MPDTT

On 6/9/2021 at 11:28 AM, BigJag said:

Seiko are doing a Sonic watch for the 30th Anniversary. I think it looks pretty cool.

https://hypebeast.com/2021/6/sonic-the-hedgehog-joins-seiko-for-30th-anniversary-watch

Just saw one of these go on ebay for £600 imported from Japan - thats big money for a quartz!

Just now, MPDTT said:

Depends on the industry I guess. In my experience, if we find the right candidate, we will wait up to 3 months, but the new hire always tries to negotiate an early exit. Now - if we have two great candidates and one is immediately available and the other is on 3 months notice, would it be a consideration? Absolutely. But we'd always wait for the best candidate.

And to be honest, once you get to mid-senior roles, its fairly standard. 

I might add, what's more worrying is I'm seeing more and more contracts that contain aggressive post employment restrictions. I don't think long notice periods are unfair, because they are mutually applied on both sides of the contract. However I don't like this trend to make it harder for people to get other jobs in their industry when they leave. I find that very off-putting. 

3 hours ago, Chris B said:

Do you tend to accept 3 month notice periods for new hires, or is that a deterrent? Partly asking because, when I was searching recently, I was always asked how negotiable my 2 month notice period was. I've not seen many 3 month notice periods outside of very senior levels.

Depends on the industry I guess. In my experience, if we find the right candidate, we will wait up to 3 months, but the new hire always tries to negotiate an early exit. Now - if we have two great candidates and one is immediately available and the other is on 3 months notice, would it be a consideration? Absolutely. But we'd always wait for the best candidate.

And to be honest, once you get to mid-senior roles, its fairly standard. 

53 minutes ago, Keith Houchen said:

If you’re signed off, you can’t. We always call them sick notes but they’re fit notes. You have to be cleared by your GP. If your note is dated past Monday, you’d need your GP to issue a new one declaring you fit to return should you wish to go back in. 

You may also want to request an occupational health referral, whilst off sick, to discuss reasonable adjustments that would facilitate your return.

11 hours ago, johnnyboy said:

Contractual notice periods aren't a courtesy.  They can't enforce it in terms of dragging you into the office at gunpoint, but they could enforce it legally and sue if it's unilaterally broken.

Could theoretically, and will in reality, aren't always the same thing though.  It's generally not worth the aggravation unless you're in a critical role, it torpedoes a project, or they're massively vindictive.  To ensure there's no threat of comeback the early release would have to be negotiated and granted.

Notice periods are more or the companies benefit. I always like to put 2-3 month's into contracts as it gives us ample time to plan a transition and hire a replacement. On the flip side, employees have more security, knowing that if they are made redundant, they have a longer notice period.

3 months is not uncommon, most employers will wait and I very rarely enforce the full 3 months - generally earlier exits are negotiated dependent on business need. 

53 minutes ago, Mark Impact said:

Never posted in off topic, but it's one of my favourite places to go and read every now and again.

Just remembered about this thread and thought I'd share my current situation and maybe get some advice. 

I had a panic attack at work recently, and normally I'd say my mental wellbeing is good and I'd never experienced this before, and it was very scary. I had another this weekend and as a result have a doctor's note for one month. 

A bit of background...

In January last year my company started to merge with another they had acquired in 2019, which is based in Oxfordshire, whereas we were based in South Yorkshire. Most of 2020 we ambled along due to Covid but from the Autumn onwards we moved the entire operation down south, losing a lot of headcount and experience. 

I'm the middle of this I was offered a promotion, and I was being groomed to be the department lead in any case so I took it up. I was very open with the new management in that I have a young family which includes step children and I wouldn't be able to relocate, but was assured that working from home would be OK and even seen as the future of things in the business (technology and lockdown helped this of course). 

However, the loss of good people through the merger and Brexit difficulties mean the workload has grown hugely and I am under a lot of pressure. I also struggled with working away from home a couple of days a week, both in that I'm swamped at the new location, supporting new and old colleagues in using new systems etc and that I hate being away from the wife and kids. 

