The Garden Fence - proper Old Style support and chat!

MMF007

I love the thought for the day Monna!
It so happens that I have a late start at work today so am [STRIKE]lazing around[/STRIKE] having a quick cuppa before I tidy and go for a client's shopping

I cannot read a map while going along in a car because I get travel sick. DH is a good map reader (in a car. See below). So I drive and he navigates. We make a good team in the car.
However (grammatical faux pas intended), he has sometimes been mistaken when using a map during mountain walks.
His most memorable error was the result of having used 2 different maps on consecutive days, both having different scales. He happily assumed the second day's map was the same large scale as the prior one. We walked and walked. He was striding out ahead, being 6 foot tall, me straggling behind, be a short a*** with a small stride!
Eventually I shouted for him to stop and check the map because I felt we should have climbed the ridge and been able to see the cablecar down. I pointed out the river clearly visible just below us and asked where that was on the map. DH said, it isn't on the map. Now I know that French cartographers are pretty good and are not very likely to miss a river.
Careful study of our position revealed we had walked off the edge of the map and done twice the miles DH had assumed.

I had visions of being stranded overnight at about 6,500 feet in the French alps. Slight moment of near hysteria! Anyway, we resumed course at a quick pace but got to the cablecar 20 minutes after it shut (we saw the staff descend long before we could get there!).
We walked a very steep path, descending approx 3,000 vertical feet, arriving to safety just as dusk fell.
DH has never been allowed to forget it :rotfl: :rotfl:

Islandmaid

Softstuff Can you not apply for the higher position, they could then 'backfill' you're current position

Gorgeous day here, slightly marred by neighbours grandchildren fighting with each other in their garden un interrupted by grannie and grandpa who are washing the car at the front of the house :cool:

BBQ tonight to celebrate the suns return, apart from a quick flick with a cloth around the house, the day is mine

MMF007

Oh Softstuff, how maddening! I have seen this happened to a dear friend. She is so hardworking and conscientious and yet a lazy man with terrible judgement was promoted to manager while she was left as a supervisor. She is constantly picking up the pieces for his errors. Her aswer, after nearly killing herself stressing about it? She is studying for more qualifications that could lead to another job elsewhere, not just a promotion if that came available. Not easy though.

In your situation firstly you have to meditate! Keep a calm head and do NOT let them get you down. If you can't get them to see sense you have to be able to carry on enjoying what you have whilst keeping a close eye out for other opportunities. Sometimes something completely different comes into view when you least expect it.

I am appaulled at the lack of workers' rights, but so many people here are in a similar position. My friend's son was thinking of coming back from Aus but I had to warn him that life is no bed of roses here either.

I so hope you get the acknowledgement you deserve. M xx

maryb

We have satnav but it's my fault if I don't tell him what it says

juliettet

Softstuff, I agree with Islandmaid and ask to be interviewed for the level 3. Is there a job description you could take to pieces and match your experience to?

monnagran

softstuff, That is maddening and so unfair. All I can suggest is that you keep strictly to the parameters of your level. If you are expected to do any supervising explain that while you would love to help, sadly you are only level one so are in no position to do this. Likewise, if you are not supposed to do anything unsupervised then keep asking for someone to supervise you. Explain that you don't want to break the rules nor to you want to be the cause of anyone else breaking the rules by asking you to do anything unsupervised.
I can guarantee that this will bring home to the PTB what a nonsense it all is.

You will not have rocked any boats or disrespected anyone. You will just be a hard working, obedient member of staff who is keeping to the rules and knowing your place.
I bet they get fed up with it but won't have a leg to stand on. I doubt that they will be able to get rid of you because you obeyed the rules. Especially as you are doing it for their protection as well as your own.

It's worth a try.

Softstuff

Islandmaid wrote: »

Softstuff Can you not apply for the higher position, they could then 'backfill' you're current position

It isn't technically a higher position unfortunately, the position is "casual medical receptionist", the level you're paid varies according to various factors including experience. Which means when you're taken on you're at a certain level, but it can be hard to get to be moved up once you're there.

Softstuff

Monnagran, I've thought of the "work to rule" idea, but unfortunately, me doing so would result in me getting far less hours and therefore less pay. And honestly, as a casual here, they can just tell me not to come in tomorrow and that's that. It's not in their interests to right now, but I'm by no means indispensable.

MMF, I agree keeping calmer is key. Right now I'm somewhere between infuriated and tearful.

I need another job I think, but given it took me 2 years to get this one, I may have to exhibit patience.

silvasava

OK Softstuff - time to get the gang behind you. Just let us know which member of staff is impeding you and we will all do Nargles chant - its worked before (mwhaa ha ha)
Seriously though you are stuck between a rock and a hard place - not nice and every sympathy for you but nothing I can add unfortunately

greenbee

Softstuff - does the time you've been there not now count as the experience you were missing at the start? It sounds as if your manager knows how the system is used to keep costs down but not how to work it to keep existing staff happy and retain them. It may have taken you two years to get this job, but remember, you now have more experience and you are in a job which makes it much easier to get a new one than applying when unemployed.