h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

One of the things I dislike about London is that I never feel that I am in a clean place.

Having worked as a temp, self employed or a contractor for about 75% of my working life, I do so because the independence suits me. I feel trapped by permanent jobs.

I respect people who handle the s**t which goes with permanent employment. The arrogance of some contractors is impertinent, especially the young and / or incompetent ones, and the ones who blag about the money they earn, and the things they spend it on. But the jealousy you often find among permanent people is also inappropriate and out of order.

It is not difficult to decide to become a contractor (if you have the appropriate skills), but it does take a steady nerve. I often find myself thinking 'if you think it is so good, then why don't you do it?' - and the answer is 'but I have commitments, and I couldn't cope with the uncertaintly'. To which the reply has to be 'well put up, or shut up then'. Sometimes I am that blunt, and sometimes I am more diplomatic.

There are pros and cons to both life-styles, and contracting suits some people and not others.

Why do people have to come over all 'them-and-us' about it?

Ben

I think people are too obsessed with cleanliness. It's just a conspiracy by companies like Jif to make people grow up with weakened immune systems and come to depend on everything being sterile.

Paranoid? Me?

There is a big difference between "clean" and "unnaturally sterile"

I agree with Ben about London being dirty - if you live in London you tend not to notice it so much - but if you visit from a "cleaner" part of the country then the clue to the filth is when you blow or wipe your nose you leave two black nostril prints on your tissue. It may just be me but I feel so grimy when I get home.

at school, but i think these apply both places...

*DON'T wear enough perfume to kill a cow at thirty paces. You're only supposed to use a little dab, not marinate in the stuff. My eyes water whenever I pass someone who does this, it really reeks. You just can't smell it because you're around it all the time

*When walking towards me, don't greet me just as you pass... especially in the mornings, when I can't respond that quickly, and am not about to stop, turn around, and say 'hi' back. It's annoying when someone says something to me when I can't really respond...

Ah.... "Corriemuchloch".

See "The Meaning of Liff"...

H.

"If you're having to work out how to fit 10 more desks into your office, please don't wander around measuring the space between desks *every* *single* *day*. Do it outside office hours, at least."

All that says to me is "your office environment is too good, and we're going to make it worse, real soon now."

"If you are going to do something to the people who run h2g2, then make it a nice something - PLEASE!"



B

Yes - what is going on - are the mods moving in? Or are we going to get more Italics?

No it's just the usual idiocy - the refurbish an entire floor, move everyone in, then practically the next day decide they need to fit more desks because there's another team who needs to be based there.

My gripe is not so much with needing to accomodate new people, rather with the seemingly constant shifting of people and desks. It doesn't make me feel valued, that's for sure.

We value you!

Thanks.

and there's a *lot* more of us than there are of them

*gangs up with Wayfarer, and Looks Meaningfully at the people moving the desks*

Hmmm!! After reading the back log I'm struck by how many of these 'rules' could apply to many non office work places.Also as I read it my eyes got rounder and wider.The Staffroom seems very staid in comparision.
Although there was the time when I was on teaching practice at a certain school where there was a member of staff who would not speak to you until you got out of HER SEAT.This same member of staff who every time she was put up to cover an absent member of staff would get a migraine and have to go home.

The 'agency' situation whereby people get laid off and later rehired to do virtally the same job for lower pay applies to all types of workplaces and industries.It's the one reason that,as a supply teacher that freelances for the local education authority I don't want to join an agency.However at the moment all the work seems to be going to agencies and I'm not getting any work.
My partner is working for an agency for c**p pay and every time he gets onto another better paying department he gets rotated back "because they don't have enough trained staff to do the work" Hmm!I wonder why?Possibly if they paid a higher rate they would maintain a good level of trained staff.This doesn't inspire me to go the agency route myself.

Incog.

It's awful seeing skilled people being forced to do pointless low-paid work when they could potentially do so much more for the country.

And another thing about having newly turned contract - nobody will lend you money for a mortgage unles you have a million years of accounts. This means I can't buy a new house with my boyfriend for a few years now The bank did say they would consider it if I stayed with the same company (not terribly stable, not very pleasant place to work while layoffs are happening, long commute) but not if I get a better paid, longer term, more stable job somewhere else.

The bank manager actually said if i got a permanent job it wouldn't matter if I was only there for one day, they would happily lend me vast amounts with almost no questions asked.

Hmmm, have you shopped around? I had no problem at all and I was worried about that.
It turned out that they are very geared up for giving out Mortgages to temporary contractors these days. Basically because they have to be as so many people have that situation now. Otherwise they'd be cutting their own throats.

Obviously I don't know your personal circumstances but I would try some building societies if I was you or an independant financial consultant, sounds like you're getting bad advice from your bank there.

I'm still wating to buy and I'm not sure I really want to up root the new born baby SM and Mrs SM right now. I have a substantial deposit but I'm not very happy with house prices. I am PAYE from my own company so it looks to the mortgage companies like I'm a nice permie

Liam.

Doesn't that count as self employed though? I am in a similar position but they want to see at least two years-worth of accounts and as I only started this last march I don't have enough to satisfy them. How do you get around the bit where they say 'who do I write to for your employers reference?' and you have to say 'erm, me at my address. But I am a permie, honest!'

I was trying the building society I have had my mortgage with for 7 years, thinking they would be the most amenable as I have a proven track record They would let me do it if I have 1 years accounts and stay with the same agency/contract because of this but I want to change contracts, at which point they say no under any circumstance.

It isn't advice they were giving me, it was a decision as to wherther they would lendme any money. I can shop around or self certify (at an interest rate several points above the building society rates) but I expect other building societies will have similar criteria (eg 2 years of accounts). Think I'm going to just have to wait

If only I could find a permanent job! Things would be much, much, much simpler!

There's more than one employee in the company - well there's two of us but that's all that's needed. If it's really dodgy then I have them send the literature to the accountants address

Do you have your P60s from previous employment?

Pop down to "The rugby league club referred to as 'The Bulls'" and "Chandler from Friends surname + LY". Lots of mortgage companies would be happy to take you on. I presume you haven't had any problems with the current mortgage.

Liam.