Firms tighten belts!
Discussion
We've had recent announcements and one made me laugh since it came by email and stated that the company has won awards for it's green policies and then in the next part of the message it went on to say that the company is withdrawing all subsidies for local staff transport and the reward for leaving the premises without using a car park are to be withdrawn. Local bus fare was £1.20 will now rise to £4.60. It's now cheaper to come by car (at the moment). I'm not sure how all this will help win any "green" awards next year 
On top of that the prices of vending are to no longer be subsidised, A snickers bar is already costing 48p and that will rise to 56p, apparently the same as all shops charge.
They have taken away fresh water dispensers leaving just one on each floor to serve about 300 people per floor and a long walk to it.
Coffee was free but will now be 30p a cup from a machine and these are often not replenished so we'll pay 30p for some watery milk. Kettles brought in from home will be confiscated (theft?) and we therefore have no option but to pay nearly £2 for a cup of poncy skinny latte, expresso, etc.
Food prices are to increase (already about £2 for one round of sandwich), these will be nearer to £3.
And to cap it off, they are thinking about charging a few quid a day to park in one of the huge and often rather empty staff car parks!
Of course at annual review time we hear the same old "we couldn't afford in the current climate to give you a pay increase etc" but they still load on the work and expect much higher productivity month on month.
Is this the same everywhere?
On top of that the prices of vending are to no longer be subsidised, A snickers bar is already costing 48p and that will rise to 56p, apparently the same as all shops charge.
They have taken away fresh water dispensers leaving just one on each floor to serve about 300 people per floor and a long walk to it.
Coffee was free but will now be 30p a cup from a machine and these are often not replenished so we'll pay 30p for some watery milk. Kettles brought in from home will be confiscated (theft?) and we therefore have no option but to pay nearly £2 for a cup of poncy skinny latte, expresso, etc.
Food prices are to increase (already about £2 for one round of sandwich), these will be nearer to £3.
And to cap it off, they are thinking about charging a few quid a day to park in one of the huge and often rather empty staff car parks!
Of course at annual review time we hear the same old "we couldn't afford in the current climate to give you a pay increase etc" but they still load on the work and expect much higher productivity month on month.
Is this the same everywhere?
Not yet.
We've had a vague memo about cutting down on unnecessary internal meetings that require lots of people driving. A valid point given that most of our internal stuff is a) pointless, b) dull, and c) could be served equally as well over the teleconferencing system...
Other than that, Mars Bars are still 40p in the vending machines.
We've had a vague memo about cutting down on unnecessary internal meetings that require lots of people driving. A valid point given that most of our internal stuff is a) pointless, b) dull, and c) could be served equally as well over the teleconferencing system...
Other than that, Mars Bars are still 40p in the vending machines.
chris watton said:
Don't people bring a packed lunch and flask with them to work anymore? 
Technically, we are not allowed to have food in work areas but yes I do bring my own in most of the time.I think I might knock up a batch of various sarnies and flog 'em in the car park, could bring a pasting table in the boot and set it all out nicely next to the car
I know I only see this on a micro scale as I only employ a dozen people, but ever since I got a b0ll0cking from the VAT man the coffee machine has sat outside of the company completely and as such is one of the few things where the actual costs are totally transparent. The lease and the ingredients are all paid directly to the supplier out of the cash takings in the machine, we don't declare nor claim back any VAT on anything to do with the machine. The machine goes onto "free vend" automatically 3 times a day, quarter of a hour first thing before work starts, again at tea break and again at lunch time. Any inbetweenies are paid for by the individuals, now either my blokes drink a hell of a lot of coffee or you're getting ripped off because the machine is set at 25p, that covers the lease, the ingredients and the freebies comfortably and still manages to build up a slush fund of a few hundred quid which we put behind the bar every christmas.
Simpo Two said:
Mm, but then again, companies that don't cut spending if they really need to will go bankrupt and then you'll turn up for work to find the doors locked, you'll be redundant and have to fight for your last month's salary amongst the unsecured creditors.