I had an episode when down there where I was sweating profusely, had a tightening, crushing feeling in my chest and also had strange things happening with my vision and was unable to concentrate on anything but that feeling. 

Things clearly weren't working out so I handed in my notice. I had received some support from management early in the year, when I said I didn't think I could handle things and still had a chance to receive a redundancy package and ended up stayed on. But now I told them here it was clear to me I couldn't continue.

I started job hunting immediately and have found something new, but my notice is 3 months. The new place are happy for me to join after this however.

Into my notice I've had my workload ramped up (previously I believe it had been "lightened" to keep me in the game) and I've been asked to work more and more down south despite my reasons for leaving. 

After having a week's annual leave I returned to even more work and demands I work full weeks at the new location and I ended up having a second panic attack. Talked to my doctor and I've been signed off for a month. 

Feeling pretty low in a number of ways now, and just really looking forward to starting my new job.

 

Firstly congratulations on the new job. Most people take their foot of the gas once they have resigned. Have your new company already taken up references? If so, I'd be clear that the workload is unmanageable and you'll only take on a workload that can be completed during your contracted hours for the duration of your notice. What are they going to do? performance manage you out? Not in 3 months......Alternatively you could ask for an early release from your notice and see if that can be negotiated, or just get signed off sick during your notice.

Sounds like a shitty situation. Company's can't really expect any discretionary effort from employees serving their notice.

What a show! I agree with the consensus that Ogogo / Cody was the only dud. The rest of the show was fantastic.  I know nothing about Lio Rush, so that was somewhat anticlimactic, but I was buzzing pretty much for the full PPV.

9 hours ago, marc2j said:

I got promoted in March after being at my firm for seven years. I work in asset management and I'm now a manager. I will have an intern start reporting into me from next month, which is great. But its proper shone a light on our process for me. We are a global firm and 3/5 of the applicants were relatives of people who already work here, with some pretty pushy calls from some senior people asking me to see their particular relative etc. The thing we do, that is really good, is we are forced to give feedback on every interview we do which is available to provide back to our candidates who dont get through to the next stage. So, Ive spent some time writing that up, which hopefully will help.

Which brings me to my favourite interview bits.

One of our scripted questions was to ask 'describe yourself in three words'. Not ONE of the youngsters could do it. Not one. Every one of them gives it 'I'm a very dependable person'. Or my favourite one was  'I'm a great listener'. No. No you aren't.

But my very favourite was a youngster who clearly had no business being in my interview process as he didnt really have relevant experience and it didn't make sense but HR pushed him through anyways.

'How have you improved efficiencies and processes in your current role?'

'Well, when I first joined I noticed how full up the filing cabinet was. So I went out of my way to ask the boss if we could buy a SECOND filing cabinet',

Oh. I see. He didnt get the job. Bless him.

You should speak to your HR dept about a nepotism policy....it's a real bugbear of mine. You should only be interviewing the strongest candidates, not the relatives of senior leaders just to keep them happy.

59 minutes ago, Chest Rockwell said:

Not my style of watch but the second one is definitely nicer. I'm not feeling the bezel on the first one. 

I've decided I'm going to pull the trigger on a Cartier ballon bleu. It's a watch I've been after for years. Will get the 42mm steel bracelet.. So something similar to this one, but not sure exactly as there are some variations. Maybe the one with the moon phases.

https://www.watches-of-switzerland.co.uk/Cartier-Ballon-Bleu-De-Cartier-Watch-42mm..-Automatic-Movement..-Steel-W69012Z4/p/17310328

 

That's stunning. A Cartier Tank Solo is the watch from Cartier I've had my eye on for a long time.

I've been weighing up my next watch purchase (as a 40th birthday present for myself) and I fancy a GMT. I've decided to go with one of the 3 main British manufacturers. Bremont is out of my price range (I could get an Omega for less!), but am seriously tempted by either a Farer or a Christopher Ward. 

