Special K

Larger Employers are also known for calling the Employees bluff and putting the hammer on the Employee in order to frighten them into dropping the case. I know of a few cases where the Employee had a very good case, but the Employer played at obstruction and pretty underhand tactics to get the case dropped, only for them to offer a settlement on the morning of the tribunal hearing. Equally, I also know of people who have royally stitched up small business Employers with fabricated claims. The system doesn't suit anyone who is honest, to be fair, and breaks easily with unscrupulous behaviour. Difficult one to sort out. With regard to getting rid of Employees (some other posts above), I think an Employer can pretty much get rid of someone within 24 months for very little reason, as it stands, which seems more than reasonable (not for the Employee mind). If you haven't sussed out that an Employee is either difficult or not up to scratch by then, then I'd say it is one's own fault anyway.

Hull are fighting to stay in the league so they were always going to be difficult to break down. They pressed us hard from the off and restricted our method of play and forced a few mistakes, which didn't make for a good first half, but for me it wasn't as bad as some are making out. Simple change in the second half and we were much better up front as we had more options. The Hull midfield were blowing out of their arse after 60 minutes for all the effort they had put in, which made it easier for us to play more on the floor. Good win, good performance and a decent day all round.

Why is it assumed that one needs to leave a council estate? I spent the first 20 years on my life growing up in one and found it a terrific place, full of decent people, green spaces and community spirit. I certainly didn't feel as if opportunity was suppressed for me, but i agree that expectation levels were probably lower than they need to be. My folks still live in the same house I grew up in and although the estate has changed a little (more cars, drives and student lets), it's still a fine place indeed. I;m still in touch with some of my old mates from schooldays who grew up in the estate and there are a good number who have made a very good life for themselves - and by that i don't just mean materially - based upon the strong work ethic, sense of community and loving family situations that shaped the way the estate worked.

Don't agree with these points. We've built and extended a number of "average" GP Surgeries over the years and without exception all the Practice Managers I have met (and there have been a few) are very switched on people. The average size Surgery is a very capable place than can cope with all the challenges you list (and more) and is generally full of talented people that are dedicated and proactive professionals. Partners get involved because they "own" and direct the business, so they have to get involved, it's par for the course and of them, most of them are happy to do so. Of the GP's I have met, i'd say roughly 30% are not interested in the wider aspects of running a "business", but the ones that are have told me they find it a very enjoyable part of their routine. In fact some of them feel constrained and would like to widen their revenue stream or expand their services, if only they were able.

It does seem a bit strange, pap. Smith will be a strong candidate, no doubt and despite the odd indiscretion (driving w/o insurance) he's a recognisable local figure with a strong background in local politics who had a good showing in the last election. On the face of it you would think that Labour should have selected a stronger candidate to replace the popular Denham, but fair play to Davis, she has been very active locally and seems to be getting on local radio a fair bit too. May have too much ground to catch up on Smith though.

This will be an interesting watch on election night. Presently a Denham held Labour seat with a very slim majority, do the locals vote for Southampton born and bred Royston Smith, who has been involved in local politics for a long time as well as disarming a mad sailor and saving lives, or do they vote for a young, pretty(ish) Labour candidate, parachuted into the ward to cover for Denham's imminent retirement? Can't ignore the Lib Dems, but they will probably come in 3rd although the hand-wringers may boost the Labour vote? Who knows. But it will be interesting.

To me, that is much less of a cause than the inability of Local Authorities to replace those houses or flats with new builds, mostly, it must be said, because they were not allowed to spend the cash they got in from the sales - Thatcher got that part seriously wrong. Councils would have loved it, on the whole, if they could have sold off their crappy old housing stock (fortune to maintain) and pre-fab post war sheds (limited life span) and used the money to replace them with new housing for an increasing population.

Loved watching McKenzie. Terrific batsman for us and was a real influence in the success of the one day and T20 teams.

Wish I had seen the thread.

Doesn't count if you saw them in Nuts or whatever, so be careful when you count them up. IMHO, the research is flawed anyway. I was breastfed and I'm as thick as sh!t.

Oliver's Battery Primary Monty Peter Symonds Soton Institute (part time) Bristol Poly

Too many go into politics without any experience of the real world, either through the public or private sectors. Personally, I'd like to see anyone who is serious about becoming a front bencher to be obliged to spend 5 years in the private sector (and not just spent tossing it off at Uncle Bertie's Asset Management Co) and 5 years in the public sector, at least 2 of which should be spent working in the NHS and 1 year in Education. They should also have to live off the wages appropriate for the roles they carry out. In addition to this, they should not be allowed to become a front bencher until at least 45 years of age. IMHO this would make them more understanding of the organisations they spend a fleeting few years trying their best to balls up. If they did this, I'd be happy for them to earn a few more bob.

