Nice people thread part 8 - worth the wait

chewmylegoff

Basically it sounds like islington council are using a legal loophole to avoid paying minimum wage for an unskilled manual job. Strange behaviour from a (labour-run) council and at least on a par with aggressive tax avoidance in terms of moral bankruptcy.

Spirit_2

PasturesNew wrote: »

I've got a robust set of chunky toenail clippers for that - which I always have with me as I use those for my nails. They're brilliant and cost about £3.

I have a beautician who does that. By coincidence having a pedicure even as I type. I also go to a podiatrist as I need to have feet looked after. Pink gel polish on toes, will have normal polish on hands.

Spirit_2

Not skiving. I have this afternoon off although it meant working until after midnight last night.

A member of staff is 50 today and has a BBQ party tonight so will go for a little while .

GDB2222

chewmylegoff wrote: »

Basically it sounds like islington council are using a legal loophole to avoid paying minimum wage for an unskilled manual job. Strange behaviour from a (labour-run) council and at least on a par with aggressive tax avoidance in terms of moral bankruptcy.

I think it may be much worse than that. By calling it an apprenticeship, the council may get training grants allocated, and these two lads will almost certainly be included in some government spin (sorry, I mean stats.) on the take-up of apprenticeships.

Good luck to them. I'm pleased that they have found work, but as Zag put it it's grotesque to call it an apprenticeship.

neverdespairgirl

Anyone else feeling a bit warm?

OK for today, but tomorrow I'm in court. The whole black suit, wool gown, horsehair wig outfit.

That should be fun!

I saw my Dad yesterday after he'd been in court, and he looked absolutely knackered and rumpled. He popped in for a glass or two of cold water and a sit down before facing the journey back to Kent.

lostinrates

It's nice in the country. . Quite a few flies about though. I

silvercar

GDB2222 wrote: »

I think it may be much worse than that. By calling it an apprenticeship, the council may get training grants allocated, and these two lads will almost certainly be included in some government spin (sorry, I mean stats.) on the take-up of apprenticeships.

Good luck to them. I'm pleased that they have found work, but as Zag put it it's grotesque to call it an apprenticeship.

Far better to call it an internship.:mad:

vivatifosi

GDB2222 wrote: »

There's nothing wrong with earning a living piling up the rubbish. But I imagine that the training takes a day or two, maybe even a week or two. How can that possibly equate to an apprenticeship over a period of years learning a skilled trade?

As someone else put it more eloquently than me: "The lie is that they have not undergone an apprenticeship, have not learned any kind of trade or craft from a master. Compare with apprentices to plumbers, electricians, carpenters, metalworkers, blacksmiths and so on, they are simply unskilled manual labourers with no recognised trade. "

Right, with you now. As I said, am a bit slow due to sleep deprivation.

The good news is, per Islington, their apprenticeship is a one year route and includes an NVQ (not a bad thing, but not the length of apprenticeship served by my dad or brother). However I'm blowed if I can tell where refuse collection fits in with their webpage on the subject:

http://www.islington.gov.uk/about/jobs-careers/starting_career/iw-parents/Pages/apprentices.aspx

The council that I work for has apprenticeships too, but the only ones that I have seen have been for a genuine route into office work for which some skill is required (ie more like the traditional route).

silvercar

Spirit wrote: »

I have a beautician who does that. By coincidence having a pedicure even as I type. I also go to a podiatrist as I need to have feet looked after. Pink gel polish on toes, will have normal polish on hands.

Never seen the need to have my toe nails gelled, they grow so slowly and varnish seems to stay on.

Don't you feel obliged to chit chat with your beautician?

Mine talks away and would be insulted if I typed away while she was working.

PasturesNew wrote: »

I've never had a manicure or a pedicure, nor ever seen a podiatrist. I don't polish my toe nails and rarely do my finger nails (once every 2-3 years).

Never seen a podiatrist, I thought they were only for problems.

Getting ready for holiday seems to take longer each time. Finally think I have caught up with essential (house/ kids/ work) paperwork, done shopping for DS1 while we are away, laundry virtually finished, suit cases not even opened.

Pampering all complete bar hair appointment later.

vivatifosi

neverdespairgirl wrote: »

Anyone else feeling a bit warm?

OK for today, but tomorrow I'm in court. The whole black suit, wool gown, horsehair wig outfit.

That should be fun!

I saw my Dad yesterday after he'd been in court, and he looked absolutely knackered and rumpled. He popped in for a glass or two of cold water and a sit down before facing the journey back to Kent.

Does he/can he keep a set of lightweight clothing at yours for commuting? I would imagine commuting in a black suit just prolongs the agony unless you have access to the really fast, air conditioned trains to Kent.