The grumpy thread

[RedSparrow]

Exactly.

BTW if you want a job at Hastings Borough Council put on the equal opps form that you are gay or black, you will immediately be prioritised and 90% chance you'll get the job. We had an email basically stating this as they have quotas to fill.

 

I personally believe in equality, in the way that the job should be given to the best person irrespective of sex, orientation, religion, race etc etc etc.

Surely trying to fill quotas in this way is another sort of racism/prejudice?

[vulgalour]

And a mattress with a Citroen 2CV inside.

EFA

 

@redsparrow: I share your sentiments on equality.

[Cavcraft]

[RedSparrow]

It's quite a big place which prides itself on equal opps. Other people have been sacked for much less.

The little lecture he gave today across the office was met with awkward silence as usual, while he sits there grinning knowing he's making people feel uncomfortable.

No, he hasn't directly said 'I can say what I like and you can't do anything' but he knows everyone is too scared to challenge it.

 

I see your point but if you had been there you would know what I mean.

[ashmicro]

Exactly.

BTW if you want a job at Hastings Borough Council put on the equal opps form that you are gay or black, you will immediately be prioritised and 90% chance you'll get the job. We had an email basically stating this as they have quotas to fill.

 

This is illegal under Employment Law, and the Equal Opportunities legislation. Why? Because it is a form of discrimination, and as such is illegal. Astonishingly, The Equality Commission (a quango) here in NI got hauled over the coals for this when recruiting their own staff, even though they EXIST to make sure no-one else does it. They are being looked at again as almost all of their staff are RC.

[RedSparrow]

Exactly.

BTW if you want a job at Hastings Borough Council put on the equal opps form that you are gay or black, you will immediately be prioritised and 90% chance you'll get the job. We had an email basically stating this as they have quotas to fill.

 

This is illegal under Employment Law, and the Equal Opportunities legislation. Why? Because it is a form of discrimination, and as such is illegal. Astonishingly, The Equality Commission (a quango) here in NI got hauled over the coals for this when recruiting their own staff, even though they EXIST to make sure no-one else does it. They are being looked at again as almost all of their staff are RC.

 

Seriously?

I might mention that next time I have a row with personnel about something!

 

As a footnote I should point out that the unpleasant chap I was talking about is not at the council but at a different employer of mine.

 

Can't wait to get back to the Czech Rep. in September!

[Caffiend]

he knows everyone is too scared to challenge it

Why?

 

Seriously, I mean that - all it wants is for one of you to say "I'm not comfortable with what you think is funny, please stop it".

 

Would it be safe to bet that some of you have discussed amongst yourselves how much you dislike the behaviour? I suspect that you will actually find that "everyone" is just waiting for "someone" to grow a pair and say something first.

 

I totally would speak up but then I am (apparently) a frigid lesbian prudish bitch for not finding sexual harassment particularly amusing, having been on the receiving end meself.

[ashmicro]

Exactly.

BTW if you want a job at Hastings Borough Council put on the equal opps form that you are gay or black, you will immediately be prioritised and 90% chance you'll get the job. We had an email basically stating this as they have quotas to fill.

 

This is illegal under Employment Law, and the Equal Opportunities legislation. Why? Because it is a form of discrimination, and as such is illegal. Astonishingly, The Equality Commission (a quango) here in NI got hauled over the coals for this when recruiting their own staff, even though they EXIST to make sure no-one else does it. They are being looked at again as almost all of their staff are RC.

 

Seriously?

I might mention that next time I have a row with personnel about something!

 

As a footnote I should point out that the unpleasant chap I was talking about is not at the council but at a different employer of mine.

 

Can't wait to get back to the Czech Rep. in September!

 

 

Have a Google for the Equality Commission for England and Wales. Also, if the situation is really bad, find out your organisations' Whistle blowing policy. It will protect the complainant even if you're wrong, ie, you make a complaint in good faith, but you made a mistake.

 

My father was the Head of Personnel for a large NI Civil Service dept for 21 years. Fair employment legislation here in NI is somewhat more "developed" (for obvious reasons), but the same basic principles apply throughout the UK. Positive discrimination is an absolute no-no, and the quotas game is a dangerous one for an employer to play.

