Discussion
MitchyRS said:
Dean has made a few valid points to be fair although I will disagree with him on one point, the vast majority of folk working offshore are not educated, a fair good few wouldn't be able to tell you the square root of 9 if you asked them. Some are educated, most are not.
You ever talked to an offshore scaff or painter? .
I still do the odd trip offshore when I am forced to do (10-15 days a year) but now work onshore in what I regard is a better position with more time off and a similar salary. I work Mon-Thurs in Dyce, 07:00-16:30 and have Fri/Sat/Sun off every week. I am always out the door at 16:15-16:30 due to the hectic traffic in Dyce and never work extra so for those that say onshore folk do way more than 37.5hr weeks, nope, certainly not the case in my company. I'm mid-senior management level too and everyone has a relaxed attitude to timings. If something is urgent and needs addressing on my commute home via hands free or even at home, night, weekends, I get the time back plus double rate overtime. People that work more than their contracted hours for no extra pay are mugs in my opinion, they should not do it. Out of the year including my holiday entitlement, I am in the office 178 days per year and at home 187 days a year. (178 days x 9hrs = 1602hrs per year) - I guess if you take my 9.5hr day including my half hour lunch break then its (178 x 9.5hrs = 1691hrs) - Commuting wise, 45mins each day = 133hrs a year over 178 days.
When I worked offshore on a 3:3, I would do around 188 days a year on average with delays. I did not have a big commute but some others did, often arriving in Aberdeen the night before for an early check in after a 6hr train journey so offshore workers do not escape commuting times either. The time you leave your front door to the time you get in that rig is commuting time, it could be 24hrs or even more in some cases just to get there.
188 days at 12hrs = 2256hrs on shift, and then obviously the other 12hrs have to be accounted for too as you are still at work and restricted (+2256hrs)
When you sit down and look at the figures, offshore workers are literally spending more than half of their lives at work. When they do get home, a third or more of that is spent sleeping and the other 2/3 is their own free time to do as they please. Lets be honest, when you do get home for 2-3 weeks at a time, boredom soon kicks in, kids at school, missus at work, mates at work, there's a lot of time spent just waiting around watching shi*e on the box until the weekends and then you get a bit of a life with the kids, wife, friends.
You miss practically everything, Christmas, birthdays, weddings, funerals, stag parties, childrens plays, football games and presentations etc etc.
It took me nearly 7yrs to realise all that above, I was working offshore for the money and the time off but when I sat down and thought about it, there's far more to life than living to work, rather than working to live. I have to literally be forced now to spend any more hours offshore away from normality.
Saying all that, I was lucky that I was in the right place at the right time and found a great position onshore that offered that, some people have no choice based on where they come from and the opportunities that are on their doorsteps. I mean, where do you find a £50k salary in Middlesbrough when you don't even know the square root of 9
Some fair comments and your point that after 7 years you realised taht the offshore life wasnt for you is valid as each person has to decide what he / she wants to do. You ever talked to an offshore scaff or painter? .
I still do the odd trip offshore when I am forced to do (10-15 days a year) but now work onshore in what I regard is a better position with more time off and a similar salary. I work Mon-Thurs in Dyce, 07:00-16:30 and have Fri/Sat/Sun off every week. I am always out the door at 16:15-16:30 due to the hectic traffic in Dyce and never work extra so for those that say onshore folk do way more than 37.5hr weeks, nope, certainly not the case in my company. I'm mid-senior management level too and everyone has a relaxed attitude to timings. If something is urgent and needs addressing on my commute home via hands free or even at home, night, weekends, I get the time back plus double rate overtime. People that work more than their contracted hours for no extra pay are mugs in my opinion, they should not do it. Out of the year including my holiday entitlement, I am in the office 178 days per year and at home 187 days a year. (178 days x 9hrs = 1602hrs per year) - I guess if you take my 9.5hr day including my half hour lunch break then its (178 x 9.5hrs = 1691hrs) - Commuting wise, 45mins each day = 133hrs a year over 178 days.
When I worked offshore on a 3:3, I would do around 188 days a year on average with delays. I did not have a big commute but some others did, often arriving in Aberdeen the night before for an early check in after a 6hr train journey so offshore workers do not escape commuting times either. The time you leave your front door to the time you get in that rig is commuting time, it could be 24hrs or even more in some cases just to get there.
188 days at 12hrs = 2256hrs on shift, and then obviously the other 12hrs have to be accounted for too as you are still at work and restricted (+2256hrs)
When you sit down and look at the figures, offshore workers are literally spending more than half of their lives at work. When they do get home, a third or more of that is spent sleeping and the other 2/3 is their own free time to do as they please. Lets be honest, when you do get home for 2-3 weeks at a time, boredom soon kicks in, kids at school, missus at work, mates at work, there's a lot of time spent just waiting around watching shi*e on the box until the weekends and then you get a bit of a life with the kids, wife, friends.
You miss practically everything, Christmas, birthdays, weddings, funerals, stag parties, childrens plays, football games and presentations etc etc.
