How Was Your Day VI

[Abbie]

Abigail, Im so sorry to hear about your dog, Ive had a dog put to sleep years and years ago when I was too young to remember

[Siobhan]

I wish that was the reason, at the moment I am just doing some pre-course reading, I do not go down to Southampton until January.

My problem is inconsiderate, disorganised academic ass**les who need to get their acts together.

I wish I had the strength to say,

" Lack of foresight on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine"

I know where you are coming from... I am like that at work... everything left til last minute by others and then they all come at once and expect you to have everything ready and organised in 1 hour or less... it annoys me on so many levels cause I am organised and always get things done as they come in.. it makes me mad when things are left to last minute and then they expect you to bail them out with no thank you or nothing.. like it is expected of you
Sorry for the rant but I am just sick of carrying people and not getting any credit but then been told "oh don't get stressed, if you can't handle the work then say so".. I can handle the work, I just can't handle idiot who can't be arsed to organise themselves

[Katy]

I think im getting the flu! im not impressed i have too much work to do to get ill, my assignment pile still nots started and i am soo behind with my notes in untrue.

Seen my parents today though so that was nice.

[Chloe O'brien]

I think it must be work with idiots months. I feel the same as my work is pants at the moment. Last year we got a new principal and he is as useful as a chocolate hammer. Captain Pugwash we name him and we are the crew of the Black Pig and we're doomed. We have a re-alighnment going on were some staff have lost their jobs. They also want to increase the teaching hours, which will reduce the number of temporary lecturers so they are up in arms. Support staff also have to complete a 20 page document on job evaluation thanks to the council bin men and dinnerladies, because they are at war over pay scales a new software programme is devising what grade each job should be so all support staff have to complete it then the findings get keyed into a computer and they decide what pay scale you should be on. On top of that we have a HMIE visit in two weeks and lecturers can't find documents and learning plans they need and who's fault is that? Yes your right mines!!!! It's my fault lecturers can't access simple systems to find out relevant information.

[Abigail]

Tell them to do one and come back when they can ask nicely.

[Chloe O'brien]

Honestly at times I could easily throttle some of them. They can't even access a simple database to get a student's ID number or date of birth without having to be spoon fed. Things came to a head in the faculty a couple of weeks ago due to a number of things but one problem was not enough staff meetings. So the Head of section has decided to have meetings every Friday afternoon when classes finish. I have been asked to attend meetings to take minutes but I don't get paid because there is no money in the pot to extend my hours so I have to claim the hours back elsewhere. I'm due 4 hours already and if I try to leave early it's either the chinese interrogation I get or I was wanting you to do something for me. I can't win.

[Trinity]

I think it must be work with idiots months. I feel the same as my work is pants at the moment. Last year we got a new principal and he is as useful as a chocolate hammer. Captain Pugwash we name him and we are the crew of the Black Pig and we're doomed. We have a re-alighnment going on were some staff have lost their jobs. They also want to increase the teaching hours, which will reduce the number of temporary lecturers so they are up in arms. Support staff also have to complete a 20 page document on job evaluation thanks to the council bin men and dinnerladies, because they are at war over pay scales a new software programme is devising what grade each job should be so all support staff have to complete it then the findings get keyed into a computer and they decide what pay scale you should be on. On top of that we have a HMIE visit in two weeks and lecturers can't find documents and learning plans they need and who's fault is that? Yes your right mines!!!! It's my fault lecturers can't access simple systems to find out relevant information.

Are you doing a HERA evaluation Kath, because if you are contact me. We went through that a couple of years ago, and it never ends, believe me.

They called it a 'framework exercise' and everyone working at the Uni had to complete a 'role evaluation form'. It covered communication, liaison and networking, team building, analysis - about 14 headings in total. If you are doing the same form you HAVE to take it seriously. Here it was all staff from cleaners to Professors

I didn't take it so seriously, and although I completed the form properly I not research it, and I did not allow for who would be evaluating it, or how. The information was not disseminated at our Uni (please do not name my uni if you reply), but the info is available on the internet if you search hard.

The 'role evaluators' are usually HR staff who have been 'trained'.

I had a nightmare experience because I was red circled, which means that they thought I was on a grade higher than I should be.

This resulted in a hugely stressful appeal process, that could have been avoided if the process had been carried out properly. They were so sure that they were right that they didn't even refer red circling (demotions) and green circling (promotions) to line management for review before telling staff.

In my appeal I did not add one single aspect to my job, what I did do was download the mythical 51 questions that the 'analyst' scores your role evaluation form against and fit my answers to the questions better.

The evaluators had no idea of my role, and had made assumptions right left and centre. My points increased by 119 (about 35%) and I was nearly at the level of the grade above my original one. I am now going through the same process again for possible promotion, the school management group put me forward for promotion - but they are not allowed to promote people now, instead HR have total control of the HERA process.

The whole process lasted 2 years from first completing the forms to the end of the appeal process. It was horrific.

We had numerous examples of people doing the same job in the same office being scored differently - and what that did for moral I cannot tell you.

If this is what you are doing I would be happy to look at your form. Also, if you are in the union make sure that you get advice from them. Union members are often also trained 'analysts' and do sit on the (in)Consistancy Panal.

I wasn't in the union, but I am now. One union rep who was so horrified about what was going on gave me some really good advice re the appeal process - even though I wasn't a member.

[Tannie]

Haven't wrote in here in ages. Today i'm off to the dungeons with my best mate then town later on tonight . Went to the pub last night with my mate and her boyfriend and had a good night . Lack of money is seriously starting to annoy me. The postal strike is also doing my head in i'm waiting on a cheque for a large amount of money, which i need and i have this really funny feeling it's due when the postal strike's on and i won't get it .

[Perdita]

On my way to the shops this morning I had to wait in a street that had been blocked by several police cars. At first I thought there was an accident, then I saw 6 policemen trying to restrain one young man who was kicking and screaming The managed to throw him down on some grass and handcuff him and then they cuffed his legs too before carrying him face down into a police van. They even tied his feet to a hook inside the van. I have never been this close to a police arrest. Will have to try to find out what this was all about. Apart from this excitement, I am enjoying the sunny and not too cold day and look forward to going to a Halloween party tonight

[Hannelene]

Today I feel a little low

Stomach is killing me been having pains for the last 3-4 days now. I also am aching all over like I have been lifting weight or something I can't put my finger on what is wrong with me. Usually I am full of life but today I feel like crap.

I thought spending some time online and enjoying a spending spree online would perk me up a little instead eventhough I have spent £100 on clothes it hasn't got me out of this dull feeling.