Susie and Orbit's daily dribble

[ladyfelsham]

Just in case you all want to know what I do from day to day, here's a story just posted about our involvement in the Paralympics!

Enlightenment and human rights at heart of Paralympic music | News & Press | Trinity Laban

 

[Alpaca]

Brilliant piece Susie! Xx

 

[ladyfelsham]

Thanks hun

Apart from the ads, I am loving the Channel 4 coverage, their attitude is spot on, and Clare Balding is a great commentator. Awesome just isn't enough to describe what these athletes are like! Just screamed my head off watching a Kiwi girl smash the 200 medley record by three seconds...

Meanwhile, my job has been advertised, closes on 21 September, so I have plenty of time to do the application when I get back.

Packing starts tomorrow - have to do it at the last minute or Orby One Kenobi gets a bit freaked out. The weather in Diano Marina is a bit grim on Monday but 26 for the rest of the time, yaye

 

[cherl889]

Cooooeeeeeeee!
Hello lovely how are you???

 

[Alpaca]

Good luck on the job Susie... Is it internal ad only? X

 

[Dietkitty]

Morning, got your holiday head on yet? xx

 

[Kat1e]

Morning - getting jealous and dont want to leave!

 

[ladyfelsham]

Morning all (and hi Cheryl)

Well, you are talking to one peed off person today. The salary for the job is WAY below what I was told, max of £32k - which is a complete joke for the level of responsibility and hours that I work! Really upset about it - and at this stage I'm not even sure if I'll apply.

Di - it's not internal, they have advertised in the Guardian and so on. I suppose the low salary means less applicants at my level, but I think I'm going to contact a few consultants and see if there's much work out there, because this is a bit of a joke.

OR I get the job, work less hours and try and pick up contract work which I will do in work time!

Lisa - trying to focus on my holiday but seriously I feel so annoyed about this!

 

[Dietkitty]

OMG! What are they thinking?!! On the plus side they're not going to get the quality of applicants but bloody hell that's a crap salary for what it entails. Yet another thing for you to contemplate on your trip. Make a few calls / send a few emails and see what's about. Then come home time wave 2 fingers in the aire and go and enjoy yourself. Big hugs honey xx

 

[Alpaca]

ok ... a couple of questions:

how long have you had continuous employment with them?
why are they advertising when you've been doing the job for x number of months/years?
what is the rationale for lower salary?
how different is the jd of the advertised role to your current role?

Sounds like they are trying to avoid you suing them for constructive/unfair dismissal by going down this route Susie!

You have to weigh a few things up:
if you apply and are successful - seems there's no guarantees though - can you build in 2 days working from home which is a very valuable 'perk' to have?
there ain't too much 'out there' at the moment, and you are always better placed to get a new job if you are already in one
go all guns blazing for this role - despite it being down-graded and lower salary - so that you don't give them any reason to say you're not the right person for the job

At the end of the day, it looks like they are trying to restructure through the back door - which isn't acceptable but which they probably think avoids them paying you any compensation.

Let's meet up when you're back from Italy so that you have all your ducks in a row.

Don't think about it now as you can't change anything. Italy beckons and will be fantastic and amazing - I wish I was going with you!!

xxx

 

[Scrumbles]

Wow, that sucks.

I agree with Di that it's best not to dwell on it now. Go to Italy and have a fantastic time - wish I was going, I love Italy!

 

[ladyfelsham]

Thanks for all your advice and kind words. The boss is coming over shortly to talk about it, but to be honest I can't see what he can do to change it.

Di - excellent advice, thanks hun. Will mull it over...xxxx

 

[moonlights]

Can't give better advice than the fabulous Di but can see why you're upset. At least you have a holiday coming up to let off some steam over it xx

 

[cherl889]

I dont know the full story but I hope you have a fab holiday and time to de stress.

 

[ladyfelsham]

ok ... a couple of questions:

how long have you had continuous employment with them?
why are they advertising when you've been doing the job for x number of months/years?
what is the rationale for lower salary?
how different is the jd of the advertised role to your current role?

Sounds like they are trying to avoid you suing them for constructive/unfair dismissal by going down this route Susie!

You have to weigh a few things up:
if you apply and are successful - seems there's no guarantees though - can you build in 2 days working from home which is a very valuable 'perk' to have?
there ain't too much 'out there' at the moment, and you are always better placed to get a new job if you are already in one
go all guns blazing for this role - despite it being down-graded and lower salary - so that you don't give them any reason to say you're not the right person for the job

At the end of the day, it looks like they are trying to restructure through the back door - which isn't acceptable but which they probably think avoids them paying you any compensation.

Let's meet up when you're back from Italy so that you have all your ducks in a row.

Don't think about it now as you can't change anything. Italy beckons and will be fantastic and amazing - I wish I was going with you!!

xxx

I wish you were coming with me too, Di!

Just in the door and still feeling upset, but there's not a lot that can be done officially. I haven't had a job spec since I arrived 15 months ago, and have been out of contract for 12 - so they are completely within their rights to change the JD. They claim the ranking is decided by some academic staff rating system that all unversities have to follow, but the boss could see how upset I was and started to panic at the thought that I wouldn't apply for it...

He is prepared to bend the rules in whichever way we can and thinks I should go for it and then re-negotiate and/or "work from home" - which (he said) is code for "working for someone else on contract while they pay me". I've also put out some feelers with other PRs to see what's about - and it doesn't close until the 21st, so at least I have time to decide.

He said not to take it personally, it's just the stupid system here - but it's hard not to. I am still bl**dy angry - and that doesn't happen often. But I am applying wine internally, which will help there

Grumbling over! And thanks again for all your kind thoughts.

 

[Alpaca]

Wine is definitely the solution tonight... and gorgeous Italian scenery, food, wine and men are what is prescribed for the next week!

There will be a way around it - and as you said - it might mean you can do some 'Moonlighting' ... OK... try and park it and guzzle the alcohol - but only after you've packed - otherwise things will be missed! lol x

Let me know when would be a good time for us to meet when you get back... but until then - remove it from your memory - don't let the b*st*rds ruin what will be an AWESOME holiday!! Loads of hugs Susie... xxxx

 

[ladyfelsham]

Thanks hun - last comment here but just had an amazing chat with my old boss (who hired me for the job) - she is going for a kick ass high level role with a big multinational on Tuesday - and if she gets it wants to hire me as her PR person!

Nice to know

Am now thinking of Italian food...men..gelato - and not in that order

 

[Dietkitty]

Have a fabulous time and come back full of Italian tales xx

 

[moonlights]

Friends in high places, Susie. Your work is obviously -so- appreciated by the people who matter.

Now, gorgeous holibobs.

 

[ladyfelsham]

LOL I am such a plonker sometimes - been saying I'll be back at work on Monday - but nup, just checked the travel docs and I'm only back on UK soil on Monday night - woohoo!

All sorted now - the house sitters have been, left their stuff and got the keys, I'm all packed (including some hand sewing!), dishes are done, cab is booked. Wine is being drunk but slowly.

I do feel better, having given it a few hours - maybe it's fate telling me my life is going in another way. Did I mention that the job the ex-boss is going for is down the coast???

Sleep well, have a lovely 10 days without me dribbling on, and I will post if I can find wifi.

Love and big hugs xxxxx

PS - do you think Orby wants to come with me?