It took me nearly 7yrs to realise all that above, I was working offshore for the money and the time off but when I sat down and thought about it, there's far more to life than living to work, rather than working to live. I have to literally be forced now to spend any more hours offshore away from normality.
Saying all that, I was lucky that I was in the right place at the right time and found a great position onshore that offered that, some people have no choice based on where they come from and the opportunities that are on their doorsteps. I mean, where do you find a £50k salary in Middlesbrough when you don't even know the square root of 9
Edited by MitchyRS on Thursday 2nd July 09:53
Bit harsh on offshore workers, a lot of bright people offshore who didn't maybe excel at school and go onto university but given the opportunity have pushed themselves and done very well out of the industry................and a lot of not so bright people who are happy with what they do and a few people who moan about everything and cant see the big picture, same in all areas and walks of life though.
There are a lot more disciplines offshore that painters and scaffolders...................so your only focusing on a small part of the industry on a whole.
Dont know what / who you work for but having every Friday off is certainly a bonus and not something you see company's offering. For a mid management position it is also quite strange that you are paid hourly, most are salaried positions. Also great that you get paid for answering the phone on your commute home, sounds like you have landed on your feet with that company.
Glad you have done well and you have grasped the opportunity, certainly been / is an industry that if you have the correct attitude and work ethic you can do very well out of it.
Or try what I did. Worked offshore, realised it was a short term thing for me, didn't want to spunk my time off getting endlessly pissed, daytime TV, competition level w
king etc. so went and enrolled at a Uni, completed my degree and MSc in my off time and used the quals to Git Tae F ck away from the whining, whinging and dreariness of offshore and the majority of people! (Some were great guys, it has to be said). I'm now doing what I love, travelling and managing cutting-edge technology projects AND being paid more than I'd get as an offshore 'number'. Some people invest in their futures.
I've done what Dean is doing and the choices were obvious to me. Additionally, I've seen many colleagues lose their jobs recently. Colleagues who would have been quite happy to keep their jobs if it meant going 'equal time'!
king etc. so went and enrolled at a Uni, completed my degree and MSc in my off time and used the quals to Git Tae F ck away from the whining, whinging and dreariness of offshore and the majority of people! (Some were great guys, it has to be said). I'm now doing what I love, travelling and managing cutting-edge technology projects AND being paid more than I'd get as an offshore 'number'. Some people invest in their futures.I've done what Dean is doing and the choices were obvious to me. Additionally, I've seen many colleagues lose their jobs recently. Colleagues who would have been quite happy to keep their jobs if it meant going 'equal time'!
MitchyRS said:
I did not have a big commute but some others did, often arriving in Aberdeen the night before for an early check in after a 6hr train journey so offshore workers do not escape commuting times either. The time you leave your front door to the time you get in that rig is commuting time, it could be 24hrs or even more in some cases just to get there.
The thing is that is ignoring that it is your own choice to have that commute. If they were working onshore there is no possibility that they could live in that location. So it's actually complaining about a benefit. You can live where you choose, rather than sitting in Aberdeen where you would have to work if you had a normal job. If it's so bad then move to Aberdeen and have an hour commute anyway, only it's once there and back every few weeks (ignoring repeat journeys when helicopter is postponed to the next day).Edited by MitchyRS on Thursday 2nd July 09:53
Dean-k68wf said:
Errr, Actually YES, my mortgage provider is forcing me to do this job, I can't afford my mortgage without a job a f*****g bellend....
So much narrow-mindedness in this thread.
Again some utter drivel leaving peoples mouths.
People say....why dont u go onshore if its that bad? I've never once said it's unbearable. the fact is, the wages and the time off is what makes this job worth it. Which is why I do it. If it goes 3/3 I will certainly be looking for an ONshore Job. OR at least a job that offers more time off than at work.
Why do u all think that we don't deserve the same rights as yourselves? Why do u think YOU deserve MORE time off than us? Who says that largely the offshore workforce are 'mongs' and unqualified? Your SPEAKING OUT OF YOUR ARSE. Modern apprenticeships train to DEGREE LEVEL for just a tech role....shows what u actually know doesn't it? The older folk, fair enough, probably haven't had the same level of training and go off their experience....but thats the same with most old timers in their jobs. I bet theres more training involved with these types of jobs than 70% of jobs going.
AND DON'T BE SO F*****G NIAVE TO SAY 'OH YOU HAVE TO WORK 3/3 OR THE INDUSTRY WILL GO BUST'. ARE YOU REALLY THAT STUPID!?!?!?!?!?!?!? Do u really think that this is gonna be the make or break of a company!? REALLY?! Do you realise that 'making a loss' in most cases means 'MAKING LESS PROFIT THAN WHAT WAS FORECAST IN THE BUSINESS PLAN' .....THEY'RE STILL MAKING PROFIT.
This downturn in the oil price is just being used as an excuse to save even more money, shaft the workforce, and make yet EVEN MORE PROFIT.....when will people realise that these major companies ONLY CARE ABOUT PROFIT!!!!
