When I came back I sent a list of leave requirements, refusing to use annual leave entitlement for everything, because of the short notice of the swap. She backed down of course. Turns out I wasn't even worst hit. Another lad has been booked to work nightshift on his wedding.

Can't wait to get the strawberry float out of there.

Bunni wrote:Turns out I wasn't even worst hit. Another lad has been booked to work nightshift on his wedding.

strawberry float

Got offered a marketing role in the Netherlands

Pay isn't outstanding after tax but it's in Euros so I'm still quids in for the foreseeable future. Getting off dat sinking ship