The grumpy thread

[Guest]

TBH with the work thing, I will just get in earlier. I got annoyed because I wasn't technically late, and I've never had an explanation for why we have to be in 10 \ 15 minutes before we start. We have never done anything specific in this allotted time other than get the brews in.

 

If I'm honest if we had a reason or some insight into WHY this early start was required, that would help immensely. You never, ever get one though, and that was the root of a lot of problems at my last job. Management would arbitrarily introduce a policy that made no sense, and then refuse to explain the reasoning behind it, even to the extent of walking away when challenged.I stopped using 'because' as a reason when I was eight. Why can't they? If there's sound reasoning behind a policy, I'll listen to it. I'm not unreasonable.

 

What I can't abide is being screamed at and being told no uncertain terms that I'm 'fucking late' and 'taking the piss'.

 

I am so tired of arguing with managements over trivial shite that has no rhyme or reason. It drove me utterly insane in the last place and I will not let it happen again.

[Pete-M]

I'm expected to start work at 8.30am, but to get there for 8.15. This I normally manage.

 

It's not the end of the world, just means I show my face, grab the paperwork I need and a coffee before starting at 8.30ish.

 

I couldn't do a job where people send e-mithers kicking off "about not being on the system until blah blah" and handing warnings out willy nilly. This is why I have a simple rule, if a company has a HR department that cannot be ignored, I won't work for them.

 

[ashmicro]

All of this talk reminds me of the very unhappy time I spent in The Northern Ireland Civil Service. The amount of back-stabbing and politicking was biblical. I was late once in the 7 and a bit years I worked there (rad blew up in my Capri), and the amount of shit I got from "Personnel Branch" was breathtaking, specifically "not showing dedication to my job". WTF? The pay was terrible, and I had to deal with mouth-breathing dole scroungers on a daily basis, one of whom punched me. The CRAP I got for hitting him back was unreal (although I did knock him spark out). Everyone in the public office saw what happened, but the only one who stuck up for me was the security guard. My mates took me to the pub after work that day and we all got pretty wasted. I handed in my resignation letter the next day, and walked straight out, fuck the month's notice (I had already got a new job).

 

The contrast when I got to my new job with ICL (now Fujitsu Data Systems) blew me away. I was listened to, paid very well, and the thing I liked best was the bosses saying things like "Good job, well done", "That's excellent". We had one stroppy punter who complained about me (he was drunk at 11am and stank of piss). I was asked by the bossman at ICL as to what happened. I told my side of the story, and was promptly told to forget about it.

 

Had a really nice surprise in mid-December, just a couple of months after I'd started. My immediate boss sent for me, and she asked "So, what would you like for Christmas? Y'know, from the company?" I was so stunned I didn't say anything. She said "It's OK, I'll pick something for you, so it'll be a surprise." I got a cracking Longines watch, other guys got mobile phones, car stereos, TVs and the general office manager got a Carribean holiday paid for for the next summer.

 

Anyone who knows the least thing about management theory knows that a happy workforce is a more productive one. ICL knew that we engineers are simple folk, who will only be confused by stats, targets and KPIs. So we were just told "Go to x and do y", nothing more complex.

[maxpower]

i got the same management bullshit about be in 15 mins before your shift begins... i didnt mind going in as i was usually 15-30mins early anyway... but when hitler started ordering me to be in i just waved my contract of employment in front of him and said thats the hours i am obliged to work, that is the amount of hours the company pay me to work... and until they change my contract or pay me the extra 15 mins each day then i shall continue to stick to those hours... or i can come in 15mins early but i will be leaving 15mins early..... he never bothered me again

[trigger]

My work is the same, My working hours are 7 - 7 (Day or night) but they want you up your machine and logged on at 6.50, Fuck em, I still don't log on until 7 and make sure I'm down the ladder by 6.45.

 

We used to get a hot seat bonus so that we would change over on the hour but they took that away so they don't get any extra out of me (Or many of the other guys as it happens neither)

[Polystratus]

The place where the wife works seems pretty militant management wise. Everyone has to get in early, wife received a bollocking for her phone not being on at 8.50 even though she doesn't start work until 9am, people are reprimanded for laughing as they are not doing their work e.t.c.. One fella joined a union and was sacked for some spurious reason a week or so later- apparently they don't like unions! People are so desperate for a job around here that nobody dare raise their head above the parapet and so they just put up with anything. Whenever someone says that they are entitled to XYZ by law their working life can be made pretty difficult for the next month or so, so now nobody bothers. I think i'd last about 5 minutes there!

