Every cloud...

[Bobby G]

The company I work for has many facets, the ATM team that employs me is only a small part of it; some engineers, myself included, have a background in PC and EPOS engineering, indeed at times when the ATM work goes quiet it's not unknown for me to be found fixing tills at Tesco, Argos etc.

We've just found out that the company has lost about 65% of its ATM contracs to 'a rival' as of April 1. You might think I'm entering a period of uncertainty concerning whether I'll have a job after that date, whether I'll be redeployed back to the Retail sector, transferred with the contract across to 'the rival', etc. Well, I am in a way entering a period of uncertainty, but there is a silver lining to this cloud.

As things stand at the moment, we have been informed that there will be no job losses, and ATM engineers are to be 'ringfenced', meaning we work on ATM's only, no retail calls. Now, logic tells me that with about two thirds of the ATM's going to another company, my call rate is probably going to drop from 4-6 jobs per day to as little as 2 jobs per day.

Obviously, this could mean I have more downtime during my working day than previously, so what am I going to do? Why, play my saxophone more, of course

 

[old_git]

Hope everything goes well for you Bob.
Here's a challenge, one company declared me redundant three times and rescinded it twice. Beat that.
It seems to be a crueller world, when I was a nipper like you, you could almost change jobs daily, feel sorry for the youngsters these days.

 

[Bobby G]

I'm sure all wille wellas all the possible options open to me are fine - things stay as they are, fine; I get moved to the other company a part of the contract, fine; I get redeployed back to retail, fine; I get made redundant, fine + dosh! As long as I'm buzzin' around on the road I'm happy, I couldn't be doing with all that office politics rubbish. This kind of work suits me fine, I get to listen to loads of music of my choosing and I can pull over for a blow more-or-less when I want

I've only been made redundant (or to put it in big-company newspeak, my job went away) once, so I can't get anywhere near old git's achievements in that area, and I'm just old enough to have been one of the generations who could literally walk out of one job and into another practically at will way back in those glorious fun-filled 1970's.

Of course it's all different now, I remember when it was all fields round here and eggs were a penny a loaf...

 

[Rogerb]

Of course, not only were jobs apparently more plentiful, but all of us were younger, with possibly fewer 'responsibilities', and probably much smaller mortgages, and a greater sense of 'immortality' :laugh:

Good luck, Bob.

 

[Bobby G]

Thanks Roger! I don't know about jobs being more plentiful in them good ol' days, just that you didn't need an interview, a second interview, shortlisting, vetting, all sorts of checks and references, then a third interview just to get a job pushin' broom.

Fortunately one of the reasons I don't worry too much about what could happen is that I don't have a mortgage, I'm a rent boy. No, hang on, that's not right is it?

 

[DaveW]

I'm a rent boy. No, hang on, that's not right is it?[\quote]
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

That doesn't go well with the possibility of having to find alternative revenue Bob

 

[Col9]

The company I work for has made me redundant 3 times and including those I've left 5 times in total. Always went back for more money and a better job. Longest time away 4 months to a rival and all in 9 years. We just cant get enough of each other lol.

I'm an electrical engineer now since sept last year when they made me redundant. Previous to that I was a project engineer. I'm doing the same job now as before but with a different title. Of the 6 of us I'm the only one left

Good luck
Col.

 

[old_git]

Col9 wrote:
The company I work for has made me redundant 3 times and including those I've left 5 times in total. Always went back for more money and a better job. Longest time away 4 months to a rival and all in 9 years. We just cant get enough of each other lol.

I'm an electrical engineer now since sept last year when they made me redundant. Previous to that I was a project engineer. I'm doing the same job now as before but with a different title. Of the 6 of us I'm the only one left

Good luck
Col.

The boss's son, Col?

 

[Col9]

Not unless there is something mums not telling me :laugh:

Col.

 

[jazzzzz8]

I got the sack from a guy or nutter I worked for 8 times. Madness

 

[Moz]

I had a job as a Customer Support Manager with an American computer company when I was invited by a new boss to take a pay cut or take a hike as we didn't agree on everything (or anything). I left with a pittance and became a truck driver.

