First Steps to Solvency

theoretica

We have a fair number of people leaving at work too - I think all the changes of the last couple of years have made people think about life and work. We are getting very good applicants, just a lot of change and good experience going elsewhere.

ladyholly

I think a lot of people have been really unsettled after the last couple of years  and have felt they need a change
I hope you can sort your problem employee. He shouldn't be making your life harder. 
Keep going you are getting there even if it doesn't feel like it.

alt80

@FootyFanDan meant to add wife isn’t doing amazingly either tbh she is looking after me and isn’t in the best place herself idk just have to hope some brighter days will come. Son is doing really well though. We were asked to see one of his teachers who told us she is really impressed with how he’s settling into the junior years behaviour a lot better, standard of work a lot better etc. Your family well mate? 

@theoretica few of my older guys are scaling back a bit but some keen younger ones taking up the slack and doing really well. Older ones happier with new arrangements and are actually more productive and more open to mentoring younger staff. Lot of positive things happening despite some not so easy things. I think you’re 100% right re covid making everyone think def been a game changer for me know that much. 

@ladyholly thank you. Lot of things I have had to come to realise extent of my addiction tbh and how I’ve treated people I’m close to in the past it’s not easy on my mind to realise what a !!!!!! I was to others. Hope that one day in the future I can look back and be able to say I sorted myself out financially and otherwise alternative is just too shameful to consider rn have to keep believing. 

ladyholly

Have you thought that the improvement in your son is due to you being there more? A sign that you and your wife are doing well even if it doesn't seem that way at present .

RelievedSheff

Exactly the same thing is happening here at work Alt. Some of the more senior staff are cutting back their hours and working 3 or 4 days a week, us middle of the range staff picking up the slack. The problem we are having is getting the staff there to pick up some of our slack, the more junior members of staff. 

I'm sure you and your wife will pull yourselves out of this low patch.

Brilliant news about your son. I also agree that the improvement in his school work could well be because of the improvements in his family life at home.

You are all doing great. Keep plugging away. Better days are ahead.

alt80

Weather seems to have taken a turn for the worse over the past day or so. It was lovely on Monday. Something I did manage to do at the weekend was get out into the garden. School Easter break starts this week. I’m meant to be having the full week off work prior to Good Friday and back on the Tuesday after Easter Monday. We aren’t going anywhere, just going to visit a few places locally. Wife will no doubt have some of son’s friends over through the break; from his friendship group she is the only one home all the time and the kids enjoy coming round here good for son to see his friends too so I shouldn’t complain about it although did I know. Tbf it’s nice to watch them playing in the garden. Anyway little in the way of spends planned, we have a few local trips and a couple are with in-laws. I’ve told them they are being taken out for lunch Sunday before Easter and won’t be paying, they’ve been far too generous and whilst I appreciate their generosity it is for my wife’s birthday and what she’s told me she would like to do. They are taking us to a nice place this Sunday lunch again. Tbf all they spend their money on is treating their kids and grandkids, family is what they enjoy doing. Easter they are hopefully having a bbq with all family which I already know won’t be easy for me especially after last year but I’ll go, my wife will just get difficult questions asked otherwise and it’s not fair on her.

Todays calendar made me laugh ‘mentally scan your body and notice what it is feeling’ fml not one I’ll be doing with all my !!!!!! anxiety over my health. I’m told it’s all mental health related and tbh have been through a couple of investigative tests / procedures very recently to rule out anything awful so just need to try to trust they know what they’re doing. Ruled out spending anything more than what my insurance agreed to though. At least it’s not another full body scan gone on a credit card fml I have to try to see the funny side.

@ladyholly thank you. His school is a close community. Unfortunately I know how I was didn’t help him although at the time in my head I just thought it was best to have as little interaction with him as possible. Until recently I wasn’t in a place to be an active part of the family and I know I cannot make up for how things were just hopefully work towards a better future. 

maggiem

I was just reading this and thinking exactly what @ladyholly and @RelievedSheff have written, that there is likely to be a link between increased time with your son and the positive impact in school. Well done the Alt family. 

Sorry to read you are still suffering with poor sleep and also lots going on a work, although some things sound very positive. I wish you would be kinder to yourself though Alt, what would you say to a friend who went through similar things to you. I can't believe you would continue to remind them how badly (or not) they had treated people! 

alt80

@RelievedSheff In the future I think this shift to part time working amongst the older staff on this scale will be noted a consequence of Covid. Always had it in my business as it’s something I have always been open to when experienced staff speak to me about retirement etc - give them a phased retirement over a few years fear of a brain drain lol. I suppose I am fortunate with my staff generally always have been. 

Certainly hope better days are ahead have to believe there’s the reward a lot of people seem to get in recovery there some day have had glimpses of it tbf. Rn I’m still speaking to the pros a lot and tbh a fair few days I could quite easily just say !!!!!! it. I’m not doing force myself to stick to the plan and be at home. Lot of days I just put any method of communication in the kitchen and go to bed. No !!!!!! wonder I’m not spending money ha.

getmore4less

If you phase people to part time it can give a lot of flexibility as most will step up a bit if needed short term for a bit of holiday sick cover or temp burst in business.

Iamouttheotherside

"Easter they are hopefully having a bbq with all family which I already know won’t be easy for me especially after last year but I’ll go, my wife will just get difficult questions asked otherwise and it’s not fair on her."         This statement has to be one that is standing out for me in that how much you have changed, you know its not going to be easy for you, but you are considering your wife first - that statement gave me goosebumps in how you have turned your priorities around.

Agree with everyone else on here, your boy improving in school is mainly down to his home life changing 100%, you and your wife should be very proud.

Keep going you are doing so well - how many days now?