 

Sadly this culture has been allowed to develop in a number of places recently, everyone needs to be seen as better than the next person to keep their job safe so the spiral of brown-nosing and "favours" continues until it becomes the norm.

 

Sounds like a place I use to work at thankfully as a temp and got out quite quick, one chap who worked at the place same time as me, came one day in a MK1 Granada which he'd just brought over the weekend, lovely condition, he was told to remove from the car park as it could potentially upset the clients, needless to say he stormed off never to return.

[theorganist]

I must admit working for a small family business I don't generally have to put up with "little Hitlers".

 

I did have a period where I was getting in at three minutes to nine and was told that I should be in earlier, by one of the women in the office (the bosses ex-wife). I pointed out that my contracted hours were nine to five and that there was no requirement for me to be in earlier! Nothing was said after that.

 

In fact my boss follows my shite collecting habits with interest, he has a thing for Mini Scamps and ex MOD vehicles. His company cars are a Land Rover Defender, BMW Motorcycle and a 51 reg VW Van!

[Station]

I worked for MBNA in Chester, it has to be the worst place for the whole Americana style work place. Hot seating, etc. An American woman came up to me and work colleagues and said 'You lot like you just been caught with your hand in the cookie jar.' WTF woman? After she left, a female colleague said she's one back stabbing, brown nosing bitch.

I got up and walked out of the place without telling anyone as I couldn't handle it - and my poor training on the shitty user-unfriendly system meant I'd accidentally creditted a fair amount of bank accounts with thousands of pounds - oops! There are people that thrive in those places.

Telesales is awful as well, I had two days selling 'Silkies Tights' to old customers from the 60's. This company was so desperate for business, they were calling old customers who used to subscribe to receiving ancient tights through the post as they had cancelled 40 years ago. 99% of the people I rang were completely unaware of what was going on (at all - they were pushing 80), and usually followed with their siblings threatening to punch my lights out if I didn't leave them alone. FUCK THAT. Another non-appearance the next day, and another call to the agency telling them to stick it.

[Cavcraft]

I'd sooner be on the rock'n roll than do telesales. Probably wrong like but I get really REALLY angry when they bell me.

 

Worse boss I worked for was a right bastard. He'd piss about all day doing next to sod all, drove round collecting old crap/eyeing up flange and went missing for ages to get away from his nagging missus. Still, you can't sack yourself can you?

[cms206]

The ability to fly off the handle at any given time often works well too.

 

 

+1. I've calmed down a lot since leaving the airport, but one duty manager in particular when I worked there had a way of making me explode. Stupid little things like talking to the back of my head, or sending snotty emails, or phoning someone else to tell them to tell me to do something.

 

I'd like to say the one memorable moment, but sadly I don't remember it, was one day when he came in to the ops office. I had my feet up as usual resting my eyes (2am starts FTL), the ops supervisor in the corner doing not a lot as was usual on a Sunday morning. DM sits on the chair behind me, and starts complaining about a delay on one of my flights, before making some snide comments. I turned round, put my feet back up so that I was facing him, and he shut up... five minutes later, he gets up, walks round me, sits on the chair behind me again and starts the same stuff, before making comment that I wasn't fit for the job, that I was too old school and the place was changing without me. Then he said this...

 

"I mean, you're just shit at this, aren't you? You couldn't give a fuck what you do as long as you're working to the rulebook when you're out there and trying no harder, I mean it's not difficult to just bend the rules a bit and fudge the paperwork to get an on time departure for a flight? It's a Sunday for fuck's sake, we've only had three flights and they've all gone late because YOU won't cut corners... "

 

 

I don't remember much after that except coming round about an hour and a half later tied to a chair which was in turn tied to sturdy desk using a 25m extension cable. The DM still won't talk about it, the ops supervisor only lets me in on parts of the story. Apparantly before anyone could stop me I had him by the throat, two feet off the ground, back against the whiteboard threatening to cause him grevious bodily harm before launching a microwave oven at him as he tried to flee the office. It took the ops supervisor, my shift partner and two leading hands to get me into the chair and tied down.

