Earlier this evening on BBC news there was an article suggesting that a four day week was the direction in which this country should be heading . Fortunately , from my point of view at least , I couldn’t care less . Four day , six day , eight day even . It’s all the same to me . I’m just glad to be out of it .
Ever since lockdown , a fair percentage of the population appear to still be working from home anyway as far as I can see . That’s if taking the dog for a walk at 10 am can legitimately be considered as “ working “.
The thing is though , the interviewee appeared to be suggesting that the same productivity could easily be achieved by working four nine hour shifts as can be achieved by working five eight hour shifts … It would appear that I’ve obviously wasted over half of my life expectancy working in the wrong job .
I’m prompted to wonder from which planet these bell - ends originate , although planet Tinytodger would appear to be a strong contender .
I wonder if it has ever occurred to these gbshtes that there exists a large sector of the community that unerringly put in five twelve hour , or four fifteen hour shifts per week as a matter of course , without the soft option of “ working from home “ .
A 32 hour week in the transport industry ? … Don’t make me laugh .
There is no such thing as an eight hour working day in this game . There never has been , and I remain fairly certain that there never will be … and who do you suppose is ultimately responsible for that situation ?
Eddie Heaton:
Earlier this evening on BBC news there was an article suggesting that a four day week was the way in which this country should be heading . Fortunately , from my point of view at least , I couldn’t care less . Four day , six day , eight day even . It’s all the same to me . I’m just glad to be out of it .
Ever since lockdown , a fair percentage of the population appear to still be working from home anyway as far as I can see . That’s if taking the dog for a walk at 10 am can legitimately be considered as “ working “.
The thing is though , the interviewee appeared to be suggesting that the same productivity could easily be achieved by working four nine hour shifts as can be achieved by working five eight hour shifts … It would appear that I’ve obviously wasted over half of my life expectancy working in the wrong job .
I’m prompted to wonder from which planet these bell - ends originate , although planet Tinytodger would appear to be a strong contender .
I wonder if it has ever occurred to these gbshtes that there exists a large sector of the community that unerringly put in five twelve hour , or four fifteen hour shifts per week as a matter of course , without the soft option of “ working from home “ .
A 32 hour week in the transport industry ? … Don’t make me laugh .
There is no such thing as an eight hour working day in this game . There never has been , and I remain fairly certain that there never will be … and who do you suppose is ultimately responsible for that situation ?
Answers on a postcard.
It only works for the ‘working from home’ non jobs of which the vast majority could be stopped tomorrow and nobody would notice, but not if the hard working lorry drivers, NHS front line staff, emergency services, supermarket staff to name a few went on 4 day weeks……
Into the second week of a 32 contracted hours (at my request) and loving it. Driving for an own account , non haulage based company on a higher than average wage
Up until 12 years ago i was doing tramping, UK and Euro . . then i saw the light
Suedehead:
Into the second week of a 32 contracted hours (at my request) and loving it. Driving for an own account , non haulage based company on a higher than average wage
Up until 12 years ago i was doing tramping, UK and Euro . . then i saw the light
Good for you Suedehead … unfortunately by the time that I finally saw the light , it was far too late … I’m prompted to wonder however , how long can a situation like the one that we are currently in possibly continue .
A situation where we have half of this country’s population sitting in front of computers doing ■■■■ knows what , whilst the other half continues to pull their tripe out keeping the supermarket shelves stocked .
Which also prompts me to remark , and I haven’t heard it mentioned on here recently either … Brexit didn’t turn out exactly the way that we were were led to believe that it would did it ?
Still , best to leave that one alone for the time being I’m thinking . We’ve already been down that route previously I seem to recall .
Suedehead:
Into the second week of a 32 contracted hours (at my request) and loving it. Driving for an own account , non haulage based company on a higher than average wage
Up until 12 years ago i was doing tramping, UK and Euro . . then i saw the light
Good for you Suedehead … unfortunately by the time that I finally saw the light , it was far too late … I’m prompted to wonder however , how long can a situation like the one that we are currently in possibly continue .
A situation where we have half of this country’s population sitting in front of computers doing [zb] knows what , whilst the other half continues to pull their tripe out keeping the supermarket shelves stocked .
Which also prompts me to remark , and I haven’t heard it mentioned on here recently either … Brexit didn’t turn out exactly the way that we were were led to believe that it would did it ?
Still , best to leave that one alone for the time being I’m thinking . We’ve already been down that route previously I seem to recall .
Havent got a frecin clue what you are on about. Ho hum
There is no such thing as an eight hour working day in this game . There never has been , and I remain fairly certain that there never will be … and who do you suppose is ultimately responsible for that situation ?