I FEEL WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING, and definitely there are people worse off than me, i know that i'm not stupid. But it doesn't mean people shouldn't stand up for their rights.
IF EVERYONE BOWED DOWN TO EVERY COMPANIES DEMAND WE'D BE BACK INTO SLAVE LABOUR!
Nope, your mortage is not forcing you to - you just choose to want to keep the same lifestyle with that mortage if you continue with it.So much narrow-mindedness in this thread.
Again some utter drivel leaving peoples mouths.
People say....why dont u go onshore if its that bad? I've never once said it's unbearable. the fact is, the wages and the time off is what makes this job worth it. Which is why I do it. If it goes 3/3 I will certainly be looking for an ONshore Job. OR at least a job that offers more time off than at work.
Why do u all think that we don't deserve the same rights as yourselves? Why do u think YOU deserve MORE time off than us? Who says that largely the offshore workforce are 'mongs' and unqualified? Your SPEAKING OUT OF YOUR ARSE. Modern apprenticeships train to DEGREE LEVEL for just a tech role....shows what u actually know doesn't it? The older folk, fair enough, probably haven't had the same level of training and go off their experience....but thats the same with most old timers in their jobs. I bet theres more training involved with these types of jobs than 70% of jobs going.
AND DON'T BE SO F*****G NIAVE TO SAY 'OH YOU HAVE TO WORK 3/3 OR THE INDUSTRY WILL GO BUST'. ARE YOU REALLY THAT STUPID!?!?!?!?!?!?!? Do u really think that this is gonna be the make or break of a company!? REALLY?! Do you realise that 'making a loss' in most cases means 'MAKING LESS PROFIT THAN WHAT WAS FORECAST IN THE BUSINESS PLAN' .....THEY'RE STILL MAKING PROFIT.
This downturn in the oil price is just being used as an excuse to save even more money, shaft the workforce, and make yet EVEN MORE PROFIT.....when will people realise that these major companies ONLY CARE ABOUT PROFIT!!!!
I FEEL WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING, and definitely there are people worse off than me, i know that i'm not stupid. But it doesn't mean people shouldn't stand up for their rights.
IF EVERYONE BOWED DOWN TO EVERY COMPANIES DEMAND WE'D BE BACK INTO SLAVE LABOUR!
Edited by Dean-k68wf on Wednesday 1st July 19:38
Don't think anyone said offshore workers were mongs. However they tend to have had their training paid for by the company - so effectively 4-5 years of debt you avoid if studying by yourself at university if it is to a degree level (rather you earn money during that time). Not complaining about this at all, but it is an extra benefit you get by working offshore.
However speaking about mongs... it is ironic that after complaining about it you make the comments about making a loss. If a company says it is making a loss it does mean it is losing money, not that profits are reduced. It's a very strict definition. 'MAKING LESS PROFIT THAN WHAT WAS FORECAST IN THE BUSINESS PLAN' - what you described is reduced profit. Plus many companies ARE making a loss (as in spending more than they make so making 0 profit).
The other thing you are forgetting is those companies may be making a profit, however for some of them none of that profit comes from the North Sea. So why should they use some of the profits from somewhere else to make a loss in the North Sea? In your personal life would you be happy to be making a big loss on things just because you're overall gaining money? Or would you just stop the thing losing you money/ change it so it makes you money?
"Why do u all think that we don't deserve the same rights as yourselves? Why do u think YOU deserve MORE time off than us?". Well, look at a lot (not all) of the offshore jobs. Take a cook for example. Maybe earning 23k onshore, perhaps double that offshore. You can answer your question with "Why do YOU deserve MORE money than the onshore person for the same amount of time worked?" Not to mention a lot of onshore cooks work 10-12 hour shifts anyway, so it's not like they have a 37.5 hr week.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining about my choices or offshore workers, but your arguments are very biased.
tighnamara said:
Some fair comments and your point that after 7 years you realised taht the offshore life wasnt for you is valid as each person has to decide what he / she wants to do.
Bit harsh on offshore workers, a lot of bright people offshore who didn't maybe excel at school and go onto university but given the opportunity have pushed themselves and done very well out of the industry................and a lot of not so bright people who are happy with what they do and a few people who moan about everything and cant see the big picture, same in all areas and walks of life though.
There are a lot more disciplines offshore that painters and scaffolders...................so your only focusing on a small part of the industry on a whole.
Dont know what / who you work for but having every Friday off is certainly a bonus and not something you see company's offering. For a mid management position it is also quite strange that you are paid hourly, most are salaried positions. Also great that you get paid for answering the phone on your commute home, sounds like you have landed on your feet with that company.
Glad you have done well and you have grasped the opportunity, certainly been / is an industry that if you have the correct attitude and work ethic you can do very well out of it.
