(08 Nov 2022, 5:46 pm)morritt89 wrote There seems to be constant "we will look into these issues" not only from management but also the union. From memory, the last rota survey, they even used an external agency to sort the issue but nothing came of it.

Personally and as a previous manager (not within the bus industry) I don't see the logic in focusing on recruitment (and associated costs including adverts) rather than improving what's on offer at the moment. 

A lot of drivers also get annoyed that management don't do weekends/latest whereas a driver does. At our depot we have drivers on permanent latest and night bus duties too. 

I made a jump around a year ago where I dropped to term time only (taking a substantial hit on pay and conditions) but that has improved my work life balance which beforehand was non existent. 

As for holidays, Arriva when I was there and GNE both allocate holidays in blocks and drivers normally can't  choose when their holidays are (not great for family life). Obviously with so many drivers there are limited ways this can be managed but surely there must be a better way? I cannot comment on Stagecoach or smaller operators for holiday entitlement and how it works.

There are some drivers which seem to be on the exact same shifts every day I've noticed. I wonder how they get to pick that they get the same shift every day, monday to friday. Whereas most don't.