The totally off-topic thread

[love_the_life]

I had this issue recently with a neighbour in my apartment block. She's near 80 and had to have picture identification to send to the UK to prove her entitlement to her (ongoing) UK pension. Her family is useless. A proof of age card is all she could get and that was very hard.

Fortunately I could vouch for her having known her for more than 20 years and we both use the same pharmacist. It took awhile but we eventually got it and the UK officials were satisfied.


With a SIM only mobile phone I found Aldi only requires a Medicare card and can be done online. It was easy to port the number across. As mentioned previously I got my 70+ mother on to one of their plans and she loves it. Her monitoring system works with it so all is well. Her Internet competency is good with all major functions covered.

When NBN comes through here and landlines are ceased 18 months later it will be interesting because >60% of apartments here do not have internet connected.

My mum can barely manage the simple mobile my brother has lent her - she knows to open the phone to answer and that's about it. As most of the family live interstate she really needs a phone plan with national calls included as she rings quite often and will talk for 30 mins and up each time.

 

[Milboo]

I've often wondered about that, I find this to be a bit of a phenomenon in the UK where most companies either shut down over Christmas/NY or they "force" leave over the period if they're quiet. If you're permanent and have a specified number of days leave (and have run out) how do they deal with that? I prefer to take my holidays at other times of the year, but am a contractor so have never had to find out really.



Agree - I've indicated as much to my team, they've worked more than enough hours over and above their "need to be there" throughout the year so it's a small gesture that is much appreciated.



My guess is that it's his company anyway.....

We have compulsory shutdown at work but only for a shortish period i.e. a couple of days before Xmas and then back the first working day after 1 Jan. There are some people around as skeleton staff and a few parts of the business continue as it's a busy time for them (plus we run a Dec EOFY).

If you don't have enough leave then you are allowed to go into the negatives.

I've worked at one of the Big 4 and they had even longer compulsory shutdown. At least there we could also purchase additional annual leave across the year.

Essentially it is an effective way to reduce the liability on the balance sheet for annual leave!

I hate having to take a holiday now. It is hot, there are too many people around, your favourite cafes are usually closed and it's too expensive to go away.

 

[Denali]

We have shutdowns but during this period, factories have maintenance and some structural changes made. Min risk of injury and no production delays.

I think this year, for most, was a 11 day break for 3 annual leave days.

 

[oz_mark]

Essentially it is an effective way to reduce the liability on the balance sheet for annual leave!

A previous employer got out to a 3 week shutdown at one point, and it was all about getting leave balances down. Once that was done, the 2 week shutdowns returned.

 

[Milboo]

We had 12 day break, with 5 annual leave days. That's just corporate - manufacturing doesn't have the same shut down.

 

[Milboo]

A previous employer got out to a 3 week shutdown at one point, and it was all about getting leave balances down. Once that was done, the 2 week shutdowns returned.

That's pushing it! I think the upper limit should be 1/2 AL entitlement.

I think slapping these shutdowns on all staff to deal with leave balances is the wrong solution - how about simply requiring those employees with high leave balances to take their leave. I know people sitting on 12-16 weeks AL accrued.

My work hasn't stopped coming in this week - I simply have to play catch up next week.

 

[blackcat20]

I've often wondered about that, I find this to be a bit of a phenomenon in the UK where most companies either shut down over Christmas/NY or they "force" leave over the period if they're quiet. If you're permanent and have a specified number of days leave (and have run out) how do they deal with that? I prefer to take my holidays at other times of the year, but am a contractor so have never had to find out really.

We work a number of public holidays during the year, so Christmas is "time in lieu" with loading, ie each public holiday is worth 1.66 days at Christmas.

If you have excess annual leave you must take it in the specified time otherwise they delete it.

 

[TomVexille]

What is this "break" everyone is talking about?

 

[Pushka]

What is this "break" everyone is talking about?

My son is asking the same.

 

[Denali]

Pretty sure I'm working all weekend, to catch up on the 3 days I had off.

Plus I have to remove all traces of christmas from the office... Are Easter eggs out yet?

 

[TomVexille]

My son is asking the same.

There was a long weekend...

 

[Flashback]

That's pushing it! I think the upper limit should be 1/2 AL entitlement.

I think slapping these shutdowns on all staff to deal with leave balances is the wrong solution - how about simply requiring those employees with high leave balances to take their leave. I know people sitting on 12-16 weeks AL accrued.

My work hasn't stopped coming in this week - I simply have to play catch up next week.

Easy solution for that, most employers in the UK will only let you carry over 5 days (civil service tends to be 10 though) - use it or lose it!

What is this "break" everyone is talking about?

Hear hear! If I was ever 'employed' and was told when to take my leave, you can be sure I'd tell them where to stick it and go work somewhere else!

 

[serfty]

A previous employer got out to a 3 week shutdown at one point, and it was all about getting leave balances down. Once that was done, the 2 week shutdowns returned.

... Except this year it's a span of 18 days (23-09) ... can't have pesky public holidays biting the actuaries tails ... so we are coming back to a three day 'week' ... 'cept on my first Forced day off I had a call and need to find a way of billing four hours of my life ...

 

[JohnK]

We're OK with people leaving between noon and 3pm and still get a full days pay. There was about 5 of us in today.

We are told we can leave early Christmas Eve. There's no mention about leaving early New Years Eve.

 

[Denali]

Our NBN is down... again.

My office got early close Thursday 21st, office closed with pay (not annual leave) Friday 22nd, return to work Tues 2nd. But quite a few did light work remotely, emails, popping into office ect. Im going in soon myself.

You don't mind doing extra if the company treats their staff well. We have a good management team and everyone has benefited this year.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I've often wondered about that, I find this to be a bit of a phenomenon in the UK where most companies either shut down over Christmas/NY or they "force" leave over the period if they're quiet. If you're permanent and have a specified number of days leave (and have run out) how do they deal with that? I prefer to take my holidays at other times of the year, but am a contractor so have never had to find out really.

One option is that managers 'manage' leave. You don't approve prior leave that is inconsistent with the required shut-down at the end of the year.

 

[Bindibuys]

We have a fleet of cars and have never had a power steering fault. What do you think caused the problem BB? Was the car crashed at some stage? $2,000 fix then dump it??

I did hit a roo (no major damage, and on other side from P/S pump) 30% of my daily drives are on dirt roads, and my 200mtr driveway is a mess at the moment, so I am going to go with just rough conditions.
Hubby has been asking for the last 6 months did I want a new car, but head is ruling heart and I don't see the sense in putting another new car thru about another 3 years of these road conditions.
Will drive this one into the ground or I retire... which ever comes first.

 

[Denali]

Sounds like you need an old Toyota ute, like the one Top Gear couldnt destroy.

 

[TomVexille]

Hear hear! If I was ever 'employed' and was told when to take my leave, you can be sure I'd tell them where to stick it and go work somewhere else!

We're so busy that only one person was allowed leave, and we've had to bring in people from interstate and subcontractors just to deal with the workload. But there's many industries that all work through this period so the country keeps running.

Sounds like you need an old Toyota ute, like the one Top Gear couldnt destroy.

I used to have one just a couple years younger than the Top Gear one. Great vehicle.

 

[GarrettM]

Pushed back my car's scheduled service for a few weeks due to Christmas and having to buy a new fridge.

This morning the DPF starts flashing which is never a good sign. Service department closed until Tuesday so car is sitting now until I can rebook for this week. Hopefully.

What's really annoying is we were taking bub to Yanchep to see koalas but had to abandon almost immediately.

I hate this time of year.