I have been driving articulated lorries for 12 years now and have never been happier. I go to work, deliver stuff, go home after seven hours and never worry about the working day tomorrow. I have enough to live on and time to play my saxophone. I no longer care if people think I am poor or lower class because I have been there and I have done that. I have a good wife, a rabbit, three guinea pigs and a Collie dog call Bisley (see avatar) and life is good.

I watch those people driving their kids to school in London in over-sized and inappropriate vehicles not because they want to but because they have to show others what they have; to be honest, I rather pity them. I'd love a bit more cash but I'm not willing to pay the keep-up-with-the-Jones price.

Don't really know why I wrote all that but, hey, what the hell.

Cheers

Moz

 

[frankb]

Survived multiple "downsizing exercises", then got selected (along with half the workforce) and spent a month on "garden leave"(!) on the final day of which they said, "Oh actually we've changed our minds!"

I finally got made redundant a year later (along with 50% of the remaining workforce!). Best thing that's ever happened to me! Went straight into a role with my current employer and am enjoying it (which is more than I did at the last place!).

 

[Tenor Sax]

Moz wrote:
I'm not willing to pay the keep-up-with-the-Jones price.

Don't really know why I wrote all that but, hey, what the hell.

Cheers

Moz

not that one again....
:whistle:

 

[visionari1]

Chris Jones wrote:

Moz wrote:
I'm not willing to pay the keep-up-with-the-Jones price.

Don't really know why I wrote all that but, hey, what the hell.

Cheers



Moz

not that one again....
:whistle:

the whole town is talking about the Jones boy, the Jones boy....etc etc. :laugh:

 

[Bobby G]

The one time I got made redundant, in the mid-90's, we were all called in one at a time and given the news (I was a PC/printer engineer at the time) and put on immediate 'garden leave' for 3 months and got to keep the motor for the duration which was fine, the only downside being that the 3 months were January, February and March. During this period I did a bit of work as a subbie at a 'major consumer white goods and electronics' and suffered the ignominy of being sacked by my own stepson.

As for my current situation, it's a case of unsteady as she goes. Rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic is a phrase that springs to mind.

If it came to it I'd be just as happy doing a bit of courier work, as long as my sax couod travel with me.

Don'tcha just love those big-company euphemisms? 😉

 

[frankb]

I found out on the first occasion by being unable to log on... I then had to walk round the office until I found a director who confirmed it and showed me the door. Mind you, I'd only been there eight years...!

 

[suethesax]

I took redundancy from my job in 2002. I'd been with them ( a big 4 bank) for 27 years and it was the best thing that ever happened to me. I have worked on and off part time since doing jobs I want rather than having to prove myself in a coprporate world. I have taken courses in computing, photography, art. I can also play whenever I want and for how long I want. I have, however, become the Queen of Procastination as I think I have all this time, don't do anything (on the domestic front) and then end up doing everything in an hour. I don't care though because I am happy 🙂

 

[Bobby G]

I'm happy too, Sue, whatever happens, although sometimes I can get stroppy too, especially when I think they are taking the P. So, I could be called strappy. Or hoppy.

 

[suethesax]

I like the sound of hoppy but strappy is good too. I remember when I worked in the bank and the ATM's went down the poor ATM man (as they were referred too) got a bum deal from the cashpoint staff. I din't think they ever made him a coffee either. Did you ever service Sidney Street or Gonville Place in Cambridge? I was there (Lloyds) between 1987 and 1997. I may have seen you from a distance - I was way behind the counters as far away from customers as I could get 🙂

 

[Col9]

Moz wrote:

8><
I watch those people driving their kids to school in London in over-sized and inappropriate vehicles not because they want to but because they have to show others what they have; to be honest, I rather pity them. I'd love a bit more cash but I'm not willing to pay the keep-up-with-the-Jones price.

Don't really know why I wrote all that but, hey, what the hell.

Cheers

Moz

We have a 4.0l jeep Grand Cherokee I think that counts, when we go holiday I get out at Butlins or wherever and watch all the people climbing out of their normal/little cars yawning moaning about neck pain cramps and leg ache then I fall out of mine after a 4 hour drive fresh as anything thanking god for the giant american butts my leather clad seat was designed for. :whistle: 😉 (I also pat the wallet and praise the economy of LPG.) :laugh:

God Bless America 8|

Col.

PS the whole post is not meant to be taken seriously, I just couldnt resist.