My post was a little tongue n cheek and a generalisation. Bit harsh on offshore workers, a lot of bright people offshore who didn't maybe excel at school and go onto university but given the opportunity have pushed themselves and done very well out of the industry................and a lot of not so bright people who are happy with what they do and a few people who moan about everything and cant see the big picture, same in all areas and walks of life though.
There are a lot more disciplines offshore that painters and scaffolders...................so your only focusing on a small part of the industry on a whole.
Dont know what / who you work for but having every Friday off is certainly a bonus and not something you see company's offering. For a mid management position it is also quite strange that you are paid hourly, most are salaried positions. Also great that you get paid for answering the phone on your commute home, sounds like you have landed on your feet with that company.
Glad you have done well and you have grasped the opportunity, certainly been / is an industry that if you have the correct attitude and work ethic you can do very well out of it.
Of course, there are some very clever people working offshore too, many straight out of university with degrees coming out their eyes. There's lots of ex military in the industry with good engineering experience and work ethics too. I suppose the point I was making is you don't need to be academically gifted to get offshore. It's like no other industry, you can start off as a roustabout without having an education, work your way up to driller/TP/OIM etc and earn 6 figures if you have the drive to better yourself and work your way up.
I am salaried but claim overtime at double time of my worked out hourly rate. (Yearly wage/52/36) - Instead of working 36hrs over 5 days, I do it over 4 days, we get the option, believe it or not, some actually prefer the 5 day weeks with shorter working days (Usually for childcare reasons, school runs etc). The shifts are flexible so I have Mon-Thurs, another guy will have Tues-Fri, Wed-Sat etc, it works well, keeps everyone happy.
I am from the local area though so the move back to onshore life has worked out well. I doubt I'd relocate to Aberdeen just for a job though if I were from another part of the country so I do realise that getting back to a good position onshore may not be feasible for some. I see there is a lot of uproar at the moment with reference to the 2/3 and 3/3 but sadly I don't think the 2/3 guys have a leg to stand on, the market is saturated, the oil companies know this and will just replace you with 1 of the hundreds of others that are desperate to get a start offshore.
Edited by MitchyRS on Thursday 2nd July 14:13
NRS said:
MitchyRS said:
I did not have a big commute but some others did, often arriving in Aberdeen the night before for an early check in after a 6hr train journey so offshore workers do not escape commuting times either. The time you leave your front door to the time you get in that rig is commuting time, it could be 24hrs or even more in some cases just to get there.
The thing is that is ignoring that it is your own choice to have that commute. If they were working onshore there is no possibility that they could live in that location. So it's actually complaining about a benefit. You can live where you choose, rather than sitting in Aberdeen where you would have to work if you had a normal job. If it's so bad then move to Aberdeen and have an hour commute anyway, only it's once there and back every few weeks (ignoring repeat journeys when helicopter is postponed to the next day).Edited by MitchyRS on Thursday 2nd July 09:53
king bh and moan about it, I enjoy the quality of life it affords me in Edinburgh.This sense of entitlement that a lot of the offshore guys have is a real pisser. If it wasn't for the luck of falling into the offshore job, many, many would be joiners, plumbers, farmhands, road sweepers on s
t wages (comparatively) or the dole.As to degree qualified as an Operator, Jim Royle said it best: "My Aarse!"
You got lucky, now's YOUR time, grow up!
MitchyRS said:
Dean has made a few valid points to be fair although I will disagree with him on one point, the vast majority of folk working offshore are not educated, a fair good few wouldn't be able to tell you the square root of 9 if you asked them. Some are educated, most are not.
You ever talked to an offshore scaff or painter? .
I still do the odd trip offshore when I am forced to do (10-15 days a year) but now work onshore in what I regard is a better position with more time off and a similar salary. I work Mon-Thurs in Dyce, 07:00-16:30 and have Fri/Sat/Sun off every week. I am always out the door at 16:15-16:30 due to the hectic traffic in Dyce and never work extra so for those that say onshore folk do way more than 37.5hr weeks, nope, certainly not the case in my company. I'm mid-senior management level too and everyone has a relaxed attitude to timings. If something is urgent and needs addressing on my commute home via hands free or even at home, night, weekends, I get the time back plus double rate overtime. People that work more than their contracted hours for no extra pay are mugs in my opinion, they should not do it. Out of the year including my holiday entitlement, I am in the office 178 days per year and at home 187 days a year. (178 days x 9hrs = 1602hrs per year) - I guess if you take my 9.5hr day including my half hour lunch break then its (178 x 9.5hrs = 1691hrs) - Commuting wise, 45mins each day = 133hrs a year over 178 days.
When I worked offshore on a 3:3, I would do around 188 days a year on average with delays. I did not have a big commute but some others did, often arriving in Aberdeen the night before for an early check in after a 6hr train journey so offshore workers do not escape commuting times either. The time you leave your front door to the time you get in that rig is commuting time, it could be 24hrs or even more in some cases just to get there.
