VENT!

[sjm]

Such short sighted individuals, these so called leaders are. With low unemployment figures, surely common sense should prevail. I’m in the new home building industry and just got a 10% rate rise without asking. I subbie for a family owned company and holding onto experienced, reliable and honest labourers is key to survival. Touch wood I haven’t cursed me self 🤔

[Arne Krix]

7 hours ago, Dalai said:

That's the way I'm seeing it. Probably would be treated the same elsewhere anyway and my project team colleagues are good people so at least most day to day interactions are good. 

It's capped at 79 weeks for me according to my contract. That plus my 28 weeks long service leave I've always kept as my find another job fund I plan on persevering.

 

How much is that in Porsche currency? 😀

[Dalai]

2 hours ago, Arne Krix said:

How much is that in Porsche currency? 😀

With my wage, rough 924... 

[LeeM]

4 hours ago, sjm said:

Such short sighted individuals, these so called leaders are. With low unemployment figures, surely common sense should prevail. I’m in the new home building industry and just got a 10% rate rise without asking. I subbie for a family owned company and holding onto experienced, reliable and honest labourers is key to survival. Touch wood I haven’t cursed me self 🤔

 Very true mate.

 I was doing robe and shelving installs for a mob that had all the Metricon work a few years ago. It was very easy work, but they were ripping us installers off like every other robe/kitchen company does, then they wanted us to take a hit with the rates. Seeya!

 I haven't asked for much extra, and when they book me out at more than double what they pay me, I now expect a bit of respect. I've just checked my weekly schedule, and there's only Friday booked for me,  so although I am a loyal bloke, I'm not sitting around like a puppet waiting for work...I'll go out and get it myself.

 I was also just told the big boss has no clue that this new pay deal has been offered to contractors by his son, so he will be getting a call today to ask what the f..k is going on with them treating me this way. With the working and personal relationship I have with him, I know he will be very pissed off when I tell him I'm looking elsewhere.

 In the meantime, I'll be calling other companies and individuals I know who have said before they want me working for them, as I'm never one to just sit on my arse

[3legs]

It's a pity you don't do external stuff Lee, like gutters, facias etc. Would have some work for you.

[smit2100]

11 hours ago, Dalai said:

That's the way I'm seeing it. Probably would be treated the same elsewhere anyway and my project team colleagues are good people so at least most day to day interactions are good. 

It's capped at 79 weeks for me according to my contract. That plus my 28 weeks long service leave I've always kept as my find another job fund I plan on persevering.

 

WOW 79 weeks, well played.  I wish I had that leverage and foresight in my one and only proper job interview for a graduate position over a quarter of a century ago ( I've been loyal).   I would have to request my original contract off HR with the ink probably faded to confirm my statutory  12 to 16 weeks on a redundancy. That said, I have a number with a 7 out front  not far off  that impressive 79 number . I  took literally my first bosses advice on only taking leave if required in our cyclical business  and don' t be the one with no leave balances when times are tough and no overhead dollars to sit on the bench.  ( agency contractors - what contractors.  At the time only about 10% of business who had  super special technical expertise or those that refused to go on staff and not in the best interest of the business to tell them its a staff position  or nothing.  How times have changes compared to guns for hire who jump at the chance of a buck hourly rate  increase.)  The only time I was asked to take leave was when the CFO thought my annual leave balance was to his overhead budget when projects dried up  and they were doing there staffing plan rankings vs labour cost list as times were tough.  Suddenly mgt  suddenly became interested in my  burning out and wellbeing to all and  tried to force me to take leave to protect his overhead budget.  Here is vent 1.  I politely replied nicely with a subtle  reading between the lines to go and get you know what and  WTF is the accrued annual leave and  long service leave balance sheet  accounts that you and the auditors sign off on and you telling me that closes to your overhead P&L account if you make me redundant ?( where did you do year 10 accounting prior to your accounting  accreditation).  I also responded just recently I took a couple of weeks ( very rare) a few months back and you checked that right.   My 2ND vent is  would  be handy to have had  my sick leave balance included in a payout ( works out at a circa  1.4 Multiplier against the leave payout number.

[LeeM]

51 minutes ago, 3legs said:

It's a pity you don't do external stuff Lee, like gutters, facias etc. Would have some work for you.

 I do mate

[sleazius]

It seems that those industries that are beset with supply issues are feast (due to profiteering), and service industries like mine that rely on people are famine (due to covid). Talk about a two speed economy. We're simultaneously struggling with high wage increases due to not enough graduates being trained in Australia, and no skilled migrants for 2 years; shake my head every time there is some union pundit talking about negative wages growth.

We put in a 24% increase for new grads at the end of last year, and up to 18% for existing team, and we'll likely be doing at least 10% across the board again at the end of this year. We'll still struggle to retain people or hire due to extreme demand for workers in our industry.

