Journal Entries
They say things come in threes...
Posted Sep 26, 2005
1. I passed my driving test today 
2. I'm going on holiday tomorrow 
3. It's also my birthday tomorrow 
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Latest reply: Sep 26, 2005
A week today...
Posted Sep 19, 2005
...until my practical driving test and I'm starting to get a little nervous! Anyone got any last minute advice for me?
Discuss this Journal entry [94]
Latest reply: Sep 19, 2005
And it was all going so well.
Posted Sep 13, 2005
After taking a nice relaxing weekend off, I come back to my desk today to find a letter from HR addressed to me. 'Fine', I thought, 'this'll be a letter confirming my probationary period is over and I'm now a permanent member of staff'.
To backtrack a little, I had a meeting with my boss about three weeks ago to discuss my probationary period. He said I was doing a 'grand job' and he wanted me to stay on as a permanent member of staff. Apparently my probation was extended for another week as I had a 'wobbly week', but I didn't press it as I saw no need. I do have my suspicions what it was about though and if I'm right there'll be hell to pay, but that's neither here nor there. There were a couple of other issues we discussed (as there always are) and I thought we had sorted everything out.
So when I open my letter and it confirms that further to my recent meeting with my boss my probationary period has been extended for a further three months, you can imagine my reaction (edited below):
WHAT?!
Unfortunately my boss wasn't around long enough for me to grab him and ask him what the hell this is about so unfortunately that'll have to wait until tomorrow. So after talking through all the possibilities with EV (including the fact it could be a mistake) I decided to phone the company's employee assistance helpline (run by a separate company) for some advice.
Seems I'm on thin ice no matter what. Apparently you don't have many rights as an employee until you have completed 12 months' service, probationary or permanent. Great. I could use the company grievance procedure, but I must tread carefully because my boss could still turn around and tell me to hit the road.
So what to do? If it's a mistake I'll be writing a stern letter to HR. If it isn't a mistake, do I do the time and grin whilst working for someone I obviously cannot trust or do I look elsewhere? I like working there and don't want to leave but if I cannot trust my boss, that's a serious problem in my book.
One last thought: The letter was dated 8 September (I was off on the 9th and 12th) and my boss was copied in. It's possible he hasn't read it but how likely is it that you would ignore a letter marked Private? He would be the one to notify HR about me anyway, so I just don't know what to think. 
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Latest reply: Sep 13, 2005
I've got the jitters
Posted Sep 10, 2005
I just can't sit down for five minutes and can't get to sleep at night. I'm always jiggling my foot or playing with something. I'm full of beans all of a sudden. I'm never full of beans - I'm lazy! I went out for a cycle and still feel restless!
What's going on?
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Latest reply: Sep 10, 2005
18 sleeps to go!
Posted Sep 8, 2005
I cannot wait until we jet off to sunny Albufeira - but I can't find my passport. I'll have to stay at home 
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Latest reply: Sep 8, 2005
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fords - number 1 all over heaven
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