General Chat

Thank you Ann and nameslessone. I’ve been furloughed since March. I get a week for every year I worked there from the age of 22 and half a week for every year before I was 22. My birthday is in July and I started work there in the March of 05 aged 20. I should get at least 14 full weeks and at least one half week.

They won’t up it as it’s a charity. The shop was technically a charity shop as the organisation is a charity although we only sold new goods.

Tawny
Once under a warning/notice of redundancy you are entitled to certain things. Like paid time off for interviews.
Make sure you know what you are entitled to, especially if you have to carry on working for a number of weeks.
You should also look up to see how much you are entitled to under law and fingers crossed that your bosses up the amount.

Tawny <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

Thank you Tess and Maggie. At the moment I think I’m still in shock. I know it’s happening but it hasn’t really sunk in yet. Once work starts the full process and I have a couple of weeks to let it sink in I think I’ll cope a bit better.

Thank you, Tess.
Tawny, at 36, you're the perfect age for someone to take on!

Strangely, at 64, I know I'll be thought of as too old.
They're under the illusion that anyone over 50 is computer illiterate. Some are, but when you have to apply for the job online, surely that indicates you may have some inkling of how a computer works?
From my experience, a lot of those brought up on computers are totally unaware of what they can be used for. I'd also like to see the 'youff' coping with an Amstrad!

When I put on one application form, for the local Council, that I had (amongst others), a GCE in English (I didn't put the grade, because I don't have it), and a GCSE (C) in Maths, (taken when I was in my 30's) I didn't get the job, because I needed an 'A' to 'C' in English as well as Maths (which even the lowest GCE is).
I was more than a little annoyed, and wrote back to explain the fault in their algorithm.
I now notice they've changed this bit, but I don't expect to be their favourite applicant in future! :-(

Good luck Maggie at your interview. Your work record is impressive, so varied. You have a wealth of experience to bring to any employer.


Sorry to hear that you are going to lose your job Tawney. 36 is not old.. Just ask Maggie, i am sure that she must have done many "new" jobs since reaching 36.

Elizabeth gave a lot of good advice, I was tempted to mention online training opportunities, especially First Aid (inc CPR) Health and Safety etc, to my grandsons partner but thought that they may think that I was interferring.

Although the job situation was very different in 1988 I took the step of making a big change. Left an office job and started a two year NNEB course at a local College. I was approaching my 40th birthday. The student closest to me in age in my group was 22. The rest were teenagers. I loved it and my fellow students were lovely.

T

Well, I thought I had a lot of jobs over the years, Maggie! I think you could give me a run for my money!I

In Autumn 1963 I started in the office of a transport company, learning the switchboard, reception and junior skills, then moved to the general office of a Motor Engineers where I also did reception/switchboard and dealt with time sheets Meanwhile I was at night school learning to type. Then I moved to a small local office of Sweda cash registers, taking calls about breakdowns in supermarkets and stores all over East Anglia and sending out our engineers etc. I continued to move to various companies when I could get increases in salary. In between I would do temping in offices and also worked evenings in Wimpy bars to earn extra cash.
Later I worked part time in local bars and nightclubs.
Workplaces have varied and at one time I ran my brother's cafe in a village several miles out of Norwich. Been a housing officer, student house manager, child minder and never once fired!

I am sure you will find the right job, Tawny, it's a good idea to take on different things until you find your niche. Meantime, it might be a Idea to write out a budget and have a good discussion with Mr Owl over now your money is spent. I hope you both have similar allowances for yourselves and the cider binges don't come out of housekeeping!

Take care all,

Lizxx

Thankyou Maggie. I wouldn't like it, but she does, which is what matters. She was taken on originally as a trial to teach the chidren swimming, as she is a very good swimmer and has lots of qualifications. The headmaster was determined that all the children learnt to swim.

Gradually she was given other things to do, particularly during lockdown and the head was obviously pleased, hence the permanent job. She said the hardest thing was acting as a scribe during exams for a boy with writing problems. She wasn't allowed to say anything and had to put exactly what he said, even if she knew it was wrong!!

Thank you Florence

Your grand daughter has my ideal job, Andysmum :-D

Thank you all for your good wishes <3
The interview is being done over the phone, using 'Team' :-S

Tawny, I am so sorry for you but at least Mr Owl is working and you dont have a mortgage. At 36 you are very young still and someone somewhere is just waiting to give you a job. i wish you all the best.
I have been in my present job 12 years and because i am in a high risk, Ive been told to stay at home ufn. At nearly 59, there are few jobs here for me, its a worry.