The biggest problem I have with all this is that the beeb thought it worthy of making it their top story yesterday (on the radio, at least, as that's what I listen to at work in between watching youporn and x hamster of course). Eh? IMHO it's a bit of a non story that doesn't deserve the coverage it's getting. Either it's a blatant attempt at self promotion or they have this awful sense that they need to publicly over-wash their dirty laundry, post Savile. I don't really understand, but either way, the beeb don't come out of this very well and have only caused a load of loonies to bang relentlessly on about how much they like / dislike Clarkson and Top Gear.

I rather liked that. Personally, I cannot see a problem with the swearing, but that prob because i'm a pottymouth myself. Actually, I think it rather fits in with the tone of the song and is certainly no worse than my kids and I are subjected to when using pedestrian crossings and some nipper has his badass rap songs blaring out of the windows of his kitted out Corsa.

Best time to play them, i reckon. The players looked tired last night, some are struggling with form, they have lost at home against 10 men and they may try too hard on Sunday. As long as we are calm and the ref is strong with their childish antics, then we can get a result on Sunday.

She's a big, fat bastard, She's twice the size of me, The hairs on her fanny are like branches on a tree. She can drink, she can fight, She can f**k all night, She's the girl for me!

The key is in the word "initially", in this case meaning the first job they have, before finding their feet, gaining more confidence with living here and moving onward and upward. The remainder of my post confirmed this. Your second point is, of course, entirely correct. I can only assume that what with bricklayers and the like now earning up to 35% a day more than 2 years ago, that this demand is currently there.

Your theory doesn't take into account increased economic output or at least assumes a constant labour supply to meet a constant economic demand, which doesn't exist, particularly at the moment. I don't think I've missed any point at all. As I said, I have posted about the industry I have knowledge of and my experiences within it. I did also ask for the experience of others as I assume things will differ in other sectors, perhaps you'd care to contribute? My experience is that wage suppression from migrant workers is largely a myth. Market forces are far more influential. The lads that choose to stay don't purposely want to earn less to satisfy someone else's agenda.

I can only talk from what I have seen in the Construction industry which chiefly uses migrant labour from the EU. Migrant workers are initially prepared to work for lower wages than the "average" but they will not be retained if they don't produce. Mix that in with the realisation after a period of time that the migrant worker will then demand higher wages to reach the average or above the average that can be expected for their specialism and low wages are not perpetual. This has been skewed by the recession, but add in a sharp upturn in work and a sudden decline in supply of available skilled or unskilled labour and there is no way a continued low wage for migrant workers, certainly those with a trade, will exist. Market forces are the much bigger driver here. I've met loads of migrant workers over the last 15 years and i'd say well over 90% of them are top lads who graft hard, pay their tax and love living in the UK (quite a few are now Saints fans too!). The same can be said of British lads, but with about 20%, the work ethic is sadly not there and they spend more time tossing it off than grafting, moving from one place to another. The (approx) 10% of migrant workers who aren't any good tend to return home as they can't get work - bad rep, not liked by their colleagues, etc. So I think it's a myth that they perpetually suppress wages, certainly in the building industry. I have seen a good few instances of migrant lads turfed out by their colleagues, who then generally return home. I have no experience in other industries though, so would like to hear about others experiences.

They've replaced most of the windows in my house and are very good, reliable and a provide a good price. Much cheaper than the Everest / Anglian rip off merchants who try and convince you they are doing a deal by knocking off 50% from their hugely inflated starting price. I had two big bays (structural, with motifs) and two decent size windows (all with dummy sashes) replaced on the front of my house. Everest quoted £9k, Anglian started off at £17k and reduced it to £11k, Clearview were £4.5k (as were Pro Glaze too who seem like a decent local outfit).

Another big f**k off world war? That might help in the short term, but then everyone one would be back to screwing and making babies and stuff. I'm with you though KRG, people are mainly c**ts and it's only when i feel relaxed and happy that they become slightly more tolerable. Trouble is that i mainly feel relaxed and happy after getting laid, which leads to making babies and stuff, so it's a vicious circle, FFS.

Perhaps is the ground staff at SMS had lined the goal frames with hair, he may have been more interested in scoring a few more goals

Return to Sender.

Did she expect you to say "I luuurrve you, too!" at the end of the conversation? I worked with a bloke whose GF binned him because he was reluctant to say it at the end a work call. Big lol's for the open plan office, all watching him try to say it under his breath without anyone else hearing.

Oh, i don't know. With me pretending to be Roger from Accounts and the Mrs pretending to be Daphne from HR, things can get quite fun.