Working over the christmas period

[DarloRich]

A Virgin train driver is on about 55k driving one of fastest and most sophisticated trains on network rail metals.

and all he does is pull levers and push buttons - it doesn't even have a steering wheel :roll:

 

[GB]

Wow what about any drivers driving the engineering trains connected with the renewing work ?

GBRf - Double time or day off in lieu for Xmas day and boxing day....flat rate for everything else.

Certainly nothing to go wild about!

 

[Techniquest]

There are plenty of people working very hard on the railway (and many other professions) over Christmas in conditions much harder than you will ever experience in retail.

Having not worked in the rail industry, I can't accurately comment, but I can well believe it's hard work.

However, I can't just sit here and read you belittle the hard work we do in retail year round to keep everyone stocked with food and drink. For £6.76 an hour and for someone as multi-skilled as myself, it's not easy work at all. Sometimes it's not the grafting that kills you, it's the customers, more so having to wear a fake smile and be so robotic. Good God that can be so hard when you've had a busy day and lost the will to live...

Sorry but I had to reply back, you come and do my job for a month and see if you'd survive it...
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Yes and think of us delivery drivers as well (Some of us would love to strangle some of the in store staff when they go crazy booking in deliveries and then realise we havent got enough room or send us of crazy routes like what happened last night) .

Iceland's delivery drivers are currently on £7.50 per hour for the 1st 16 weeks then its £8.30 although this is due to be increased again.

Because it is so busy now at the end of each shift we are supposed to bring the vans back to the store to unload the empty crates for the in-store staff to use the next day before we take the vans home or park them up.

The store in Bridgend is supposed to be open on boxing day although I havent heard whether deliveries are going to be offered. Some of my fellow drivers are going away for christmas with their families so if deliveries are offered on boxing day I suspect it will be just myself like it is on sundays.

Trust me, some of us shopfloor colleagues would love to strangle some of the muppets who pick the orders and organise them! Only ever done picking once for 4 and a bit hours, hated it within an hour and couldn't wait to go back to my own job!

Asda pay £6.76 an hour for any colleague, driver or not, I believe so you're doing better than some of my fellow colleagues!

 

[notadriver]

I can well believe it mate. I used to stack shelves in Tescos. It often seems the case that the more you earn the easier your job is.

 

[455driver]

I think it fair to say there are challenges in all jobs and they only get worse at this time of year.

I am always even more polite to the staff in shops this time of year because they do a thankless task at the best of time and the abuse they have to put up with is no odds to anyone.

I make sure they are aware that I appreciate the efforts they make even if the wider general 'public' couldnt give a monkeys.

Its a difficult time for anyone dealing with the great British public and a thank you from the customer/passenger goes a long way.

 

[Techniquest]

Glad to hear that 455driver, it really does make a difference to us poor shelf jockeys!

Good luck to all those working with the public over the festive period I say!
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I can well believe it mate. I used to stack shelves in Tescos. It often seems the case that the more you earn the easier your job is.

Not the most fun of jobs at all is it!

 

[ralphchadkirk]

It often seems the case that the more you earn the easier your job is.

So, shall we discuss train driver's salaries then?


(Before everyone accuses me of being worse than Satan, I am joking)

 

[notadriver]

It's all here :

http://www.traindriver.org/train-operators-depots--jobs.html

 

[fowler9]

I've cleaned toilets, I've blasted bits of dead rat out of machines in factories on Liverpools dock road but the worst job I ever had was handling calls for a major telecoms company. Every day is like Christmas when Apple or Samsung bring out a new handset. The second worst job was handling complaints for a major financial company. They pay was only marginally above the toilet cleaning and dead rat blasting. Social housing was alright despite being open 24/7 and dealing with people threatening suicide or asking what we are going to do about someone attacking them with a knife, at least the pay was good, amazing how that can change your view of work. Ha ha.

 

[Lrd]

I am working my third Christmas day this year (voluntary), only 6 hours but it is on my normal day off so I still have to work my usual days. I have 12 hour shifts on the Monday, Tuesday and Friday and then 9 hours on Saturday and Sunday.

12 hours stuck on a boat is normally a killer but it is going to be a busy week for us and with a lot of crew taking their leave, the casual crew will be getting a lot of hours that week!

 

[heart-of-wessex]

I'm working Christmas Eve for the money and to avoid Christmas.

The week before we are picking online orders from 3am, so some very early starts coming soon!