Inflation at 7%? Yeah right. What we charge our clients went up 11% a few weeks ago, and it'll be going up another 11% in January, with a view to a further 9% in July 2023. I have to keep the wage increases coming to retain people so our clients are going to end up copping it. Its going to be hard on people but its that or lose our team members.

@LeeM I don't know what the demand is like in Adelaide, but it sounds like you're a subby - I think it might be time to give them an ultimatum. If the business isn't willing to up their rates and pay you more, find someone who will. FWIW the boss' son is always the worst

 

[LeeM]

3 hours ago, sleazius said:

 

@LeeM I don't know what the demand is like in Adelaide, but it sounds like you're a subby - I think it might be time to give them an ultimatum. If the business isn't willing to up their rates and pay you more, find someone who will. FWIW the boss' son is always the worst

 

 Demand is high, and yes I'm a subby, and yes re the son 😅

 I've been on the phone to 4 company managers today who know me, and they've all said they have loads of work and happy to put me on for as much or little as I want, so it's surprisingly not all doom and gloom I s'pose.

 I spoke to one of our supervisors earlier, and he's annoyed that I will probably move on, so he's calling the boss to give his opinion to keep me on which is nice.

 One subby has basically quit today, and another finishes up in a week or so, and I've just landed some work with their direct competitor, so that's 3 guys they need to find...quickly! 

 I'm not one to play games, as all I want to do is earn some money, yet an ultimatum in the shape of me not making them a priority might change their minds a bit. I don't want to put anyone offside and burn my bridges, yet I'm looking after me for a change 

 

[sjm]

27 minutes ago, LeeM said:

 Demand is high, and yes I'm a subby, and yes re the son 😅

 I've been on the phone to 4 company managers today who know me, and they've all said they have loads of work and happy to put me on for as much or little as I want, so it's surprisingly not all doom and gloom I s'pose.

 I spoke to one of our supervisors earlier, and he's annoyed that I will probably move on, so he's calling the boss to give his opinion to keep me on which is nice.

 One subby has basically quit today, and another finishes up in a week or so, and I've just landed some work with their direct competitor, so that's 3 guys they need to find...quickly! 

 I'm not one to play games, as all I want to do is earn some money, yet an ultimatum in the shape of me not making them a priority might change their minds a bit. I don't want to put anyone offside and burn my bridges, yet I'm looking after me for a change 

 

Business is business Lee, if they can't run theirs properly, you sure can! 

[LeeM]

1 hour ago, sjm said:

Business is business Lee, if they can't run theirs properly, you sure can! 

 Absolutely mate 👍 

Like any business, they need to make and save money wherever possible which is fine by me

[hugh]

I'm not sure how genuine tTow is, suspected spam. @joombo @LeeM

[LeeM]

2 hours ago, hugh said:

I'm not sure how genuine tTow is, suspected spam. @joombo @LeeM

 I was thinking the same mate. Blocked 

[tomo]

Bloody hell this private health has some teeth to it, What a load of shit , Bit of personal trouble with a leg (because of a stuff up in E/D) Just informed that there is a $250 gap for the Surgeon plus a $350 Gap for the anitheists fee

 On top of the 4k plus you pay so you can basically secure a bed.😒

[sjm]

i hear you, had shoulder surgery 18 months ago and found out only covered for day surgery.

Ended up staggering out of hospital (private) at the end of the day otherwise would pay for theatre and anesthetist fees of thousands of dollars. Lovely!

[tomo]

2 hours ago, sjm said:

i hear you, had shoulder surgery 18 months ago and found out only covered for day surgery.

Ended up staggering out of hospital (private) at the end of the day otherwise would pay for theatre and anesthetist fees of thousands of dollars. Lovely!

Yep I hear you, only the day too, Hate to think what a week would cost you

[Diamond911]

On 04/11/2022 at 13:44, sjm said:

i hear you, had shoulder surgery 18 months ago and found out only covered for day surgery.

Ended up staggering out of hospital (private) at the end of the day otherwise would pay for theatre and anesthetist fees of thousands of dollars. Lovely!

I hope your shoulder is all good now?

I’m booked in for Dec 19th to have my left shoulder done. Tears in supraspinatus, bicep and labrum, bone bursar etc…

Not looking forward to the arm in a sling/no driving and the long recovery

[tomo]

Well that small window of time  is over,  costings for the hosy 1.5 day s ,2k plus, surgeon 2.5 hrs 2k, back hander for the Doc 250 plus 110 G'day fee, Plus 350 backhander to the anathiesest with his knock-out bill of around a k and that was for a bakers sist  R/A and a haematoma in the right calf which A/E told me to go home and not worry about it 1/2 a litre of fluid drained, no wonder I kept falling over at the pub Anyway 5 1/2 months later done home on the couch fixed I hope

[sjm]

2 hours ago, Diamond911 said:

I hope your shoulder is all good now?