188 days at 12hrs = 2256hrs on shift, and then obviously the other 12hrs have to be accounted for too as you are still at work and restricted (+2256hrs)
When you sit down and look at the figures, offshore workers are literally spending more than half of their lives at work. When they do get home, a third or more of that is spent sleeping and the other 2/3 is their own free time to do as they please. Lets be honest, when you do get home for 2-3 weeks at a time, boredom soon kicks in, kids at school, missus at work, mates at work, there's a lot of time spent just waiting around watching shi*e on the box until the weekends and then you get a bit of a life with the kids, wife, friends.
You miss practically everything, Christmas, birthdays, weddings, funerals, stag parties, childrens plays, football games and presentations etc etc.
It took me nearly 7yrs to realise all that above, I was working offshore for the money and the time off but when I sat down and thought about it, there's far more to life than living to work, rather than working to live. I have to literally be forced now to spend any more hours offshore away from normality.
Saying all that, I was lucky that I was in the right place at the right time and found a great position onshore that offered that, some people have no choice based on where they come from and the opportunities that are on their doorsteps. I mean, where do you find a £50k salary in Middlesbrough when you don't even know the square root of 9
THANKYOU! Someone without their head in the clouds that understands the REAL situation. Summed it perfectly. It's no coincidence that its another offshore worker than understands how it really is!!You ever talked to an offshore scaff or painter? .
I still do the odd trip offshore when I am forced to do (10-15 days a year) but now work onshore in what I regard is a better position with more time off and a similar salary. I work Mon-Thurs in Dyce, 07:00-16:30 and have Fri/Sat/Sun off every week. I am always out the door at 16:15-16:30 due to the hectic traffic in Dyce and never work extra so for those that say onshore folk do way more than 37.5hr weeks, nope, certainly not the case in my company. I'm mid-senior management level too and everyone has a relaxed attitude to timings. If something is urgent and needs addressing on my commute home via hands free or even at home, night, weekends, I get the time back plus double rate overtime. People that work more than their contracted hours for no extra pay are mugs in my opinion, they should not do it. Out of the year including my holiday entitlement, I am in the office 178 days per year and at home 187 days a year. (178 days x 9hrs = 1602hrs per year) - I guess if you take my 9.5hr day including my half hour lunch break then its (178 x 9.5hrs = 1691hrs) - Commuting wise, 45mins each day = 133hrs a year over 178 days.
When I worked offshore on a 3:3, I would do around 188 days a year on average with delays. I did not have a big commute but some others did, often arriving in Aberdeen the night before for an early check in after a 6hr train journey so offshore workers do not escape commuting times either. The time you leave your front door to the time you get in that rig is commuting time, it could be 24hrs or even more in some cases just to get there.
188 days at 12hrs = 2256hrs on shift, and then obviously the other 12hrs have to be accounted for too as you are still at work and restricted (+2256hrs)
When you sit down and look at the figures, offshore workers are literally spending more than half of their lives at work. When they do get home, a third or more of that is spent sleeping and the other 2/3 is their own free time to do as they please. Lets be honest, when you do get home for 2-3 weeks at a time, boredom soon kicks in, kids at school, missus at work, mates at work, there's a lot of time spent just waiting around watching shi*e on the box until the weekends and then you get a bit of a life with the kids, wife, friends.
You miss practically everything, Christmas, birthdays, weddings, funerals, stag parties, childrens plays, football games and presentations etc etc.
It took me nearly 7yrs to realise all that above, I was working offshore for the money and the time off but when I sat down and thought about it, there's far more to life than living to work, rather than working to live. I have to literally be forced now to spend any more hours offshore away from normality.
Saying all that, I was lucky that I was in the right place at the right time and found a great position onshore that offered that, some people have no choice based on where they come from and the opportunities that are on their doorsteps. I mean, where do you find a £50k salary in Middlesbrough when you don't even know the square root of 9
Edited by MitchyRS on Thursday 2nd July 09:53
The only reason offshore is worth it is the pay and the time off.....and even then I question myself all the time. Take away the time off and all you have left is the money, and there IS more to life than money...I'd sooner take a 10-20% paycut than go 3/3.
On the main topic of the thread though...Latest I've heard today is equal time rota on a 3 and 3 basis with 2weeks paid holiday per year and the other 2weeks your entitled to can be taken without pay, or you can be paid 2weeks extra if you dont take the holiday....so equivalent to 1months salary or there abouts on top of your current salary. This equals 168days offshore a year.
So this is what I told the missus that this is likely the case and already we've had an small argument and she's been sobbing down the phone and practically begged me to work onshore. She simply wont put up with raising a baby/child on her own for 21days at a time....and quite rightly so tbh :/
EDIT TO SAY: Haha, course i've worked with scaffs, and I know what you mean. But they don't get the time off OR the same wages.....they work 2 and 2 and get substantially less because they don't need the same training/qualifications...they still get an awesome wage for their level of skill which is the trade off I suppose. They're also not exposed to as many risks (providing they do their job properly) or have anywhere near the responsibility of those in tech roles?