 

While it is lawful for an employer to say on a job advert "As persons from xxx are currently under-represented in our company/etc, we particularly welcome applications from the xxx community" you absolutely cannot appoint someone on that basis, or with that basis as the primary factor (indeed, unsuccessful candidates will probably win at a tribunal).

 

Say you have two people up for a job that the interviewing panel absolutely cannot separate in terms of suitability for the post, they're both equally brilliant. One is from an under-represented group. You give him the job, right? WRONG, the one that didn't get the job will bum-rape you at tribunal, as he'll rightly be able to claim that the other chap got the job just because he's from an under-represented group.

 

It's a fucking minefield, and a lot of employers don't understand Employment Law properly. Many will appoint unsuitable candidates just because of who they are, for fear of being branded racist etc. Indeed, a lot of govt departments and NGOs will always settle out of court if someone claims, even wrongly, that they have been discriminated against because of race/sexual orientation etc.

 

Dad's old department never settle, and always go to tribunal. And they have never lost yet. Actually, calling the bluff of some chancers and saying "OK see you in court" (A lot of managers don't have the balls for that!) usually results in their withdrawing their spurious claims.

[Guest]

Stuff about the Volvo getting pushed

 

Jon, is the skip still there? I'd be getting the number off it and playing merry hell with them. It seems obvious that they have moved the car. I'd be starting the conversation with the point that the police had been round to yours, and taking it from there. Also, I would tell the police that the car has been pushed, and who you think has done it. They should be able to link it with the report from the other day, and at least they will know about it for when you call the skip co. Some wankers think they can get away with whatever they like.

 

The skip is still there, yes. It has a phone number emblazoned across it - of a local firm. I'm not sure if it's worth the hassle to be honest - all they'd do is deny it. I'd have a hell of job proving it - which is why I haven't bothered. A lot of stuff has gone off simultaneously this week. A lot.

 

^ This, It must be worth a phone call, it's not like your the shy, retiring type that wouldn't have anything to say is it!

 

Yeah, but I'm trying to curb this sort of confrontational stuff. Mostly for personal reasons. It doesn't come off well.

 

I've had a better look at it in the light - the bumper itself hasn't moved forward but there's some marks from the edges of whatever pushed it forward. I'm going to have a word with the home owner if I see them whilst out and about.

Here's where the car ended up after being shoved:

 

 

Was this really worth getting the Police involved? Clearly, it was. Clearly, it was far too much effort to get off one's arse and walk for thirty seconds down the road and ask Andy to move it. Yet the police came round (from STRETFORD) to pass this imperative matter on. Assuming they were from Altrincham, I spoke to the community police team there and sorted the matter out (and then went and moved the fucking thing well away from skip boy). They didn't pass it on to Stretford. Superb joined up policing there, exemplary stuff GMP.

 

Really, I can't work out why I have a problem with 99% of the population. I really can't. Of course, bumpers for Mk 1 460 Turbos grow on trees.

 

Cheers people, cheers for upsetting my mum when she's off work. I really needed that.

[Des]

 

Time Villagers boot Keith Harris having a drink with his mates?

 

 

[ashmicro]

Eyeball bun Hyundai Gail Tilsley off Coronation Street?

[Guest]

Why have you posted a photo of my ex three shots down?

[Pete-M]

Eye donut Getz et either.

[Cavcraft]

5.31 in the car park, a good kicking then down to the pub to celebrate.

[RedSparrow]

I don't work there that often, but yes you're all right, I should do something.

I am going to complain anonymously about it. At my level there is quite a possibility that I wouldn't get anymore work for making a fuss if they knew who it was. This is the type of people we're dealing with.

[Guest]

Buyer 'logic'.

 

Posted up a set of wheels for sale on the blue forum.

 

They're up for £225, which is less than what I paid. Bloke PMs me and sends me an advert for a similar set. Same maker and size. Except they're not similar, they're bashed up and painted a fucking horrible garish colour.

 

'He wanted £185, so I'm offering you £130.'