Maggie all the best for Wed, fingers crossed and positive vibes coming your way.

Florence in the hebrides

I’m pleased your granddaughter has a permanent job Andysmum.

My elder granddaughter did animal husbandry at 6th form college and passed with flying colours.

There were no local jobs available, she didn't drive and didn't want to live away from home, so took anything she could get to tide her over.

Now she is working at a school for disabled children and loves it. After two trial years the job has just been made permanent, so all is well.

My 18 year old grand daughter wants to work in health. Her BBF wants to train as a paramedic. Fortunately, they'd both decided not to do anything this year, but when her BBF starts training, she's going with him, to do nursing.
Meanwhile, the owner of the local pub she's worked at since she was 14, was looking to train someone as a manager. My grand daughter didn't apply - the pub owner 'had a word' - apparently, she was the main reason he wanted to train up a manager. The owner has had the pub 2 years. He works far too hard, and has had at least 2 heart attacks - he's 29! He said he wants her to run it when he's 'incapacitated'.
She told him she doesn't want a job in hospitality, but agreed to train as a deputy manager.

After this, it transpires, the landlord has recently acquired another pub - just down the road - the REAL reason he wanted my grand daughter to train as a manager - so she could run it. She works there now. :-D

It's a good skill to have as an 'extra', to give her some money when she's a student.

Quite so, Belle.

I admire the up-and-at-em spirit. :-D

I agree Joy.....my Cousin was a Virgin Pilot before Covid and is now loading vans for Sainsbury's.....needs must :-0

Maggie, he is the bane of his Mum's life at the moment - and has been for a few years. She is a worrier and I know that her health is definitely suffering. I feel sorry for her as that particular child used to be the apple of her eye - you know, 'the golden child'.

Her other, younger, child finished college at 18, did a couple of low-paid jobs, was constantly skitted by the brother for doing the work he was doing but eventually he found his niche, skitted again for starting at the bottom, but he has emerged as a highly-paid engineer, the company he worked for having put him through his degree and paid him while he was so doing. I have come across several engineers in my time but he is the best I have ever seen - see-it, make-it. You can see his mind working when he sees a piece of machinery.

As different as chalk and cheese in attitude - and I really feel for my friend.


You have done a variety of work, Maggie, more varied work than I have done although I did change tack twice. I hope you are successful on Wednesday.

Not algorithms again!

I think they should be banned.

Tawny. I did CLAIT courses at the local college some years ago I think you can now do them online, but maybe at a cost. I preferred the course to the EDCL which was all the rage at the time.
Good luck.

JoyLouise, what a pain in the neck your friend's son seems!

Diverse employment, even if temporary, can only be for the good, it shows an ability to adapt, to environment, situations and people!
My CV goes back about 30 years, which is mainly office work, or working in schools with special needs children.
However, prior to that, I trained as a 'Nanny', then I was a temp for just over 2 years, which initially involved putting the walnuts on walnut whips, the 'hundreds and thousands' on mallow ice creams, and sealing bags of buns - I lasted a week! From there, I worked for 2 years as a printer in a psychiatric hospital.
Then I worked at Portsmouth Dockyard, initially in the secretariat, dealing with confidential messages from ships, which I found boring, so worked on Reception.
Next job? Fishwife! :-D We moved to Shetland, lived in a tent on th edge of town and the fish processing factory was nearby.
We moved near to Sumburgh airport where I accidentally got a job as PA to the Site Foreman on building the extension to the airport.
Moved to Dumfries - I was a 'tractor prepper' - I took all the packaging off newly imported 'Zetor' tractors, and put oil, water, fuel etc where needed.
Then, we moved to Essex, where I was an Ag Lab/spud riddler for just over 2 years - until I was sacked for being pregnant :-|
Moved to a village in Hampshire, (by now, with a toddler and a baby) where I was asked to become a cleaner at a student hostel for game keeping students. No-one wanted to do it, because you'd occasionally find dead animals there - I did it :-D

After that, it was a school job for 7 years, then I took my degree, after that it was school/office jobs. I'd love to go back to work in a factory, but there aren't any nearby :-(
Before the pandemic, I had no problem getting temp jobs with the Council, but they've now 'outsourced' their employment team, and, I've heard, they use an algorithm :-( In future, I may have to lie about my age.

Good luck Tawny. <3