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Back at the desk

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    Back at the desk

    Back at work:
    oh well holidays are over, I hope you all had a nice time (even if they weren’t invoiced days) & that Santa (or Satan depending on your preference) got you what you deserved & the New Year’s hang over has been recovered from.

    Here’s to a good 2012 for us all.
    Growing old is mandatory
    Growing up is optional

    #2
    morning! Happy new year all!

    Just getting used to the cold windy weather after spending the last week and a half in the African sunshine.
    And what exactly is wrong with an "ad hominem" argument? Dodgy Agent, 16-5-2014

    Comment


      #3
      Back in the office an hour and hating it.

      You're all bastards.
      What happens in General, stays in General.
      You know what they say about assumptions!

      Comment


        #4
        No, I didn't have a good break.

        I announced at the beginning of December my unavailability during Christmas-New Year week, and put it on the office calendar as unavailable. Unfortunately I added that I would be available in case of need, contactable by SMS in the first instance.

        The client "manager" said on 23rd that there were "defects" (i.e. data incompleteness logged in the recording system, not actually in any of my stuff)and that as long as there were any outstanding, there was indeed a need. On 23rd afternoon he announced a "task force" (him and me, basically) to fix up everything for 2 Jan.

        So he was texting, emailing, and calling repeatedly during the week. I did some remote working but emphasised that this was emergency fixing, not that I was at work during the week. He kept forgetting that. At one point, when I lay in bed half the morning with my phone and PC off, when I finally switched the phone on and got his texts, one of them said that this was "not acceptable". I was on holiday FFS!

        Then the agency said that as the client had requested billing for December to be put in before Christmas, they wouldn't be able to change the Dec billing, so wouldn't be able to pay me for the extra work until the end-of-January invoice. I persuaded them otherwise.

        Now everybody is unhappy with everybody else.

        Even my partner is unhappy. She wants me to walk*. My contract has no notice period, so I can't. Not until they give me an excuse, which I confess my new attitude may just bring about.

        * from the contract, I mean
        Last edited by Ignis Fatuus; 3 January 2012, 09:51.
        Job motivation: how the powerful steal from the stupid.

        Comment


          #5
          Back in the freezing office... no heating

          19 Days left in my permy role... please for the love of some god like figure, let me get a contract before I become unemployed

          Comment


            #6
            Back at my home-desk for day 1 of a new contract... though I've been doing sporadic plan B work over the holidays.

            Rotten sore throat, typical!
            Originally posted by MaryPoppins
            I'd still not breastfeed a nazi
            Originally posted by vetran
            Urine is quite nourishing

            Comment


              #7
              My contact is up for renew at the end of Jan.

              I'm working on two projects that will conclude in Jan and one which will either be given the go-ahead or go a third party by the mid of the month., It's a politicial hot potato and I'm the lead if it goes ahead(time to renew my insurance). If it goes ahead it's 12-18 months at least.

              I hope the 3rd party get it.
              What happens in General, stays in General.
              You know what they say about assumptions!

              Comment


                #8
                Originally posted by Ignis Fatuus View Post
                No, I didn't have a good break.

                I announced at the beginning of December my unavailability during Christmas-New Year week, and put it on the office calendar as unavailable. Unfortunately I added that I would be available in case of need, contactable by SMS in the first instance.

                The client "manager" said on 23rd that there were "defects" (i.e. data incompleteness logged in the recording system, not actually in any of my stuff)and that as long as there were any outstanding, there was indeed a need. On 23rd afternoon he announced a "task force" (him and me, basically) to fix up everything for 2 Jan.

                So he was texting, emailing, and calling repeatedly during the week. I did some remote working but emphasised that this was emergency fixing, not that I was at work during the week. He kept forgetting that. At one point, when I lay in bed half the morning with my phone and PC off, when I finally switched the phone on and got his texts, one of them said that this was "not acceptable". I was on holiday FFS!

                Then the agency said that as the client had requested billing for December to be put in before Christmas, they wouldn't be able to change the Dec billing, so wouldn't be able to pay me for the extra work until the end-of-January invoice. I persuaded them otherwise.

                Now everybody is unhappy with everybody else.

                Even my partner is unhappy. She wants me to walk*. My contract has no notice period, so I can't. Not until they give me an excuse, which I confess my new attitude may just bring about.

                * from the contract, I mean
                Hard luck. Advice for next time; give them your mobile number then go somewhere on holiday that's very remote and not covered by mobile networks. Unfortunately such places are becoming very rare, but there are some very pleasant spots in southern Africa with lots of sunshine and no mobile coverage. Unfortunately it's not going to stay that way for long.
                And what exactly is wrong with an "ad hominem" argument? Dodgy Agent, 16-5-2014

                Comment


                  #9
                  Originally posted by Mich the Tester View Post
                  Hard luck. Advice for next time; give them your mobile number then go somewhere on holiday that's very remote and not covered by mobile networks. Unfortunately such places are becoming very rare, but there are some very pleasant spots in southern Africa with lots of sunshine and no mobile coverage. Unfortunately it's not going to stay that way for long.
                  Well, I did spend alot of time with it switched off, but that just led him to tell me that not replying to his communications was unacceptable. Which as far as I am concerned is unacceptable: if I am not working and not available, I may reply, but I don't have to. But he just doesn't get it.

                  My predecessor had 1 month notice in his contract. Within about 3 weeks of starting, he activated it. Now I see why, and why mine has no notice clause. My mistake, I should be smarter after all these years.

                  During the end-of-year "non-working" period, I was getting a notice to attend a live-meeting conference every day. After spending an hour saying not a word (and not being expected to), I started flatly refusing them - for the first time in my working life. I also lectured the boss on his behaviour, for the first time. I may be about to have other new experiences, such as walking without a contractual right to.

                  BTW as you may guess, the stupidities of the Christmas week are not all there is to it, it is like this all the time. Bunch of headless chickens.
                  Job motivation: how the powerful steal from the stupid.

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Back to the fray Daytime telly hasn't improved with the New Year. At least I'm being paid to watch it

                    Comment

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