Christopher Ward C65 Trident GMT

Farer Maze GMT

AEW: 1.219 million

18-49: 0.44

Samoa Joe v Kenny Omega please!

Now Samoa Joe and Chelsea Green in AEW is something I can get right behind!

Just now, TildeGuy~! said:

Well... Wasn’t expecting that

Yes!!

New single from, in my opinion, the best band on the planet.

Rise Against - Nowhere Generation

1 hour ago, thicko said:

Not watched a single AEW show, but followed it on here. As Lockdown has totally fucked my sleeping pattern I might do this! I have the fite tv app, is that the best way to watch? (I don’t mind paying) 

Yes, but you pay extra by buying through the app, due to share that Apple / Google take for 'in app purchases'. Buy the show on fite's website, then watch on the app. Same experience, just cheaper.  

Today I learned that in 2021, Mothers Day and Steak and Blowjob Day both fall on the same date, Sunday 14 March. I'm quite disturbed by this.

3 minutes ago, DavidB6937 said:

Congrats! Hope its all going well

Thanks. Yes, huge learning curve though!

Oh, on the big reveal tonight.....I'm hoping its Christian Cage! I loved his TNA run, and his debut reveal was awesome.

Show looks stacked. Not posted much recently as my priorities shifted, being a new dad. Not missed a single Dynamite though....the build had been every bit as good as with Full Gear.

I managed to get to Baltimore in 2019 for Full Gear and loved the Mox / Omega lights out match, but I know it was too much for some - and I think they are going to go much further tonight. I just don't understand why Kenny Omega wants to put himself through it.

Samoa Joe. After the Kurt Angle fued in TNA, I was convinced he was going to be the biggest star of his generation.

To be honest, recent Kazuchika Okada matches......I agree he's one of the greats, but his constant focus on locking in the Money Clip is making his matches as dull as dish water.....its like all of a sudden his matches are 50% rest hold!

4 hours ago, DCW said:

Only started part remote working 3 weeks or so ago and boss is already being a cunt about it. I work Mon-Wed onsite one week with Thurs/Fri remote working and then Mon & Tues following week with Wed/Thur/Fri remote working. This is to keep staff on different teams away from each other so hopefully if one team gets Covid, we have the other able to step in. I was due to be remote working (basically stamping forms & the odd email) next Thurs/Fri and boss emailed me to see if I could cover for someone on Thursday doing the same in office + answering the phone. I explained that I could, but I had a videocall with my Ma's consultant on Thursday morning so couldn't be in the office during 11-11:45 or so. Only time I could get hold of consultant for weeks.

Got an email back that seemed to be copied from some HR manual explaining in legalese that 'employees remote working are obliged to be working at home at all times ,and if not should take annual leave'. I said that the call would take about 45 mins and I'm entitled to a lunch break of that duration even remote working, but she had none of it. So I said 'grand, I'll take leave so' and she refused that straight away.

Been on to my union since and they were in touch asking under what grounds she denied the leave, which she didn't have an answer for. So I have to take leave for it, which is still shite. But she's made an enemy of me now thanks to her cuntishness, so good luck when asking for favours at short notice like she usually does seeing as a good % of the office functions on goodwill and flexibility and people offering to go to different locations/stay late etc. Cow!

Makes my blood boil. If you are an office worker and I was your HR Director, I'd expect you to be managed by output, not working time, I'd recognise that employers need to be flexible if they expect employees to be flexible in return - and particularly during covid. If one of my line managers behaved in such a way, I'd deal with them, not you. At the very least you could have simply agreed to make the time back up.

Sounds like a crappy employer

Good employers create career pathways for employees who don't want to go down the management route - focussed on creating subject matter experts. If the only route to promotion is line management, there will be loads of very talented people who either get frustrated and leave, stagnate or take management roles because it's their only option and a role they are not cut out for. 

What a highlight video!