This Business and Moment...

[dowie]

A little more context, I've been at my current job almost 3 years, and I did have another job lined up almost 12 months ago (came here to discuss, if I recall), and decided not to go with it as my current employer almost matched the salary on offer, and promised me the world. However, as you can guess, in the 12 months since absolutely nothing has changed.

Feels very strange going in there and having the conversation yet again, but I know in my heart it's something I have to do.

If they paid others a bonus and you got nothing then it is a no brainer - what did they say when you asked where your bonus was? Did you get fobbed off because they've already had to make that counter offer to you when you previously considered leaving?

Either way, no bonus when others are getting one is a clear sign you need to leave.

 

[Diddums]

New company has extremely limited documentation and paperwork pertaining to the building they occupy. The paperwork they do have is filed away in logbooks which are about as tidy and organized as Paris Hilton's knickers after a night out. So, I start making my own, new logbooks and gradually building up a database of the fire systems on site, ie. call point locations and references, smoke heads, fire extinguishers, hose reels, the procedure for the weekly fire test, find out who the fire wardens are, etc etc.

I've used info which I found in the "fire logbook", started making a nice flash self-explanatory system, turns out the info I've been using is ancient and pre-fitout, so I need to start again.

I love this job but holy hell is it a mess here.

 

[Deleted member 77746]

Well that's great. The place I works going under. Was announced this morning that ALL positions are going! Nobody did any work today everyone including the boss was applying for jobs! I have applied for 2 Analysts positions for Tear 1/Tear 2/Tear 3 roles near me. Fingers crossed.

 

[Deleted member 77746]

New company has extremely limited documentation and paperwork pertaining to the building they occupy. The paperwork they do have is filed away in logbooks which are about as tidy and organized as Paris Hilton's knickers after a night out. So, I start making my own, new logbooks and gradually building up a database of the fire systems on site, ie. call point locations and references, smoke heads, fire extinguishers, hose reels, the procedure for the weekly fire test, find out who the fire wardens are, etc etc.

I've used info which I found in the "fire logbook", started making a nice flash self-explanatory system, turns out the info I've been using is ancient and pre-fitout, so I need to start again.

I love this job but holy hell is it a mess here.

You not thought about an online Wiki that's password protected?

 

[Diddums]

Well that's great. The place I works going under. Was announced this morning that ALL positions are going! Nobody did any work today everyone including the boss was applying for jobs! I have applied for 2 Analysts positions for Tear 1/Tear 2/Tear 3 roles near me. Fingers crossed.

That sucks fella, sorry to hear it, hopefully you find something soon!

You not thought about an online Wiki that's password protected?

I hadn't actually, that's a fantastic idea, thanks

 

[wingman]

If they paid others a bonus and you got nothing then it is a no brainer - what did they say when you asked where your bonus was? Did you get fobbed off because they've already had to make that counter offer to you when you previously considered leaving?

Either way, no bonus when others are getting one is a clear sign you need to leave.

I've not asked why, however, "technically" I'm not supposed to know. I have access to the company bank, which it is part of my duties to monitor, so it was obvious at some point I was going to find out.

The last time bonuses were paid were in July last year, which was just after my payrise, so I could understand why I didn't receive one then (perhaps). However, I've not had a payrise since, and a full year has come round.

Thanks for the input, too. You can sometimes feel as though you're making a mountain out of a molehill with these situations, but it's good to get some other perspective.

 

[Maccy]

@Diddums if you have budget then Confluence might be worth looking into.

 

[Diddums]

@Diddums if you have budget then Confluence might be worth looking into.

Cheers dude, at this point that wouldn't really offer me much benefit as I do it all pretty much solo, I just need to put a website or something together for others to access in case they need any info as well. I think a Wiki would be perfect for this, although I need to look in to the privacy and security situation.

 

[AHarvey]

Cheers dude, at this point that wouldn't really offer me much benefit as I do it all pretty much solo, I just need to put a website or something together for others to access in case they need any info as well. I think a Wiki would be perfect for this, although I need to look in to the privacy and security situation.

Wiki's or knowledgebases can be great. Wiki's if everyone needs edit access, most have levels of users/abilities but if you're the only one editing look at a knowledgebase. Most have web front ends too.

The main issue will be whether the company is happy for this to be put on a webserver? In my experience most managers are very wary of it as they don't understand it, however, there are options out there that don't require a webserver and can be stored on a shared drive such as wikipad

 

[Kingdom34]

Thought id post in here, to gather peoples thoughts....its a mixed one.

I work for one of the biggest Component Distributors in the world (Fortune 120 I believe last time I looked company).

Been here 5 years, same job, no prospects unless youre into office politics and brown nosing to your heart desires...im not unfortunately/fortunately.

Wage increase each year below inflation.

Flexible time negotiated after our first was born, so its good as I see my little one a lot. Another on the way, so I'm building up a picture here of the situation.

Minimal Childcare costs - £150pm. Childcare Voucher Scheme well used.

Side business in the vinyl/sticker sector. Its a nice earner most months but I work most nights after the little one goes to bed.

Combined I'm just under the higher tax bracket...which in the grand scheme of things. Id never be able to achieve in the work place.

I hate my day job, company is stuck in the past, the politics and promotion is rife with "smoking mates" promoted, underhand, apply and youre making up the numbers to help them cover up that the decisions already been made. I see it very clearly, they think theyre clever but theyre not.

Our dept has very low morale, new starters start, they see the wood for the trees within 6mths, then then we start again.
Now in my team were 2 heads down, so guess what, me and another are covering when accounts have been moved around, freeing up a guy whose been at a higher level role wise before to obtain all the good work, not having to cover and not pulling his weight in the day to day role but clearly being elevated/progressed.