I worked a 7hrs 25min day 5 days a week, although that was the set daily working period but being in a Fire Service workshop we worked from half seven to five and the build up of hours meant we had one day off in a fortnight. The only overtime we got was when doing 24 hr Stand by call out for any problems with vehicles, paid so much for the duty and so much when called out over two hours (you got nowt when out less than two hrs) this was for a week every four/five weeks, sometimes less when staff numbers were down, we had a total of ten fitters, two teams of five to cover both Northumberland and Tyne and Wear (I did on a couple of occasions cover both Fire Service areas!). When people on TV or whatever talk about reducing working days they really mean for Office workers, we all know the likes of Transport and other types of work can’t operate like that, just as we in the workshop couldn’t stick to ‘Flexi time’ rules like the rest of the organisation. As for those working from home I’ve no doubt there are some that will take liberties but there are those that are working. My Daughter works for a Government organisation and alternates working from home where she probably gets through more work there as being in the office can mean her stopping for meetings, taking training or giving lectures, then having to catch up on her normal work. Also worth bearing in mind the Public sector haven’t had a pay rise as far as I know for many years, I retired 2017 and we hadn’t a rise for about six years before then and I’m not even sure they’ve had one to date at least not in any great amount. On another page on this site talking about Fitters wages it was said an advert quoted £45,000 a year, I would have had to work two years for that as a Public sector worker and we were on the highest rate. Franky.
Just been trawling through the site trying to find info on 4 in line trailers (found the thread ) and came upon this thread. Piqued my interest cos a couple of months ago went 4 days and not regretting it.
To put things into perspective I had a part occupational pension mature last year and that subsidises the lost days pay. I know that not everyone is in that situation and might need to work all the hours they can, especially younger drivers with family to support, bills to pay etc. but for those of a more mature standing you’re a long time dead and I have found as I have got older time sure seems to fly and if you can afford it, and your employer is amenable, worth thinking about. The arrival of a grand daughter also had a bearing as well as the body telling me to slow down
A few observations. When I first mooted going 4 days my firm muttered about a new contract till I pointed out that as I would still be working more than 32 hours that was not necessary. A new contract might have seen me losing certain benefits and was advised by my union, (and yes I have always been in a union, to my benefit I add) to not entertain a change in contract.
A downside is the loss of overtime as that is calculated on forty hours worked but, as stated, my pension compensates.
I did not hear the BBC programme but certainly 4 day weeks have been discussed on radio and it seems to work in other countries where people work a longer day to compensate for the lost day in the week. Reports seem to suggest workers are more relaxed and energised, thus more productive. There is an assumption that those adopting a 4 day week would work less hours for the same pay but that isn’t the case although some firms have indeed been that generous and seen no loss in output!
With regards working from home there seems to be a certain amount of jealousy and although there are always going to be some that take the p*ss it is very unlikely as most homeworking is now done by computer and very easily monitored.
My wife has worked from home for years (for an insurance company) and when Covid hit was one of a few that kept the company running because overnight the inevitable shortage of laptops and Secure Remote Access licences meant the company could not operate at anywhere near full capacity.
Overnight her company and thousands others needed the above and couldn’t get them.
Since Covid many companies have embraced home working because it allows them to reduce their office needs and energy bills. Far from being less productive homeworkers have shown the opposite. Don’t believe me? Statistics out there back it up and it is easy to see why. No more tiring commuting, no unnecessary meetings, relaxed surroundings, no irritating colleagues ( isn’t that exactly why some of us are drivers ) etc. and yes many can work the hours that suit them as long as they do their stint, as stated easily monitored. Home working does not suit everyone or every industry, (Haulage being an obvious one) hence Hybrid working and Hot Desking being introduced.
The worry of the Government regarding homeworking is driven by the fear that commercial property prices might tumble as offices are vacated and the fear that support industries ie hospitality will be affected - a very real fear and understandable. I also think again that Governments are suspicious of people having a little too much freedom and homeworking feeds into this viewpoint.
Post Covid a lot of people, especially more the mature, are re-evaluating their views on life and deciding the daily grind is over-rated!
Geordielad:
There is no such thing as an eight hour working day in this game . There never has been , and I remain fairly certain that there never will be … and who do you suppose is ultimately responsible for that situation ?