 

The airport did bad things to me. Nearly ended up losing my driving permit (and my airside pass) for threatening to put an Airfield Ops driver in hospital if he ever cut me up on the airfield again. For some reason he never waved to me again when I passed, but all the other AirOps bods were extra nice to me... ?!

 

 

 

Last time I blew a gasket was when with my current boss's son a few weeks ago as detailed in the grump thread at the time. He's still a bellend and I've still not spoken to him for fear of launching an Almex ticket machine at him.

[RedSparrow]

Got back from Finland on Friday which has made me sad.

On top of this I seem to have spent a huge amount of money while I was there, but I kind of expected that.

Plus someone has moved into the flat under me who likes to smoke weed constantly which makes my place reek of the stuff. Don't know what to do, think I might go and speak to them, but round here it's more likely to be an aggressive chav than a passive stoner type. Or I might just grass them up to their landlord. Pun not intentional.

All in all, it's shit to be back in this country. At least I have 3 weeks of well paid work. I'm praying that I get one of the bar jobs in Helsinki that I applied for.

[Mr Lobster]

Fuggin 'ell. Reading all that little lot does make me glad I'm self employed and no longer have to deal with any of it.

 

(If it makes you feel any better though my working day today was 0430 - 2000 though and I am now absolutely knackered)

[warren t claim]

In fact lets all go further and say it totally destroys me to think that soon she'll be in someone else's bed and the biggest fucking loser is me. Fucking hell! Why am I thinking this way? I'm on an old car forum centring on Talbot Horizons! Someone please shoot me!!!

 

Seriously, WTC, it sounds like your heading for a....

 

 

Yep! That's happened!

[autofive]

ohhh sh1t

 

what happened?

[maxpower]

fuggin in-laws!!! come to your house at all hours of the night and get grumpy when you won't drop everything and troll through fleabay for fuckin hours.. looking at crap he wants before realising that he is as tight as an ant's arsehole that he has no intention of buying anything

 

feck off and buy yourself a laptop you tight fisted cnut! i have things to do!

 

grump over

[trigger]

Yep! That's happened!

 

I hope everythings ok WTC.

[warren t claim]

Yep! That's happened!

 

I hope everythings ok WTC.

 

So do I. Only time will tell...

[Cavcraft]

Good luck Warren.

[Negative Creep]

Just been informed that my role at work has been "outsourced", so theyre going to pay some drone in India 50p an hour to do the same job.

 

 

Still, for today they have given me the excitingrole of..........opening envelopes. Looks like its back to the dole queue very soon

[lancashireclamper]

Yep! That's happened!

 

I hope everythings ok WTC.

 

So do I. Only time will tell...

 

Things will sort themselves out eventually Warren,

Not been through anything like you have but had my known world fall around me like an elephant has farted on it;

massive rush of air to the brain and a lingering unpleasant whiff that you never think will go away,

Try and keep your pecker up la,

(No not in that sense)

[Guest]

Warren, it will get better, somehow.

[Guest]

Not to detract much from the plight of Mr T Claim or anything, but an eBayer has really pissed me off. Why is it that whenever I try and sell Volvo parts some useless claart rocks up and fucks it all into a cocked hat?

 

Basically shit-for-brains hits Buy It Now rather than the bid button and then has the cheek to ask me for £10 off (with postage included) because he's 'still interested' in the item:

 

Hi,

Not sure what happened but I put a BID on your fuel tank and I seem to have ended up 'buying it now' for £55, NOT what I'd intended! This is not something that has ever happened before- If you look at my feedback you'll see I have 100% and over 500 transactions! So apologies for this slipup! HOWEVER I am interested in the fuel tank, rather than resubmitting it, would you consider selling it for £45, including postage?

 

My reply was about as polite as I could manage:

 

No, sorry, you're not having it for £45. I paid £101 for it on German eBay and I don't see why you get to negotiate the price down because you hit the wrong button. I don't doubt your feedback for a second - you seem like a decent eBay buyer

£55 is on the death as it is.

 

Apologies if I sound brusque but this puts me in a bit of a crap situation. I either sell it to you for less than I wanted (admittedly £10 shy of what I BIN'd it at, which is still a damn sight less than what I bought it for originally) or relist it, which is going get me hammered for another listing fee. I only bought it because the seller wrongly listed it as an Amazon reserve tank and muggins here bid on it thinking it would be a rare piece of kit to have.