 

[fowler9]

I am working my third Christmas day this year (voluntary), only 6 hours but it is on my normal day off so I still have to work my usual days. I have 12 hour shifts on the Monday, Tuesday and Friday and then 9 hours on Saturday and Sunday.

12 hours stuck on a boat is normally a killer but it is going to be a busy week for us and with a lot of crew taking their leave, the casual crew will be getting a lot of hours that week!

Can I be bold enough to ask what ships you work on? My sister has worked on Cruise Ships and another mate works on the Royal Fleet Auxilliary boats.

 

[Lrd]

Can I be bold enough to ask what ships you work on? My sister has worked on Cruise Ships and another mate works on the Royal Fleet Auxilliary boats.

Nothing as glamorous as that! It's a certain ferry company to an Island on the South Coast...

 

[fowler9]

Nothing as glamorous as that! It's a certain ferry company to an Island on the South Coast...

Ha ha, I think I know where you mean. My sister and my mates jobs are not always glamorous though. One cruise ship my sister was on had a serious incident when it was hit by a freak wave in the Med, The last ship she was on she paid herself off as it wasn't following safety regulations, same part of the world, sadly I'd rather not say who for obvious reasons. Ha ha. My mate in the RFA loves his job but has been in some proper hot spots during his time. He has conflict medals but is on RFA Diligence at the mo.

 

[Drsatan]

I work in a call centre for a well-known bank and will have to work on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day.

I'm not looking forward to either of those days since there will almost certainly be a lot more calls than on a normal day, due to people getting into financial difficulties etc. I haven't ever had to work on Christmas day, although a colleague told me she once worked in a pub on Christmas day, and hated it, mainly because all of her customers were grumpy that day.

It seems as though festive spirit doesn't extend to all members of the public.

 

[anthony263]

Been working to day the online shopping has caused major issue's today especially since I have had to cope with major delays thanks to having to drive from say Nantymoel to Pencoed/Brynna.

A lto fo the customers today have had 4-6 crates of shopping. On my delivery slop from 3pm-5pm I didnt end up leaving the store til 1615 and done the last delivery at 1830.


The cause of this was because I ended up having to deliver to a farm down towards Llantwit Major which added 45 minutes to my delivery slot. I recon I could have finished by 1755 if it wasnt for that delivery. The stupid thing is that this delivery should not have been taken today as the Bridgend store only goes to Ewenny, Ogmore By Sea and St Athan etc on saturdays

(I would say in more detail however I have to be careful as my employers are very strict on what I can say about the company and customers etc)

My boss however is planning on getting one of my collegues in next sunday to give me a hand as it was so busy we were just unable to cope with demand especially with only one van out on the road although there should be two of us out tommorow afternoon.

Anyway back to my favourite 1pm-7pm shift tommorow although the 5-7 slot is terrible especially when we have to cope with rushour traffic and we are delivering all over the place

 

[fowler9]

Been working to day the online shopping has caused major issue's today especially since I have had to cope with major delays thanks to having to drive from say Nantymoel to Pencoed/Brynna.

A lto fo the customers today have had 4-6 crates of shopping. On my delivery slop from 3pm-5pm I didnt end up leaving the store til 1615 and done the last delivery at 1830.


The cause of this was because I ended up having to deliver to a farm down towards Llantwit Major which added 45 minutes to my delivery slot. I recon I could have finished by 1755 if it wasnt for that delivery. The stupid thing is that this delivery should not have been taken today as the Bridgend store only goes to Ewenny, Ogmore By Sea and St Athan etc on saturdays

(I would say in more detail however I have to be careful as Iceland are very strict on what I can say about the company and customers etc)

My boss however is planning on getting one of my collegues in next sunday to give me a hand as it was so busy we were just unable to cope with demand especially with only one van out on the road although there should be two of us out tommorow afternoon.

Anyway back to my favourite 1pm-7pm shift tommorow although the 5-7 slot is terrible especially when we have to cope with rushour traffic and we are delivering all over the place

I would personally suggest not mentioning your employer at all.

 

[ungreat]

I wont be working as i'm a passenger train driver and we have no services,BUT have gone in on Christmas day when I was on freight trains to run the engines on frost precautions duties

 

[Butts]

My best day was working a few years ago on Security on a decommissioned children's home in the West Midlands on Christmas Day.

I arrived at the site at 0700 booked on went home and returned at 1900 to meet my relief - I suspect he did the same.

Treble Time for spending the day at home - if the wages were not so pitiful it would have been a very profitable day.

All this was achieved by "slipping the controller" 100 Tabs.

Corruption alive and well even amongst the proletariat (fat kittens)