I never said any of us have degrees...I said they get trained @ degree LEVEL. All apprentices now have to get a HNC to complete an apprenticeship. This includes Engineering maths and science AT DEGREE LEVEL. A HNC is equivalent to the first year of a degree....
Edited by Dean-k68wf on Friday 3rd July 01:20
jshell said:
You got lucky, now's YOUR time, grow up!
THIS ^ is exactly the problem i'm talking about. Onshore folk think we're all 'LUCKY'.....how can u possibly come to that conclusion. I served my time, got the relevant qualifacations, paid thousands for the courses I needed to get offshore, went to an interview and got the job. I done what i needed to do...i didn't buy a raffle ticket and won a job offshore. Get a grip man!The facts are there...we work the same amount of hours as an average job on the beach and spend 2x as much time at work. We have a lower life expectancy, have a much riskier job than most, long stints away from family.....ya know there is a reason offshore workers get good salaries...I know some1 is gonna pull the military job card, which I agree with, its even worse for them which is why I wouldn't even dream of considering a job like that!
unfortunately its true though, the market is saturated, which is why it will end up 3/3 and everyone will have to deal with it or get out, thats the worst thing about it. It will be filled with the numb nuts that are dying to get offshore and then they'll also turn into the 'whingey moaning pricks' that we supposedly are because they'll realise its not the be all and end all...
Dean-k68wf said:
THANKYOU! Someone without their head in the clouds that understands the REAL situation. Summed it perfectly. It's no coincidence that its another offshore worker than understands how it really is!!
The only reason offshore is worth it is the pay and the time off.....and even then I question myself all the time. Take away the time off and all you have left is the money, and there IS more to life than money...I'd sooner take a 10-20% paycut than go 3/3.
I never said any of us have degrees...I said they get trained @ degree LEVEL. All apprentices now have to get a HNC to complete an apprenticeship. This includes Engineering maths and science AT DEGREE LEVEL. A HNC is equivalent to the first year of a degree....
The REAL situation... The only reason offshore is worth it is the pay and the time off.....and even then I question myself all the time. Take away the time off and all you have left is the money, and there IS more to life than money...I'd sooner take a 10-20% paycut than go 3/3.
I never said any of us have degrees...I said they get trained @ degree LEVEL. All apprentices now have to get a HNC to complete an apprenticeship. This includes Engineering maths and science AT DEGREE LEVEL. A HNC is equivalent to the first year of a degree....
So you're complaining because you have the choice between time or money... Yet it is YOUR choice. You can choose the money. If you don't think it's worth it then choose the time onshore. It's as simple as that. Why should a company pay extra for you to get "double" benefits (time and money) when they don't have to?
Would you pay lots of money extra to someone working on your house so they could take more time off/ have a better salary? If not then why should the companies?
So not a degree level, but part of a degree...
You seem to be making it a "them" versus "us" offshore people. However the onshore people there are aware of a lot of the offshore stuff. They've done stints there/ worked there many years. However they choose that the money/time off wasn't worth it. They have the same choice as you, they just thought the arguments for working offshore weren't worth it for them personally. However they are losing out on lots of stuff too - bonuses are small or non-existent, salaries are below inflation (at least at some places), pressure to work overtime for free, changing pension scheme etc. Heard lots of whinging about that?
To summarise this thread:-
some core crew offshore workers on 2/3 or with some paid holidays allowed into their rota feel hard done by with the possibility/probability of a forced move to equal time and the subsequent fact they may be working 5 extra weeks offshore without any uplift in salary.
some offshore workers who work equal time or ad hoc positions - who don't actually know how much they will be working in a year, think its all okay and you should just bend over and take it or stop whinging about it. A jobs a job at the end of the day.
A scattering of onshore workers who maybe used to work offshore, really would like all that time at home but couldn't stick working offshore due to missing family etc are quite pleased that those that stuck it out and won their holidays are now losing them.(it makes the decision to work in the office a bit more palatable)
A scattering of onshore workers who most likely wouldn't last a trip offshore who simply think themselves 'better' than offshore workers , and really would like to see the offshore guys get humped on their holidays.
thats the way it looks to me!
(counting down the months to retirement and then I'm ooot)
ps Jshell - I personally know a few degree qualified production ops. - unfortunately we also have the mates of mates scenario and have butchers, bakers and candlestick makers , the thing is some of them are good at the job and some are ste - same everywhere I'd say. It certainly happens in my organisation onshore too.
some core crew offshore workers on 2/3 or with some paid holidays allowed into their rota feel hard done by with the possibility/probability of a forced move to equal time and the subsequent fact they may be working 5 extra weeks offshore without any uplift in salary.
some offshore workers who work equal time or ad hoc positions - who don't actually know how much they will be working in a year, think its all okay and you should just bend over and take it or stop whinging about it. A jobs a job at the end of the day.