I really want to leave, but with 4mths until No.2 arrives and the side business doing well...it makes no monetary sense/ive looked at some roles and they just don't offer flexibility. Plus I'm more than likely going to have to give up the side business if I do.

Days are so long.....anyone been in the same situation? Mid 30's going nowhere fast

 

[AHarvey]

I really want to leave, but with 4mths until No.2 arrives and the side business doing well...it makes no monetary sense/ive looked at some roles and they just don't offer flexibility. Plus I'm more than likely going to have to give up the side business if I do.

Days are so long.....anyone been in the same situation? Mid 30's going nowhere fast

Are you not spotting the obvious solution here? Leave and focus entirely on the side business?

Yes, I know it's risky with a family but you've said it's a nice little earner, with a full-time focus it could be a nice big earner. You can either work at making someone else rich, or yourself. The choice is yours.

I'm considering finally going into my photography full time. If I can get 2 weddings a month I'll be earning the same as I am now and freeing up 2-3 weeks of that month.

 

[Deleted member 77746]

Cheers dude, at this point that wouldn't really offer me much benefit as I do it all pretty much solo, I just need to put a website or something together for others to access in case they need any info as well. I think a Wiki would be perfect for this, although I need to look in to the privacy and security situation.

Media Wiki is fantastic for keeping a log of information.

Wiki's or knowledgebases can be great. Wiki's if everyone needs edit access, most have levels of users/abilities but if you're the only one editing look at a knowledgebase. Most have web front ends too.

The main issue will be whether the company is happy for this to be put on a webserver? In my experience most managers are very wary of it as they don't understand it, however, there are options out there that don't require a webserver and can be stored on a shared drive such as wikipad

Don't ask the company just use your own web server somewhere.

 

[Deleted member 77746]

That sucks fella, sorry to hear it, hopefully you find something soon!

I have applied for 2 posts so far, got 1 pushed through after closing date because of my resume.

 

[AHarvey]

Don't ask the company just use your own web server somewhere.

You think hosting company procedures, information, logs etc online without asking permission first is acceptable?

Regardless of what it is, they could see it as a security risk and sack you for gross misconduct.

 

[Deleted member 77746]

You think hosting company procedures, information, logs etc online without asking permission first is acceptable?

Regardless of what it is, they could see it as a security risk and sack you for gross misconduct.

I agree with what you are saying in this case an internal server would help. Personally if it’s secured enough there isn’t a problem. I’ve done it in the past and ensured they where password protected.

 

[AHarvey]

I agree with what you are saying in this case an internal server would help. Personally if it’s secured enough there isn’t a problem. I’ve done it in the past and ensured they where password protected.

Oh I agree that it's perfectly safe, the problem is management that don't have any understand and think that external = bad

 

[Deleted member 77746]

Oh I agree that it's perfectly safe, the problem is management that don't have any understand and think that external = bad

Just don’t tell them lol at the end of your employment just hand over the raw files tell them the password n let them get on with it.

 

[Kingdom34]

Are you not spotting the obvious solution here? Leave and focus entirely on the side business?

Yes, I know it's risky with a family but you've said it's a nice little earner, with a full-time focus it could be a nice big earner. You can either work at making someone else rich, or yourself. The choice is yours.

I'm considering finally going into my photography full time. If I can get 2 weddings a month I'll be earning the same as I am now and freeing up 2-3 weeks of that month.

Its not a stable market tbh, some months (usually summer) are very good, others, combined with the fact the platform I sell on is rife with insecurity and buyers manipulating the rules. I had thought about it, then fleabay show me exactly why I shouldn't trust them and ive had my own website in place and that is very difficult to obtain anywhere near the same level as a quiet month on the bay. So IMO its a very very risky decision to make/take.

I agree, this is my problem, I don't want to be making someone else rich, id rather I did myself. Its the hard part of making my website pull in the customers. Plus the fact there is so many Chinese inferior products around destroying the market...the old adage, race to the bottom. I wont lower myself to this and it can stifle growth.

Fair play to you, theres always a market for photography, but again it maybe saturated. Just depends if there is a need in your local market.

 

[AHarvey]

Its not a stable market tbh, some months (usually summer) are very good, others, combined with the fact the platform I sell on is rife with insecurity and buyers manipulating the rules. I had thought about it, then fleabay show me exactly why I shouldn't trust them and ive had my own website in place and that is very difficult to obtain anywhere near the same level as a quiet month on the bay. So IMO its a very very risky decision to make/take.

I agree, this is my problem, I don't want to be making someone else rich, id rather I did myself. Its the hard part of making my website pull in the customers. Plus the fact there is so many Chinese inferior products around destroying the market...the old adage, race to the bottom. I wont lower myself to this and it can stifle growth.

Fair play to you, theres always a market for photography, but again it maybe saturated. Just depends if there is a need in your local market.

I've been up and running part time for 10 years now, wouldn't really take a lot to go fulltime other than the fear

Maybe use ebay to sell basic items and try and link them back to your website from there? Not sure if you can post URL's on ebay but a business name is easy to google for

I am more than happy to have a look at the site for you regarding SEO, another area I dabble in.

Often it's a case of getting in with the right group on facebook etc. getting lucky and a lot of hard work.

 

[Maccy]

Been offered an extension here in Sweden but I really want to head back to the UK. My recruiter has even suggested increasing the day rate but it's still not appealing, cost of living out here is high too. But then it's convenient and secure to have the extension... Ahhhhh!!