 

Honestly, if I asked you the same thing, would YOU sell the tank to me for £45 and throw the postage in too, given what you know?

 

I'll do the postage for a fiver. Don't see why I should really, but there you go.

 

In the words of the departed N.Baker, I DESPAIR.

[RedSparrow]

Film remakes ruining the original.

Just watched the new version of The Hitcher. Need I say more?

[cobblers]

Can you claim he's a non paying buyer and get your fees back and relist it?

[Volksy]

Banks, or rather their incompetent call centres.

 

I've been waiting for an international transfer of my final wage from Switzerland. This has dragged on for nigh on four weeks now. When organising the transfer, I called my bank - ironically with a UK call centre, for my IBAN and BIC codes. Which were given, and read back at least twice, over the phone. These were passed to my colleague in Switzerland to organise the transfer. It should take three to five working days I was advised, but can take up to fifteen working days in extreme cases. I have been waiting, watching my overdraft increase with charge after charge (pleading with them didn't help - they resolutely refuse to refund or stop them so far) being levied as I am over my limit.

 

I call today, to see if they can put a trace on from this end, apparently not, I have to wait for it to be returned to the sending bank, I have no idea if this has happened as the person who sent it is no longer in Switzerland and has closed their Swiss account.

 

I then ask if I can check the details given to me, the conversation goes something like this:

 

Me: "I was given my IBAN and BIC on the 9th of May, can you check the details?"

Them: "We're not allowed to give those out over the phone, please refer to your statement for them"

Me: "Well one of you colleague's did, can you verify that they were correct?"

Them: "No, as we do not have access to them, so they can't have."

Me: "Well as 'All calls are recorded' you should be able to listen and check that they did issue the numbers over the phone"

Them: (Getting quite snotty now) "We DO NOT have access to IBAN numbers here in the call centre"

Me: "Then what number did they give me?"

Them: "I don't know"

Me: "Well, they gave me this one........."

Them: "Oh.....(Silence)"

Me: "Is that not my IBAN number?"

Them: "No, that is 'The Typical Example' we have to suggest where on your statement it is... Well, like 'Mr Smith, 123 Any Street, Anytown"

Me: "Oh really? So who's account is that then? Mr Smiths?"

Them: "It doesn't exist"

Me: "So where is my money now then?"

Them: "I don't know... Erm... Let me transfer you to a different department...."

 

So, I was transferred to a Manager, who explained that my money will now be 'lost' somewhere in the banking system, as it should have been rejected by them, and be sent back to the bank in Switzerland, to an account that no longer exists. My bank apparently cannot trace it, and short of flying out to Switzerland to visit the bank it was sent from - It was a private bank, as most are over there, there is not a great deal I can do. They are investigating it - 48 hours to do so, and the entire process can take up to 4 weeks... AARRRGGHH!!!!

 

So now completely broke, and may have to move down south to start a new job in the coming weeks, F@ck knows how.......

 

 

BANKS ARE EVIL!

[Negative Creep]

More work related woes. Now just being passed around departments with no work or assistance. The only thing its doing is giving me chance to ruminate on how badly ive managed my life to be at this point after 28 years. Fighting the urge just to walk out but then i realise ill only end up in another dead end minimum wage temp job.

 

Oh, and i found we dont get a day in lieu for working all those bank holidays. Wankers.

[ashmicro]

If it's any consolation I've just had the world's most powerful mini-vacuum cleaner lobbed in my ear by my GP, my missus isn't talking to me and my BlackBerry's fucked. And I have a rotten cold.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

Volksy, I know I ve said it before, but the only purpose of call centres is to fob people off. The only way to deal with ball-and-bats like banks and the DVLA is in writing- e-mail if possible, letters if not. Don't jeopardise your mental health for the sake of a stupid call centre middle-manager in Guildford..They aren't worth it.

[CreepingJesus]

I probly shouldn't even grump about this, 'cos it shouldn't surprise me in the least.

Renault dealer deems '99 Megane too old to keep parts for. Cretins.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

I probly shouldn't even grump about this, 'cos it shouldn't surprise me in the least.

Renault dealer deems '99 Megane too old to keep parts for. Cretins.

 

What do you mean 'keep parts for'? They can't even get them ordered for you?

Irrespective of the age of a model, most dealers only have a tiny amount of stock- they just order stuff as and when required.