I worked a 7hrs 25min day 5 days a week, although that was the set daily working period but being in a Fire Service workshop we worked from half seven to five and the build up of hours meant we had one day off in a fortnight. The only overtime we got was when doing 24 hr Stand by call out for any problems with vehicles, paid so much for the duty and so much when called out over two hours (you got nowt when out less than two hrs) this was for a week every four/five weeks, sometimes less when staff numbers were down, we had a total of ten fitters, two teams of five to cover both Northumberland and Tyne and Wear (I did on a couple of occasions cover both Fire Service areas!). When people on TV or whatever talk about reducing working days they really mean for Office workers, we all know the likes of Transport and other types of work can’t operate like that, just as we in the workshop couldn’t stick to ‘Flexi time’ rules like the rest of the organisation. As for those working from home I’ve no doubt there are some that will take liberties but there are those that are working. My Daughter works for a Government organisation and alternates working from home where she probably gets through more work there as being in the office can mean her stopping for meetings, taking training or giving lectures, then having to catch up on her normal work. Also worth bearing in mind the Public sector haven’t had a pay rise as far as I know for many years, I retired 2017 and we hadn’t a rise for about six years before then and I’m not even sure they’ve had one to date at least not in any great amount. On another page on this site talking about Fitters wages it was said an advert quoted £45,000 a year, I would have had to work two years for that as a Public sector worker and we were on the highest rate. Franky.
Are you having a pop at us drivers?
But I do take your point. I encounter a lot of drivers that moan about the long hours and poor pay but don’t do anything about it. " Hey Joe Bloggs Haulage is offering £50 an hour for a 20 hour week" OK I’m joking but same driver will still be saying the same thing 2 years later.
It was noticeable that post Covid/Brexit, Wages rose because of the shortage of Drivers, and the requirement to pass Cat C before training C+E was removed. Funny how “safety” rules can be relaxed in a crisis!
Interesting article by AVAIL, whoever they are, citing why so many do not want to enter the industry - poor facilities, long hours, poor appreciation, grief at Distribution Centres. Nothing changes and probably never will - wishful thinking that one day drivers might be treated like human beings!
Potentially our profession is one of the most powerful. If we “struck” for just a couple of days the country would grind to a halt but Drivers are individuals to a bunch and wouldn’t countenance such “socialist” actions.
All probably academic cos in 15 years time everything will be delivered by autonomous lorries or drones!
Some very perspicacious points, on the subject of working from home,I could always tell the difference if someone was at home or a call centre as both calls sound different to each other, the quality of the line,when in contact with an institution or a bank.
If working from home the advisor sounds more relaxed and calmer, you could hear background noises more clearer and that distinctive sound of her nails hitting the key pad on her laptop.
The noise in a call centre must be filtered out.
For drivers not sticking together, they don’t and sometimes are labelled as being spineless to stop any legalisation that affects them daily.
We could say the French do not stand for it as their ethos is that the government works for them , in the UK , we work for our government.
If you think of all the changes over the years are due to them not trusting us to be legally compliant and honest as a few ruined it for the others.
The examples are analogue paper tachograph charts to digital cards, speed limiters, the DCPC, in cab driver facing cameras, Telematics to monitor driver activity and fuel usage, and a plethora of other controls that is similar to 1984 , the book by George Orwell, Big Brother is watching you.
teech:
A few observations. When I first mooted going 4 days my firm muttered about a new contract till I pointed out that as I would still be working more than 32 hours that was not necessary. A new contract might have seen me losing certain benefits and was advised by my union, (and yes I have always been in a union, to my benefit I add) to not entertain a change in contract.
A downside is the loss of overtime as that is calculated on forty hours worked
They can’t discriminate against you,just because you’re part time.
I went part time in April,and I get the same benefits as every one else…just in proportion to the hours I work.
Sick pay,rising holiday entitlement overtime after 19.2 and proper Sunday rate.
teech:
A few observations. When I first mooted going 4 days my firm muttered about a new contract till I pointed out that as I would still be working more than 32 hours that was not necessary. A new contract might have seen me losing certain benefits and was advised by my union, (and yes I have always been in a union, to my benefit I add) to not entertain a change in contract.
A downside is the loss of overtime as that is calculated on forty hours worked
They can’t discriminate against you,just because you’re part time.
I went part time in April,and I get the same benefits as every one else…just in proportion to the hours I work.
Sick pay,rising holiday entitlement overtime after 19.2 and proper Sunday rate.
Quite. Basically what I told them. Am checking my situation regarding Overtime at present but that is ongoing and has yet to be resolved!
commonrail:
Might be worth browsing over acas website before any new contacts are signed.
So far they seem to have forgotten about a “new” contract. So I am just not working Mondays. However I am going to contact my union to get their advice. Regards and thanks
) and came upon this thread. Piqued my interest cos a couple of months ago went 4 days and not regretting it.