A scattering of onshore workers who maybe used to work offshore, really would like all that time at home but couldn't stick working offshore due to missing family etc are quite pleased that those that stuck it out and won their holidays are now losing them.(it makes the decision to work in the office a bit more palatable)
A scattering of onshore workers who most likely wouldn't last a trip offshore who simply think themselves 'better' than offshore workers , and really would like to see the offshore guys get humped on their holidays.
thats the way it looks to me!
(counting down the months to retirement and then I'm ooot)
ps Jshell - I personally know a few degree qualified production ops. - unfortunately we also have the mates of mates scenario and have butchers, bakers and candlestick makers , the thing is some of them are good at the job and some are s
te - same everywhere I'd say. It certainly happens in my organisation onshore too.Edited by dingg on Friday 3rd July 08:42
Edited by dingg on Friday 3rd July 09:05
dingg said:
To summarise this thread:-
some core crew offshore workers on 2/3 or with some paid holidays allowed into their rota feel hard done by with the possibility/probability of a forced move to equal time and the subsequent fact they may be working 5 extra weeks offshore without any uplift in salary.
some offshore workers who work equal time or ad hoc positions - who don't actually know how much they will be working in a year, think its all okay and you should just bend over and take it or stop whinging about it. A jobs a job at the end of the day.
A scattering of onshore workers who maybe used to work offshore, really would like all that time at home but couldn't stick working offshore due to missing family etc are quite pleased that those that stuck it out and won their holidays are now losing them.(it makes the decision to work in the office a bit more palatable)
A scattering of onshore workers who most likely wouldn't last a trip offshore who simply think themselves 'better' than offshore workers , and really would like to see the offshore guys get humped on their holidays.
thats the way it looks to me!
(counting down the months to retirement and then I'm ooot)
Wrong about the onshore workers. Why would they be happy that other people are losing out (when it doesn't gain them any benefit)? You say it makes working onshore more palatable - but if people are working there then surely it's because they prefer it, and thus it's not "unpalatable" before? Your comment seems to come from a "onshore are jealous of us offshore guys" perspective, which isn't really true since if they were they'd just get a job working offshore instead. And in regards to the last point - I don't think anyone regards themselves as better. If onshore people have it so good then work onshore, if offshore people have it so good then work offshore. Don't just complain about the other "side". It's just we're all getting humped in different ways, but there doesn't seem to be as much complaining from the onshore people saying it should carry on as before.some core crew offshore workers on 2/3 or with some paid holidays allowed into their rota feel hard done by with the possibility/probability of a forced move to equal time and the subsequent fact they may be working 5 extra weeks offshore without any uplift in salary.
some offshore workers who work equal time or ad hoc positions - who don't actually know how much they will be working in a year, think its all okay and you should just bend over and take it or stop whinging about it. A jobs a job at the end of the day.
A scattering of onshore workers who maybe used to work offshore, really would like all that time at home but couldn't stick working offshore due to missing family etc are quite pleased that those that stuck it out and won their holidays are now losing them.(it makes the decision to work in the office a bit more palatable)
A scattering of onshore workers who most likely wouldn't last a trip offshore who simply think themselves 'better' than offshore workers , and really would like to see the offshore guys get humped on their holidays.
thats the way it looks to me!
(counting down the months to retirement and then I'm ooot)
I still haven't seen any argument to say why a company should pay more/ offer more time off than they need to (or any examples of people doing that in their personal life). Anyone going to respond to it?
NRS said:
I still haven't seen any argument to say why a company should pay more/ offer more time off than they need to (or any examples of people doing that in their personal life). Anyone going to respond to it?
to retain/attract good people , to try to be the best in the business , and have terms and conditions that reflect this .I'm out of this thread now - got to do some work
jshell said:
I've done what Dean is doing and the choices were obvious to me. Additionally, I've seen many colleagues lose their jobs recently. Colleagues who would have been quite happy to keep their jobs if it meant going 'equal time'!
By going 'equal time' people are going to lose their jobs anyway, a whole crew will be out of work! I don't work offshore (and I've been hit with rate cuts onshore) but I can still sympathize with the situation.Dean-k68wf said:
jshell said:
You got lucky, now's YOUR time, grow up!
THIS ^ is exactly the problem i'm talking about. Onshore folk think we're all 'LUCKY'.....how can u possibly come to that conclusion. I served my time, got the relevant qualifacations, paid thousands for the courses I needed to get offshore, went to an interview and got the job. I done what i needed to do...i didn't buy a raffle ticket and won a job offshore. Get a grip man!The facts are there...we work the same amount of hours as an average job on the beach and spend 2x as much time at work. We have a lower life expectancy, have a much riskier job than most, long stints away from family.....ya know there is a reason offshore workers get good salaries...I know some1 is gonna pull the military job card, which I agree with, its even worse for them which is why I wouldn't even dream of considering a job like that!
unfortunately its true though, the market is saturated, which is why it will end up 3/3 and everyone will have to deal with it or get out, thats the worst thing about it. It will be filled with the numb nuts that are dying to get offshore and then they'll also turn into the 'whingey moaning pricks' that we supposedly are because they'll realise its not the be all and end all...