I’m booked in for Dec 19th to have my left shoulder done. Tears in supraspinatus, bicep and labrum, bone bursar etc…

Not looking forward to the arm in a sling/no driving and the long recovery

Yes, all good now, Thanks. Still feel it's had surgery every now and then but much better than it was. Torn ligaments on left shoulder from years of manual labour.

Stick to your rehab and you'll be good. I was driving the 911 (manual) after about three weeks.

Couldn't help myself😁  

53 minutes ago, tomo said:

Well that small window of time  is over,  costings for the hosy 1.5 day s ,2k plus, surgeon 2.5 hrs 2k, back hander for the Doc 250 plus 110 G'day fee, Plus 350 backhander to the anathiesest with his knock-out bill of around a k and that was for a bakers sist  R/A and a haematoma in the right calf which A/E told me to go home and not worry about it 1/2 a litre of fluid drained, no wonder I kept falling over at the pub Anyway 5 1/2 months later done home on the couch fixed I hope

Thats quite a cockup. Rest up, pubs not going anywhere🙂

[sleazius]

5 hours ago, Diamond911 said:

I hope your shoulder is all good now?

I’m booked in for Dec 19th to have my left shoulder done. Tears in supraspinatus, bicep and labrum, bone bursar etc…

Not looking forward to the arm in a sling/no driving and the long recovery

Get a good Physio - my cousin had very similar surgery last year, recovery was about half what they said because he did his exercises every day, and went to Physio every week.

[tomo]

Any way let's hope all the effort and confusion that goes into getting a refit comes out with a good result and many more sunny Porka days to be enjoyed

[Dalai]

11 hours ago, Diamond911 said:

I’m booked in for Dec 19th to have my left shoulder done. Tears in supraspinatus, bicep and labrum, bone bursar etc…

Not looking forward to the arm in a sling/no driving and the long recovery

Good luck. I recommend doing the rehab religiously and move the shoulder as soon as allowed.

I broke my collarbone going over the bars at 60km/hr racing on the velodrome back in 2014. Took a couple of weeks to see a surgeon and get it plated as happened around Easter. Then 8 weeks post op to revisit the surgeon because he was fully booked.

I ended up with a frozen shoulder as I didn't move it between the operation and seeing the surgeon! 16 physio sessions later and the most unbearable pain as he slowly managed to regain movement... Some days I'd have to tap out as I just couldn't take it.

[LeeM]

On 04/11/2022 at 15:49, tomo said:

Bloody hell this private health has some teeth to it, What a load of shit , Bit of personal trouble with a leg (because of a stuff up in E/D) Just informed that there is a $250 gap for the Surgeon plus a $350 Gap for the anitheists fee

 On top of the 4k plus you pay so you can basically secure a bed.😒

 We've just coughed up some cash for the missus mum's hip operation she's been waiting for for 7 years, as the insurance only covered X amount.

 Bloody rort.

 A mate got t boned coupla weeks ago. His ute was (what he thought) insured for $28k, only for them to let him know they'll pay out $20k after depreciation and current market value (he owes $24k on the loan). Strange, as there's no Ute's of similar year and kms available under $30k right now, so he's refused their offer.

 I haven't been able to get any personal injury insurance I can afford, as the mob I was with deleted that portion of the business insurance I need to be a contractor, so I'm basically stuffed if I hurt meself onsite. I've looked at other business insurance packages from other specialist insurers over the past few months, but they're quadruple to what I've been paying, so I'll just have to risk it

[sjm]

3 hours ago, LeeM said:

 We've just coughed up some cash for the missus mum's hip operation she's been waiting for for 7 years, as the insurance only covered X amount.

 Bloody rort.

 A mate got t boned coupla weeks ago. His ute was (what he thought) insured for $28k, only for them to let him know they'll pay out $20k after depreciation and current market value (he owes $24k on the loan). Strange, as there's no Ute's of similar year and kms available under $30k right now, so he's refused their offer.

 I haven't been able to get any personal injury insurance I can afford, as the mob I was with deleted that portion of the business insurance I need to be a contractor, so I'm basically stuffed if I hurt meself onsite. I've looked at other business insurance packages from other specialist insurers over the past few months, but they're quadruple to what I've been paying, so I'll just have to risk it

I was in the same boat Lee, criminally overpriced income protection even my Statewide Super wouldn’t look at me. When SS merged with Host Plus I left to Australian Super and they covered me for a reasonable price. Shopping around sucks but can be an advantage. 

[LeeM]

 @sjm A mate shopped around and signed on for 12 months with some mob. After a few months his payments more than doubled, as he didn't read the fine print where it said they can increase it without warning, so he's now in the same boat.