Today I've mostly bin...

[eirian]

Had enough of the snow. It's too dangerous to drive - car sliding all over the place, so have to walk to the tram stop again this morning - and it looks v.icy out there today (and my feet already hurt from wearing my hiking boots). If we don't get into work, we have to either take a day's annual leave or unpaid leave.... otherwise the union reckons they'll count it as unauthorised absence and therefore a disciplinary offence! Good job I've got plenty of leave left, just wanted to save it for watching the winter olympics - and I mean watching it on TV, not out of the window!
Bah! So, how come the Council recognises it's duty of care to the rest of the public when it tells them not to travel unless essential, but not it's duty of care to its staff who it expects to get into work?

[clvrlad]

well most british companies wouldn't let you take the leave
and just investigate it as a possible disciplinary
dont forget the first step is an investigation so its not automatically a disciplinary

im still waiting for mine for several months ago think they might have realised i was well within my rights actually leave at my finish time when there was still work to do
yes i know the rules better than my managers just noticed last week that the intra web notes are out of date all the stuff that came in last year (the 5.6 weeks holidays etc..) arent on cant wait to pull that on them
(ok im nasty ..well not really just tought it being a multi million pound international company might know what its doing... )

[katsmom]

Poor girl, I'll keep my fingers crossed that you make it ok....Or better yet that you just get really sick with some very short (say 5 minute) stomach bug just as you are about to leave home.

I had a 7 pm meeting and just lucked out. I've taught that class before and the girl who is running the meeting just sent out emails saying nothings changed-go have a drink! For me that means another glass of milk and I get to stay in my pj's because it's now 5 pm and I'm still not out of them I just love lazy days when I attempt to kid myself into believing I can solve puzzles!

[clvrlad]

enjoy your evening

[dcfanjo]

On the telephone to Barclays bank.....someone has cloned my debit card!!

[kathlyn]

OH NO. Hope you get that sorted soon jo.

[Wulfruna]

does anyone know what its like in exeter.

It's not been too bad for us in Sunny Devon - though trips up on Dartmoor could be hazardous (though pretty )
Exeter by train shouldn't be a problem - just the climb up that steep hill from the station to the University!!!

[LAT]

...... at work

My boss was prepared to drive in so I walked to the local shops and he picked me up.
I've brought my laptop home and am hoping I can do some from home tomorrow without going in to the office.

[tricia]

hope all of you who have the snow are safe and well - and stay safe -we had it over Christmas and I got a stunning picture of Ben Lomond . The roads have been cleard Temperature to fall to -15

Thinking of you all

Tricia

[Bunnylump]

Wrap up warm Tricia!! (Oh and do we get to see the picture?)

[tricia]

I'll try and attach it - im sure someone will resize

Its failed because it is too big max size is 2mb can someone advise or can I email the picture to resize
Tricia

[Bunnylump]

Have you got Windows Picture Manager on your computer? If I double click on the pictures on mine it comes up in that. Then there is a "resize" option on the side. Click the options arrow and it says something like "small web", then save it with a name. It took me ages to realise how easy it is!

I've spent time today trying to remotely organise things for GCE and GCSE exams which are starting on Monday in a school which is covered in snow and ice, which currently doesn't have buses running to it, or enough invigilators who can get there. Stupid exam boards are refusing to reschedule the exams. I think it is because they have already been paid for them so they don't care, even if most of the country can't do it.

[Biscuit]

trudged into work today - felt i should at least make 2 days this week. Still no cars in or out of our estate but walked it and managed to stay upright.

Wish I hadnt as lots of things that you can only sort out at work were there for me to sort, and my colleague hasnt turned up at all.

I am lucky that I can work at home (so worked solidly the 2 days i missed) but her job is totally work based so not sure what to say to her Monday - should she take holiday as we are a small company and cannot afford to pay people for not turning up. Also it is not fair on the people who do manage to turn up or manage to work from home. I though about suggesting a 50/50 arrangement or allowing her to make up the time. People in our manufacturing plant do not get paid if they do not come to work so it seems pretty fair.

I would love to know other views - remembering we are in a recession, margins are v tight and we all have to work 50% harder for the same profit 3 years ago, and no one has taken a pay cut yet. Some staff even had to come in over Christmas when we were closed to get some projects sorted (we have our busiest February on record coming up).

Biscuit

[Bunnylump]

It probably depends what she has in her contract of employment. But also I'd say it depends how reasonable it is to expect her to get in (i.e. where she lives and how she gets to work).

[clvrlad]

legally depends on her contract
usually the standard position is use your holidays/dont get paid
but talk to her but make sure youve read the relevant bits in her contract but dont forget tradition of the company can make a defacto change in her contract

as it happens i was thinking yesterday about coming home it being too cold to work (by 1 degree)
but i decided not to stick my neck out unless pushed

[Biscuit]

interestingly we employed her when she lived nearby but she has recently moved to Peterborough and now has a 1.5 hour journey each way but wanted to keep her job but we have not negotiated any new terms yet and as she has changed her days from 5x 9-4 to 4x8-4 and 1x8-12.30

Biscuitx

[Biscuit]

also prretty concerned because she has now got high blood pressure

[gill216]

Is there a middle road Biscuit? Can she make up the lost work by working harder while she is there (ie no lunchbreaks and coffe breaks at desk?) or has someone else picked up her work?. If she has the same volume to do in less time then I say she gets paid. If someone else had to step in then thats a different scenario.

[Biscuit]

i step in and do weekends and evenings to make up for what she can;t do in her hours

[LAT]

What I would do is talk to her saying you understand that it obviously was difficult for her to get in with all the snow and ice but hope that she understands that it does put additional pressure on others and the work still needs to get done. She wanted to keep her job when she moved, she should try to do what she can to make up hours and/or catch up by working extra hard as soon as she can, or be prepared to take some of the time as holiday. I'm sure if you discuss it she should understand that she has to pull her weight in the best way she can.

Good luck!