However, all good things do come to an end, and it'll be the same with the oil industry.
Nae point in moaning about it.
NRS said:
Wrong about the onshore workers. Why would they be happy that other people are losing out (when it doesn't gain them any benefit)? You say it makes working onshore more palatable - but if people are working there then surely it's because they prefer it, and thus it's not "unpalatable" before? Your comment seems to come from a "onshore are jealous of us offshore guys" perspective, which isn't really true since if they were they'd just get a job working offshore instead. And in regards to the last point - I don't think anyone regards themselves as better. If onshore people have it so good then work onshore, if offshore people have it so good then work offshore. Don't just complain about the other "side". It's just we're all getting humped in different ways, but there doesn't seem to be as much complaining from the onshore people saying it should carry on as before.
I still haven't seen any argument to say why a company should pay more/ offer more time off than they need to (or any examples of people doing that in their personal life). Anyone going to respond to it?
Haha,I still haven't seen any argument to say why a company should pay more/ offer more time off than they need to (or any examples of people doing that in their personal life). Anyone going to respond to it?
You've just shot yourself in the foot there and proved my point.
NOT ONCE have I said you lot have it better than us. I said 2/3 is FAIR as its same working hours as a 37.5 hour week. I said we spend 2x as long at work than you and miss alot in life but the trade off is good salaries and long stints off work also.
When I said this YOU LOT were the ones that said 'stop moaning and DEAL WITH IT'....and you think offshore workers have the bad mentalities and feel themselves are the victims. WELL judging from this comment is certainly sounds the other way round to me! I've notic
My argument all along has been that 3/3 isnt a fair rotation, expecting people to spend more than half of their working lives living on an oil rig and execting their families to go alone for long stints at a time.
Dean-k68wf said:
Haha,
NOT ONCE have I said you lot have it better than us. I said 2/3 is FAIR as its same working hours as a 37.5 hour week. I said we spend 2x as long at work than you and miss alot in life but the trade off is good salaries and long stints off work .
No, someone else did. Hope this is understood and doesn't result is some sort of autistic outburst like the rest of your posts.NOT ONCE have I said you lot have it better than us. I said 2/3 is FAIR as its same working hours as a 37.5 hour week. I said we spend 2x as long at work than you and miss alot in life but the trade off is good salaries and long stints off work .
I've never worked the North Sea but I have spent the last 17 years on rotation overseas where we tend to do 5/5 although I did do 8/4 and 6/3 when I was a trainee.
Most of the guys I work with are just grateful they still have a job just now. I get CV's in my email almost daily. A 2/3 schedule for any of them would be a pipe dream but it's generally the price we accept to pay for working overseas and making a reasonable wedge.
I hate to say it but I think a lot of the guys in the North Sea just have to accept there's going to be change or get out and move on. I doubt $100+ oil is coming back any time soon.
Most of the guys I work with are just grateful they still have a job just now. I get CV's in my email almost daily. A 2/3 schedule for any of them would be a pipe dream but it's generally the price we accept to pay for working overseas and making a reasonable wedge.
I hate to say it but I think a lot of the guys in the North Sea just have to accept there's going to be change or get out and move on. I doubt $100+ oil is coming back any time soon.
jock mcsporran said:
I've never worked the North Sea but I have spent the last 17 years on rotation overseas where we tend to do 5/5 although I did do 8/4 and 6/3 when I was a trainee.
Most of the guys I work with are just grateful they still have a job just now. I get CV's in my email almost daily. A 2/3 schedule for any of them would be a pipe dream but it's generally the price we accept to pay for working overseas and making a reasonable wedge.
I hate to say it but I think a lot of the guys in the North Sea just have to accept there's going to be change or get out and move on. I doubt $100+ oil is coming back any time soon.
Yeh but abroad is different....are you still talking about working on an oil rig? If so then fair do's. But from what I understand your talking about working onshore where you have MUCH better living standards and plenty more freedom, not to mention the £100k+ per year salaries. Thats your trade off.Most of the guys I work with are just grateful they still have a job just now. I get CV's in my email almost daily. A 2/3 schedule for any of them would be a pipe dream but it's generally the price we accept to pay for working overseas and making a reasonable wedge.
I hate to say it but I think a lot of the guys in the North Sea just have to accept there's going to be change or get out and move on. I doubt $100+ oil is coming back any time soon.
Our trade off was a reasonable amount of time off because we have zero freedom for 2weeks at a time....soon to be 3weeks at a time...and will end up having zero freedom more than half of our working lives...? I cannot understand why people think this is reasonable lol
its a different scenario altogether really...I can't imagine people doing 4/4 or 5/5 abroad ONSHORE would jump at the chance to do 2/3 on a rig and take probably a 40% paycut :/ ....if its tax free abroad its actually more like a 55 or 60% pay-cut to work offshore in the UK.
Like i say money isnt everything which is why I havent tried to find a job out there. I'd much rather have the time at home :/
Gassing Station | Scotland | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff