The new world of work...

[redsturgeon]

for my son. He has finished his A levels and is now waiting to take up his golf scholarship in the USA starting next August.

It is over 25 years since I worked for anyone (except Mrs RS) so his insights into the way it is for him and is friends is quite illuminating.

He feels lucky because he has a job with Tescos, he is a "personal shopper", I had thought they were people who went shopping in Bond street for Russian oligarchs but it seems they are the people who fill your order when you shop online for your groceries too. He feels lucky because he is comparing his experience to his friends.

He went for his 8 hour induction day and they told him up front that this was fully paid, no surprise for me but for him he is used to his mates having "training days" or even "training weeks" that are totally unpaid. He had one friend who had this with Subway and then after he went on a two week (unpaid} holiday he was told he would have to do an unpaid refresher "training" day on his return...just a scam really.

Then there is his mate who works in a kitchen for a small independent restaurant, zero hours contract, he is never sure when he will be required for work, he does not know if or when he will get any holiday pay and his boss does "fun" things like keeping all doors and windows shut in the kitchen on the hottest days of the year if he thinks anyone has come into work with a hangover.

He has another friend who has taken up vaping, this guy is very health conscious so I was surprised when I heard this but my son told me that it was the only way he could get a break during his shift...by becoming a smoker!

I feel lucky not to have to work for anyone else.

John

[bungeejumper]

Huh, my first summer job after A levels was in a home counties builders' yard, where I was very possibly the only person there who still possessed a full set of fingers. During those partcular months, the place was dominated by a pair of burly Belfast prods who would beat the crap out of anyone they suspected of being catholic. The fact that they were both medical students did not fill me with great optimism about the future of the province.

I had more fun at the local waterworks, where my mates and I were employed to paint a wall at a pumping station - for two months! Nobody ever came to see how we were getting on, so we picnicked on the flat roof and chatted about rock music, as you do.

But by far the most fun was at the sewage farm, where I was employed to mow the grass. And nobody official ever came to check up on me, for some curious reason . I did, however, get pints of beer bought for me whenever I wrecked a lawnmower in the wet grass, something which I did quite frequently.

The reason? In summer, the board would order all the below-ground sewer operatives above ground, where they would be set to work on gardening and landscaping duties. They moaned, they grumbled, they swore about being called away from their usual invisible duties underground when they felt they ought to be playing cards instead. Every act of accidental sabotage on my part was welcomed with roars of approval. "The people versus the elite" isn't such a new idea as you might have supposed.

BJ

[redsturgeon]

My first summer job after A levels was working in a frozen food factory. There was a scruffy sweary Irish chap there at the time who seem to spend most of his time telling us how he hated Mondays and that we were all caught in a rat trap of boring mindless work.

I wonder sometimes whatever became of him.

John

[seagles]

My first "job" was a fill-in as my apprenticeship did not start until the end of the year. Worked as a caterer at Wellcome foundation, meant making all the sandwiches and rolls, delivering them to the various canteens spread around the site, then serving in one of them before going to the canteen to clear the tables (yes before you were expected to do it yourselves). One day the "driver" was sick and the boss asked me if I could drive the van and deliver the rolls and sandwiches. I did the route and on return he said how old are you, 16, no-one asked if I could "legally" drive just could I drive..... I earned more as a caterer than I did as an apprentice...... They offered to keep me on and train me as a catering manager, must have impressed them.

[swill453]

I wonder sometimes whatever became of him.

Still looking after number one I guess.

Scott.

[tjh290633]

My first full time occupation was doing my National Service, the first 15 months of which involved learning to fly. Most of the last 9 months was spent helping to look after the married quarters, getting ready for the Coronation Cocktail Party, and running an ATC/CCF summer camp.

After that, while at university, my summer vacations were spent bus conducting, after I had done my 2 weeks reserve service. I became a Fighter Controller during the 4 years.

The other occupation was delivering the Christmas post, up to and including Christmas Day. My grandmother was about half way around my walk, so a good breakfast was assured.

All of it was enjoyable, except for the spin in a Meteor jet, which nearly led to an early demise.

TJH

[bungeejumper]

The other occupation was delivering the Christmas post, up to and including Christmas Day. My grandmother was about half way around my walk, so a good breakfast was assured.

I had a different kind of offer during one year's Christmas post round. I turned up at a house with a parcel, and the door was opened by a young woman in a baby doll nightdress, who invited me in for what she called "a little winter warmer".... Just like in a soft-porn movie, but oh heck, this was happening in real life.

I spluttered. I went very red. Then I wondered whether the GPO would notice if I was late back from my round?

And then I reflected that my auntie lived in the house directly across the road, and she was probably standing there at the window at that very moment, waiting for her post. Which rather put an end to any post that might have been awaiting delivery in my sack.

Damn!!!!!

BJ

[ReformedCharacter]

And then I reflected that my auntie lived in the house directly across the road...

Damn!!!!!

BJ

That's what I call a very disappointing end to a story

RC

[stewamax]

"a little winter warmer"

The hospitable lady was only offering you a little stiffener perhaps?