That's very true and more so with a smaller company.This is a multi-billion dollar corpoaration however!
I think they'd be better off making savings in who they give company cars to, people who sit in the office everyday and never go anywhere to warrant the need for a company car!
Kentish said:
We've had recent announcements and one made me laugh since it came by email and stated that the company has won awards for it's green policies and then in the next part of the message it went on to say that the company is withdrawing all subsidies for local staff transport and the reward for leaving the premises without using a car park are to be withdrawn. Local bus fare was £1.20 will now rise to £4.60. It's now cheaper to come by car (at the moment). I'm not sure how all this will help win any "green" awards next year
On top of that the prices of vending are to no longer be subsidised, A snickers bar is already costing 48p and that will rise to 56p, apparently the same as all shops charge.
They have taken away fresh water dispensers leaving just one on each floor to serve about 300 people per floor and a long walk to it.
Coffee was free but will now be 30p a cup from a machine and these are often not replenished so we'll pay 30p for some watery milk. Kettles brought in from home will be confiscated (theft?) and we therefore have no option but to pay nearly £2 for a cup of poncy skinny latte, expresso, etc.
Food prices are to increase (already about £2 for one round of sandwich), these will be nearer to £3.
And to cap it off, they are thinking about charging a few quid a day to park in one of the huge and often rather empty staff car parks!
Of course at annual review time we hear the same old "we couldn't afford in the current climate to give you a pay increase etc" but they still load on the work and expect much higher productivity month on month.
Is this the same everywhere?
I'd start stock piling coffee and Mars bars. On top of that the prices of vending are to no longer be subsidised, A snickers bar is already costing 48p and that will rise to 56p, apparently the same as all shops charge.
They have taken away fresh water dispensers leaving just one on each floor to serve about 300 people per floor and a long walk to it.
Coffee was free but will now be 30p a cup from a machine and these are often not replenished so we'll pay 30p for some watery milk. Kettles brought in from home will be confiscated (theft?) and we therefore have no option but to pay nearly £2 for a cup of poncy skinny latte, expresso, etc.
Food prices are to increase (already about £2 for one round of sandwich), these will be nearer to £3.
And to cap it off, they are thinking about charging a few quid a day to park in one of the huge and often rather empty staff car parks!
Of course at annual review time we hear the same old "we couldn't afford in the current climate to give you a pay increase etc" but they still load on the work and expect much higher productivity month on month.
Is this the same everywhere?
Were a small company but we provide our staff with free spring water (sparkling or still). Free coffe, tea and Juice. Free biscuits Rich Tea, Mcvitties chocolate digestives (milk and plain), Fig rolls etc. We also used to do free crisps but the HMRC caught us on those and insisted it was a BIK. We managed to persuade them the biccies were for feeding visitors.
It's a very blinkered approach to increase staff costs when they are having it tough, they clearly haven't given a moments thought to their most precious commodity, you. If it's tough for them it's tough for you. When times are bad you don't increase employees costs in any way you make them less or even take away the cost. Yes it will be an extra burdon on the business but not a lot and if the business has to employ the penny pinching approch it's hardly a sign of a steady profitible business in the first place.
Employees who are made to feel wanted by their employers will work well, go the extra mile (hate the expression but it works here) and be loyal to the business in tough times. Workers who are getting squeezed and made to feel like unimportant disposable items will be looking around for work elsewhere.
Employees who are made to feel wanted by their employers will work well, go the extra mile (hate the expression but it works here) and be loyal to the business in tough times. Workers who are getting squeezed and made to feel like unimportant disposable items will be looking around for work elsewhere.
I'm surprised they won't allow the use of a company kettle? - that sounds a little mean.
A company the size you describe usually has little kitchenettes where staff can make tea etc.
I bring in my own teabags and make my own tea - only because the tea from the machines is foul and I don't like coffee (the company provide the milk, free).
A company the size you describe usually has little kitchenettes where staff can make tea etc.
I bring in my own teabags and make my own tea - only because the tea from the machines is foul and I don't like coffee (the company provide the milk, free).
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