The whinge thread

[LAT]

Yes indeed MBH, hope it isn't bad news for you.

And bunny - what a ridiculous day, how on earth can you reflect on the relative merits of each candidate when you see so many in one day? - not to mention while feeling tired, thirsty and hungry! And surely that doesn't even give you very long with each candidate?

[Bunnylump]

No, it didn't. And we desperately need at least two new staff, we are horribly understaffed at the moment. At one point I was struggling to hear what the candidate's answers were because my boss' stomach was rumbling so loudly!!!

[MBH]

Yes indeed MBH, hope it isn't bad news for you.

Certainly not good news Seen the 'future plan' today, and there doesn't seem to be a space in there for me. Everyone has had an offer to leave voluntarily (with an extra 12 weeks pay above and beyond statuatary redundancy), but if they don't get enough or a service has been withdrawn and you don't apply for a different job then it will be mandatory redundancies

SO short sighted - we are the only group that give the type of service I give to vulnerable groups and individuals with 'difficulties'.

There is a follow-on consultation happening NOW with regard to the proposals - but since they have their plan for future services I really can't see what good comments on the consultation will do.

Very difficult. If anyone sees any traps (such as taking voluntary exit bars you from other help) then shout up. My feeling is to stay until I'm pushed and see what comes up while I'm still here.

[Bunnylump]

Oh, MBH, I'm so sorry you have all that extra worry on your plate. I'm afraid I don't know anything much about redundancies and pros and cons - I used to, years ago, but haven't worked in that line for about 25 years. I'm keeping everything crossed for you, they would be stupid to lose your skills and work ethic; you never know, they might see sense and find another avenue for you...

[eirian]

Might be worth a trip to CAB just to check as I suspect any lump sum you get will be deducted from any benefits you might otherwise be entitled to, but I'm not expert.

I would also suggest you find another job within the council to keep you on their books until the economy picks up and they find the money to start the bus again, but then, I suspect the only jobs available will be totally unsuitable for you, and will leave you in the situation our floating workforce is in - put in a job you don't want to do, with people who don't want you there, because they'll have to train you and they know you don't want it.

Let's hope your council see sense and keep the bus going.

[LAT]

Sorry to hear that MBH.
For what it's worth, when I was made redundant a couple of years ago I was advised to take legal advice and told that a certain (not particularly large admittedly) amount of that would be covered. I don't know if that was because it was a legal requirement that they do that, or if my firm were just being generous. If there is someone suitable you have contact with, you could ask this. Otherwise my first step would be to go to a Citizen's Advice bureau.

Of course you are likely to be told more about the process at the consultation meeting - it isn't necessarily aimed at you trying to make them change their minds, but more to tell you what is happening and what it is likely to mean for you. We didn't have a consultation meeting as such but I think that was because we were only a small office and I believe the necessity for a consultation meeting kicks in above a certain size of organisation.

There should also be info you could find on the internet, in particular about the whole process, but for advice specific for you you would need to talk to someone privately.

edit, I see I have spent too long typing this and CAB has already been suggested. I don't however think that lump sums are deductible from other benefits. And up to a certain amount they aren't taxable either. The only way I think they might affect benefits if is they bring your savings over a certain level. But I am not an expert either - so get advice from someone who is!!

[giraffe]

I thought CABs had been abolished.

[LAT]

I don't think CAB have been abolished. They still have a website where you can look up the nearest place to get advice etc. (I did check they seemed to exist before mentioning them)

[giraffe]

Maybe they were just shutting them round here, or talking of doing it. I remember seeing something on TV about them closing.

[LAT]

I must admit I did wonder if it was still going but it certainly appears so. I think they closed down Marriage Guidance a little while ago. But I don't think MBH is exactly wedded to his job!

I can look back through what I got when I was made redundant if you would like MBH. Just ask. Some of it was statutory and some was specific to how my firm wanted to deal with it - ie more generous than the legal requirements.

[giraffe]

I think this article (or something like it on BBC news) is what I was thinking of.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/ ... ce-closure

[LAT]

very confusing then if they still have a website. Maybe they exist in some areas and not others.

[Scurra]

It's all about where they get their funding. Many CAB offices rely on local authority funding (indeed my local one is actually in the council office building!) but they are not likely to be considered "high priority" services so I wouldn't be surprised to learn that they have practically disappeared in some areas - in the same way that MBH's bus might not be considered "high priority". We (and indeed the council themselves) know that for those who use it, services like the bus and the CAB are essential. But unfortunately that's too small a usergroup compared to other things. And external fundraising is a time-consuming and often fruitless task, especially at the moment.

[Wulfruna]

Yes, I used our CAB last year - it is also based at our local town hall. They still play an important role in relation to consumer matters (which is what I went for), being the official agents for trading standards. So they definitely still exist and claim to have 3,500 centres around the country, offering a huge range of advice..

[eirian]

I was going to post on here this evening about how the Council's IT department had changed its screening methods and decided that this site was a 'payday loans' site and wouldn't let me on it this morning, but then I tried again and it's let me in... Am confused. But I'll post on the whinge thread anyway as I've been denied a full morning of seeing that no-one's posted!

[Bunnylump]

My stupid school filters thinks it's an "internet chat site" with the dreaded "GAMES" on it. So I often can't get on. Well, unless I slip Jason the IT guy the wink and he temporarily shuts down the controls for me...

[gill216]

Before anyone says it I know we needed a good summer and I'm glad we are having one.

I've had virtually no internet for 3 days. I'm told its down to the atmosphere here. It does seem to work better when it cools down but even then its very slow to the point of stop. My phone may or may not work. Depends wht time it is. Again its "atmospheric".

Its too hot to go outside so I was looking forward to the tide coming in because it brings a breeze. Not today. It brought the sea fret in so that's my bike ride out for today. Too hot earlier and now you can't see a hand in front of you. Not only that, I hung washing out and it was almost dry. Not anymore. Its as wet as it was when it went out.

Noe the electric has gone off. Guess who's the only one of our crowd who has gas to cook with!!!

[Bunnylump]

Oh dear, Gill, that doesn't sound good!!

It's absurdly hot here. And the rash left over from the prickly heat from the sponsored walk last Tuesday has come up really angry and red. It's driving me nuts. Plus we still have the entire contents of the shed to put back in the new massive one (and when I say massive, I mean massive, it's 16 feet by 8 feet!!) they delivered at 7 30 am... Last night at the show they were doing a roaring trade in selling paper fans at £3 each!!

[gill216]

I can beat paper fans. Our friend hates the sun with a vengeance. She carries an umbrella so the sun stops her from doing nothing at all. I'm off to see if I can find her photo of her sat outside the pub in the blazing sunshine with her umbrella up!

[maisie ladybird]

I've been in Norfolk for the past week and was really struggling with getting on the internet. I did only have my phone, but half the time there was no access at all or it was so slow it wasn't worth bothering with so I gave up in the end.
We had the most glorious week though, so I've got nothing to whinge about!