(03 Sep 2022, 7:36 am)Stanleyone wrote From an ex drivers point of view, I left just over 6 months ago, opting for life as an HGV driver. 10 years I spent at GNE, Crook, CLS and finally Stanley/Consett. I loved the job but the politics of it were ridiculous, the final push to get out came after being "awarded" with a 6 month personal coaching plan (PCP) for hitting the trigger points. These trigger points being off more than 1 week more than once over a year long period. Harsh I thought seeing as those periods of absence were for 1, catching covid 2, Death of a family member and finally 3 a heart condition, but hey trigger points. Add to that the daily abuse recieved from those not happy about the bus infront not running, over 18s not getting the child fare, it all added up. Stressed coming in from work every day/Night.
Since leaving the buses, stress is no more, work/life balance is so much better. Still friends with those on the buses and it's the same talk of " the jobs sh@@ ", pay needs to go up massively but years of " we can't afford x% " are now paying off and drivers like me that have left and others that are waiting to go through their class 2 or 1 and get away.
Tell me that's nothing to do with management or culture.
If you do, I'll change my name to Susan and wander up and down Stanley High Street in a blonde wig and high heels.
It's absolutely everything to do with management and culture and is a sad symptomatic example of what goes on with regards to something some view as 'easily disposable and replaceable staff'.
I've heard theories that operators often encourage depot level managenent to get rid of the older heads.
The older heads who have accrued a slightly higher pay, extra benefits or something else can then be replaced by a cheaper, younger, inexperienced head who doesn't have those same perks.
How true it is, I'm not sure.
But I can see logic in it.
(03 Sep 2022, 8:09 am)James101 wrote There are plenty of jobs with anti-social aspects that don’t struggle to recruit staff. It comes down to the compensation and culture. Being paid a smidge over minimum wage in a toxic workplace probably isn’t worth it.
I think Stanleyone nailed it above.
There's a reason the bus in front is cancelled (driver shortage/engineering budget/poor planning/insert other reason) and there's a reason a loyal member of staff was pushed out.
It comes back to that culture you mentioned and the people who allow it to fester.