 

Yeah, that makes total sense.

 

I've made him a similar offer on a car he's selling. Nowt like a chancer, eh?

 

[Guest]

What's this 'We need your phone number' bollocks all about?

 

I've got bloody Facebook, Hotmail and Gmail asking for it.

 

No fucking chance. You're not adding me to some spam call centre dialler in India chaps, not happening. If I 'lose access' to the account, I'll get another one. Not difficult.

[autofive]

I have noticed recently that some forum users treat the for sale section like a car boot sale, asking prices are fair game for stupid offers and requests for free postage. i usually reply that the price is firm, and thats the postage price you dont like them do not contact me again

[Guest]

Apparently, I have a 'bad attitude'.

 

Yeah, it's annoying when someone makes a stupid offer on something you need a lot of the money back on, innit?

 

[cort16]

Wat you're going to give yourself an ulser man! Cheeky PM's offering to buy something a knocked down rate isn't something worthget worked up about. Reply to the guy telling him no thanks and he might even come back and buy it.

Getting in pissing contests like that with every knob that PM's you on RR can't be good for your health.

[TimothyClaypole]

I wouldn't even bother to reply.

 

Ignore them and feel better hoping they are sitting foaming at the mouth at no response.

 

 

I've had two idiots messing me about over stuff I'm trying to sell, one I've not heard anything back from so his loss and the other I sold the stuff in question last week for a bit more money.

[RedSparrow]

So the smartphone I dropped in the bog will cost me £250 to replace.

Water damage is apparently not covered by their cunting insurance. I am fuming.

[trigger]

I put a mobile through the washing machine once after i forgot to take it out of a hoodie pocket and claimed of my house contents insurance and was paid out, can you not do this?

[willswitchengage]

Can't you put it through the tumble dryer?

 

Just got back from my first "run" in two months and feel like a sixty year old chain smoker.

[meshking]

Just dropped a small screwdriver between crankcase and flywheel on the 2cv. Of course, I can't find my magnetic grabber, so the cars out of use until I can get to the factors and buy a new one. Bah.

[jarkle]

I've had to pay out three figure sums for similar water to phone misshaps, it's gutting alright. Makes me miss the old Nokias, I think they got better with the addition of water to be honest!

[RedSparrow]

Sadly I am a cheapskate and don't bother with household insurance.

Funnily enough, that phone is the only thing I own worth anything.

 

I am currently using an 8 year old Nokia. Still going strong.

[barrett]

So the smartphone I dropped in the bog will cost me £250 to replace.

Water damage is apparently not covered by their cunting insurance. I am fuming.

 

Lost my mega reliable old MP3 player out me pocket whilst on the way to work this afternoon. Old muggins here forgot to zip his pocket up and it bounced out at some point when I was cycling, didn't notice until I got to work. Followed my route back and found the hat that I'd also lost but the Mp3 has been had.

 

Really, really angry with myself. Needs replacing 'cause doing this job without music is utterly torturous. I've much better things to be spending my money on at the mo too. MOAN MOAN MOAN etc

[eddyramrod]

I've much better things to be spending my money on at the mo too. MOAN MOAN MOAN etc

 

Yeah, me too. My swimming pool has turned green, which means it's filling up with dodgy bacteria and shouldn't be swum in. Oh poor baby, I hear you chorus , but wait: a twice-daily swim has been doing my beloved a lot of good both physically and emotionally, and now she can't go in, obviously both of these factors are deteriorating. It'll be relatively easy to fix. I just need to buy some chemicals... oh wait a minute, buy? Doesn't that involve giving someone actual money? Oh bugger. You can bet the chemicals only come in a pack size that would last me 12 months, too; we're not here another 12 weeks. We fly on September 12th. Also, I need to spend money on my little barn-find, more money I don't have.

 

I know, this is a recurring theme in my grumps, sorry. It's life. Once we've moved I'll find something else to grump about. The rain, the NHS, the job market, BT, there's bound to be something.

[Volksy]

I think you can buy a 'one dose' bomb that should correct the greenness. I had the same problem with my pool a few years back.