Some of you probably already know (I excitedly babbled on about it online to some people), but a week ago the team leader at the factory I work at mentioned the possibility of me being trained on a "reach" forklift and being given better pay (£1.30 extra). There's been no more mention of it, and I'm going to ask him about it tomorrow. I would have asked him today, since I think I know what may hold me back. There are no bus services that could get me there for the morning shift (6am til 2pm), and it's a two hour walk. I've done it once, and never again for this crap job . No problem, since I'm agency staff and we don't have to rotate shifts. I've insisted throughout my time with the company (except for that one time) that I cannot, will not do mornings. But for this forklift job, I'll probably have to do the rotating shift dance. The best thing for me to do would be to buy a bike. That would halve my journey time, if not quarter it. Like I said, I was going to talk to him about it today. Then a thought struck my mind. "Hey Mr Team Leader, about the forklift thing...mornings aren't a problem for me now, I can get a bike and cycle to work." "Well, why didn't you do that before when we asked you to work mornings all those times, you lazy ugly child?" "Umm...because I'd have had to buy a bike. On my wage, I'd have to save up for four weeks." "Why do you hate freedom, Power_13? You're fired." I've effectively kicked myself in the arse on this one. I can't not do mornings and still get the better job, but I can't do mornings without admitting that there's been a way for me to do morning shifts all along, I've just been too lazy/cheap to do it. So I turn to you people. The person who can tell me what to say tactfully, so I don't sound like an opportunistic miser (who hates freedom and probably kicks kittens off tall buildings for gags) will win...umm...I dunno, I'll figure something out. For all of you who are planning to reply saying "Just find a better job"...bugger off Feel free to add your own stories about work here. I'd add some funny work stories, but I don't have any.
Find a better job... (btw a fast walk is 4mph and an average cycling speed is 12mph so buying a bike would cut your journey time in at least three.)
Does sound like a corner you've painted yourself into. The following might be real, or just my imagination: You could wait for him to approach and ask you, accept with no explanation, none will be required, he knows it is natural for people to be more accomodating when there is more money involved. If he is interested in you as an employee he should ask, if by chance he is slack, ask away but the above should still apply.
It's four or five miles to the place I work, I wasn't really walking fast that morning (I kept on looking up at the stars, walking through dark areas they were really clear ). I shall have to ask away then . I'm a bit worried that I might have left it too late, or might appear uninterested. On the other hand, when he mentioned the possibility of me being trained, he had just given me a job I hated doing. So he might have just been trying to make me hate him less .
Ever thought about getting a cheap push bike and pedalling in??? Should only take twenty to thirty minutes at the most. ( do't forget to put lights on it!!)
I know the post is long, but please read all the way through I probably could sleep while working, it's that dull sometimes :&
i used to cycle 4.4 miles to work each day and it would only take me about 25 minutes.. get a bike and say it was a present...
Well, I had a talk with the team leader today. The good news : I didn't even have to mention being able to cycle. He's currently occupied with training other staff members on machines such as the Bulk Manrisers, but once that's taken care of I'll be put in for my forklift training The bad news : Just five minutes later, I was in the canteen and heard his phone go off. Crazy Frog ringtone. I am now honour bound to kill him and bury his body in a shallow grave (or maybe just hide it in Bulk, nobody would find it there). Could this affect my promotion?
Thanks Oh, and regarding the bike thing. Although there's being no mention of me being needed on mornings, I can claim that buying a bike is only worth my while if mornings were a regular thing (as they would be with shift rotation). My house doesn't have a shed, so I'd have to keep a bicycle in the house to keep it from getting stolen. Keeping the bike in the house would take up a bit of space, which is why I didn't want to get one for mornings before. I do have a shed, in fact we have two. But what the company doesn't know...won't hurt me
