Posts: 0
Threads: 0
Joined: Feb 2006
Quote:quote:
Also - have I moved into some parallel universe where making your own sandwiches to take to work is considered an unacceptable imposition?
It is if you don't like sandwiches and would rather just buy something from the shopping centre you are working in, like a pasty in this instance. When you're working in the rain it's usually a good idea to eat something hot too.
Careful, it might be hallucinogEeEe**33nnnn..
Posts: 0
Threads: 0
Joined: Jul 2004
similarly, what is difficult about buying your own lunch? the overwhelming majority of the working population do it (or take sandwiches or something else) every day
Posts: 0
Threads: 0
Joined: Apr 2005
Quote:quote:Originally posted by voice of reason
If you are catering en masse, then you can cater far cheaper per head.
I suspect that VoR is thinking here of a normal cross section of society and not the vastly differing dietary fads of typical archaeologists.
And even if you could find a reasonable number of archaeologists to agree on a diet and cater together, you then have to face the differing 'kitchen skills' levels of the members of the group. I remember one occassion for example when our small 'catering circle' agreed (boring, but seeking a consensus) to have beans on toast for an evening meal. Until that is the nominated chef decided to [u]fry</u> the baked beans.
Or the person that announced they wouldn't eat anything containing (singularly or in combination) garlic, chilli, herbs and spices or curry powder.
Truth is, archaeologists are impossible to cater for or with and as for saving money, it just doesn't happen...
Posts: 0
Threads: 0
Joined: May 2004
I feel that I have also slipped into a parralel universe where a company decides (was this the case) on what peole should eat... I expect that I would be hard pushed to provide good meals for 20 quid a week.. hmmmm I fear white label here...
The point is... If the company advertised that they would provide food, and the reality was they provided £20 worth a week... then they misrepresented the advert... perhaps not by the letter... but by the spirit of the advert..
I could say I would provide free food... but if all I gave them was a bag of oats and 200 tins of backed beans...
I have an inkling who this was now... I will be - in future checking all claims in adverts... from food to accomodation, from training to travel.. to see if what is on offer is as good as it looks.
For example, some people might offer training, but the reality might be a 'training on the job' - the IFA are celar about what training in the workplace should entail, and companies like Headland offer a full training scheme in the workplace, formalised and recorded and fitting into the CPD scheme linked to NVQ and Occupational standards. THere are set training periods.. there is a structured career structure... etc... Now that is a training scheme, and one I hope is emulated.. (I know.. I saw it in action) Others pretend they have training and the reality si more... shall we say... loose...
I hope that more people will go down the formal IFA methodology ... perhaps Contractors need encouragment...
Similar concepts abound for trating staff with dignity... don't offer an apple then come out with a month old Granny Smith!
"No job worth doing was ever done on time or under budget.."
Khufu
Posts: 0
Threads: 0
Joined: May 2004
Right on BAJR!
I think the key point is that you should know what the deal is in advance.
I wonder how different the response to the advert might have been if it had started: "We are catering en masse"
I have actually encountered this, but I was expecting it. It was a short job, and actually worked out pretty well. We were in the middle on nowhere, though. If I were in town, I might have fancied a feed in the pub every now and then.
Posts: 0
Threads: 0
Joined: Jul 2004
I too think it is a mad parallel universe where companies cater for people -just can't believe this would be considered feasible or sensible. Have we gone back to the 1970s? Where's the campsite? Is there an Elsan? or is the hedge?
Similarly I also think that expecting all your food to be provided is a mad parallel universe.
Posts: 0
Threads: 0
Joined: Jan 2005
Who's living in the mad parallel universe; VoR or everyone else? Its a very thin line that you tread.
I would imagine that most companies claim monies for subsistence for each member of staff as part of their budget agreed with their client. For instance, this may be somewhere between £15 to £45 per person per day, as I was discussing recently with a client.
Would it be likely, say in a mad parallel universe, that some archaeological units charge somewhere between these figures and then offer a meagre subsistence to their employees while pocketing the rest?
'I wanna be a punk rocker but my mammy will ne let me'
Campbell
Posts: 0
Threads: 0
Joined: May 2004
No I think you misunderstand, It s not that food is expected... it is food that is offered... like accomodation offered, like transport offered... If a contractor is offering (as an incentive) free food.... it really should consider whether this is a claim of lavish banquets every night, pub dinners, or a white label loaf of sliced bread and beans. Same with training - Is it watching over another persons shoulder in the hope of absorbing some sort of idea about what is going on .... or is it a formal package where time is alloted to specific traing tasks... one hour on site photography, an hour on basic survey, health and safety requirements, writing adequate site records etc....
I have just come back from a v large company that does actually provide a level of away from home provision to compensate for a) baing away from home... and b) being unable to (if staying in a B&B) cook in evening. And they are not alone.... The point made I think is if a company wants to offer this as a bonus.. (which is up to them) then it should be a free choice or the reality of what is on offer should be made explicit.
"No job worth doing was ever done on time or under budget.."
Khufu
Posts: 0
Threads: 0
Joined: Apr 2005
Quote:quote:Originally posted by BAJR Host The point made I think is if a company wants to offer this as a bonus.. (which is up to them) then it should be a free choice or the reality of what is on offer should be made explicit.
I quite agree with the sentiment David, however as Peter Wardle pointed out earlier in this thread, the 'Revenue draws a line between taxable and non-taxable allowances and perhaps therefore 'free-choice' has its limitations. I am sure that many people would baulk at receiving a 'benefit in kind' if they saw that it meant their tax increased and their take home pay decreased.
After 27 years at this game I am no clearer as to which benefits offered by employers are taxable or non-taxable and under what circumstances such allowances might be payable. Is it possible that we could between us come up with a definitive list to guide future discussions?
For a starter, here are some that puzzle me (not inteded as a definitive list):
1) Travel to work
2) Travel to a new job (one-off payment)
3) Travel home at the end of a job (one-off payment)
4) Travel during work hours
5) Mileage allowance for cars
6) Clothing allowance
7) Meal allowance
:face-thinks: Accomodation allowance
:face-thinks: 'Away from home' allowance
9) Christmas party
Posts: 0
Threads: 0
Joined: May 2004
Good idea..... so ... starter for ten!
"No job worth doing was ever done on time or under budget.."
Khufu
