Ah, well. Back to the grind first thing in the morning to cover the Skeleton Shift meaning I'm going to have to get back to forcing myself to taking early nights again in readiness for the 05:15 alarm. The standard daily routine for the early shift with me is as follows.
1. When the alarm goes off I allow myself 3 x 9 minute snoozes (or 4 if I really need it).
2. Into the bathroom for a shave, shower & whatever.
3. Into the kitchen where I put the kettle on & make my sandwiches for lunch. Once that's done the kettle's boiled ready for my coffee.
4. Put the sarnies in my backpack & sit down with my coffee to catch up on eMail & forum posts.
5. Come 06:20 I start to get dressed, putting the Orange Moonsuit Overtrousers on, followed by my socks & trainers (easier to get them on once the trousers are on).
6. Check coat pockets for wallet & all keys (Door Keys, Beasty Keys & Office Keys).
7. Panic if 6 doesn't check out.
8. Put backpack on, with Orange Moonsuit Jacket over the top (so as to allow for maximum visibility).
9. At about 07:00 (+/- 10 mins, depending on weather) grab the lid & gloves & set about heading on my way (about 10 miles).
10. Once at the office unlock all the doors. Turn on all the lights. Get Moonsuit, Lid, Coat, Backpack etc off. Put both office kettles on (so they're already hot for when the rest of the staff start to arrive). Take my coffee to my desk & boot up the system ready to have the phone lines go live at 08:00.
When on the late shift (10:00 - 16:00) it's much the same, except 2 hours later.
Of course I'll be getting Thursday off, but Friday (10:30) is my 3 month appraisal of a standard 6 month Probationary Period. However, for once I'm feeling fairly confident about it.
Here We Go Again
Here We Go Again
Sandwiches made (scrapings of chicken drumsticks with Branston Pickle. Icidentally, what is the difference between Pickle & Chutney?).
Coffee almost drunk.
Weather forecast if good.
Time to get dressed.
Coffee almost drunk.
Weather forecast if good.
Time to get dressed.
Here We Go Again
Well, I'm pleased to say that the appraisal has been & gone & that it was far better than just the formality I was hoping for, at best. I was expecting a discussion of where my strengths lay and, more likely, where my weaknesses were & how I should seek to improve on them.
The Appraisal Form had subjects on a 1 - 4 scale. 1 = Not Met. 2 = Met. 3 = Exceeded & 4 = Excelled. I got 2s on the the binary ones (timekeeping, attendance, etc.) where you either meet the standard or your don't. All the rest were 3s & 4s, with manager's comments about having received positive feedback from colleagues, clients & other managers.
It's something you can't help but get nervous about, but I reckon that qualifies as a Gold Star.
The Appraisal Form had subjects on a 1 - 4 scale. 1 = Not Met. 2 = Met. 3 = Exceeded & 4 = Excelled. I got 2s on the the binary ones (timekeeping, attendance, etc.) where you either meet the standard or your don't. All the rest were 3s & 4s, with manager's comments about having received positive feedback from colleagues, clients & other managers.
It's something you can't help but get nervous about, but I reckon that qualifies as a Gold Star.
Here We Go Again
Plus I've been told that after the next 3 months I can expect a Pay Rise.
Here We Go Again
FourPart;1470611 wrote: Plus I've been told that after the next 3 months I can expect a Pay Rise.
Nice but bugger the 3's and 4's, more money is better, that is why we all go to work.
Nice but bugger the 3's and 4's, more money is better, that is why we all go to work.
I thought I knew more than this until I opened my mouth
Here We Go Again
Bruv;1470613 wrote: Nice but bugger the 3's and 4's, more money is better, that is why we all go to work.
Believe it or not, not as far as I'm concerned. Obviously a livable salary is necessary, but I'm still of the Old School that prides myself in giving my best & feeling good in myself when it is recognised as such. Of course the pay rise is welcome, but not something I was expecting.
Believe it or not, not as far as I'm concerned. Obviously a livable salary is necessary, but I'm still of the Old School that prides myself in giving my best & feeling good in myself when it is recognised as such. Of course the pay rise is welcome, but not something I was expecting.
Here We Go Again
FourPart;1470650 wrote: Believe it or not, not as far as I'm concerned. Obviously a livable salary is necessary, but I'm still of the Old School that prides myself in giving my best & feeling good in myself when it is recognised as such. Of course the pay rise is welcome, but not something I was expecting.
I was part joking, but have always been of the opinion that if my employer is consistently happy with my work, rather than praise they should give some monetary reward.
Never had a job that I would choose to do, other than to raise money, but I have always made the job interesting by trying to do it better or quicker or easier, knowing I will be doing it 8 hours or more a day year after year. I have actually enjoyed some really boring jobs, tweaked to make them more interesting, even sweeping the floor.
Where I work at the moment the regime is to praise praise praise their workers who are all paid peanuts, and I genuinely believe this is all a ploy, along with other well tried practices to keep the employees worried about their job, but with smiles on their faces.
I was part joking, but have always been of the opinion that if my employer is consistently happy with my work, rather than praise they should give some monetary reward.
Never had a job that I would choose to do, other than to raise money, but I have always made the job interesting by trying to do it better or quicker or easier, knowing I will be doing it 8 hours or more a day year after year. I have actually enjoyed some really boring jobs, tweaked to make them more interesting, even sweeping the floor.
Where I work at the moment the regime is to praise praise praise their workers who are all paid peanuts, and I genuinely believe this is all a ploy, along with other well tried practices to keep the employees worried about their job, but with smiles on their faces.
I thought I knew more than this until I opened my mouth
Here We Go Again
Bruv;1470734 wrote: I was part joking, but have always been of the opinion that if my employer is consistently happy with my work, rather than praise they should give some monetary reward.
Never had a job that I would choose to do, other than to raise money, but I have always made the job interesting by trying to do it better or quicker or easier, knowing I will be doing it 8 hours or more a day year after year. I have actually enjoyed some really boring jobs, tweaked to make them more interesting, even sweeping the floor.
Where I work at the moment the regime is to praise praise praise their workers who are all paid peanuts, and I genuinely believe this is all a ploy, along with other well tried practices to keep the employees worried about their job, but with smiles on their faces.
That's why I've always been one to do voluntary work, even when unemployed. It's nothing to do with monetary reward. It's knowing that you're actually doing something that's worthwhile.
Never had a job that I would choose to do, other than to raise money, but I have always made the job interesting by trying to do it better or quicker or easier, knowing I will be doing it 8 hours or more a day year after year. I have actually enjoyed some really boring jobs, tweaked to make them more interesting, even sweeping the floor.
Where I work at the moment the regime is to praise praise praise their workers who are all paid peanuts, and I genuinely believe this is all a ploy, along with other well tried practices to keep the employees worried about their job, but with smiles on their faces.
That's why I've always been one to do voluntary work, even when unemployed. It's nothing to do with monetary reward. It's knowing that you're actually doing something that's worthwhile.
Here We Go Again
FourPart;1470736 wrote: That's why I've always been one to do voluntary work, even when unemployed. It's nothing to do with monetary reward. It's knowing that you're actually doing something that's worthwhile.
You are a better man than I am Gunga Din
You are a better man than I am Gunga Din
I thought I knew more than this until I opened my mouth
Here We Go Again
Bruv;1470737 wrote: You are a better man than I am Gunga Din
Not really. Job satisfaction has it's own value & although it may not be a monetary reward it's something that can't be bought in the first place.
Not really. Job satisfaction has it's own value & although it may not be a monetary reward it's something that can't be bought in the first place.