The totally off-topic thread

[JohnK]

Big nite in Thailand Johnny?

Every night is a big night. That's the problem.

 

[Pushka]

Long day moving mum into the home. No one else available from the family so just me. Thankfully not the 39 of yesterday.

So while I'm packing/loading/unloading/unpacking multiple times, mum has had morning tea, lunch, exercise and afternoon tea. She disappeared at one stage and the staff found her playing bingo!! She's sorted.

I was chatting to a delightful sprightly lady and the sister asked me to guess her age. Hmm. 85? Nope. 103! !! Is it appropriate to say she still had her own teeth in perfect condition! The lady that age forgot!

Now next week to clear out her old place. She only moved in 3 years ago.

 

[blackcat20]

Work underpaid me this week while I'm on sick leave. When contacted I was told 'we don't know your hours' even though they are explicitly stated on my contract, and 'too busy to fix it'. So, apparently I should go without a chunk of my pay until they can be bothered. Fingers crossed I get a new job soon...

 

[Pushka]

Work underpaid me this week while I'm on sick leave. When contacted I was told 'we don't know your hours' even though they are explicitly stated on my contract, and 'too busy to fix it'. So, apparently I should go without a chunk of my pay until they can be bothered. Fingers crossed I get a new job soon...

I reckon the bigger the HR dept gets the more they lose touch with the impact such actions have. Hope it gets sorted soon.

 

[anat0l]

I reckon the bigger the HR dept gets the more they lose touch with the impact such actions have. Hope it gets sorted soon.

Nope, it usually just takes the wrong and disenchanted kind of HR department, really, especially in a position where they are not at any risk of serious disciplinary action.

 

[TomVexille]

I reckon the bigger the HR dept gets the more they lose touch with the impact such actions have. Hope it gets sorted soon.

I think it's 2 people...

 

[blackcat20]

I reckon the bigger the HR dept gets the more they lose touch with the impact such actions have. Hope it gets sorted soon.

There are so many people with their finger in the pie, and no one I can complain to it seems...

 

[Pushka]

Nope, it usually just takes the wrong and disenchanted kind of HR department, really, especially in a position where they are not at any risk of serious disciplinary action.

Yes. There's that too. No consequence for poor actions.

How many people work there for an HR dept of 2 people? Maybe they are under resourced then.

 

[TomVexille]

Yes. There's that too. No consequence for poor actions.

How many people work there for an HR dept of 2 people? Maybe they are under resourced then.

It's probably more than 2. But it seems like specifically one that's causing the problems.

 

[blackcat20]

Yes. There's that too. No consequence for poor actions.

How many people work there for an HR dept of 2 people? Maybe they are under resourced then.

It was one HR and one payroll when we were 100 people. Now there are about 400 people, a new payroll system that can't handle my two different pay rates, and 3-4 people who meddle with the pays.

 

[Julesmac]

If you are over 50 get a shingles shot (if you have had chicken pox). Another friend is in some difficulty with the doctor saying it was the worst he had seen. It seems to strike when you are run down or experiencing high levels of anxiety. I believe the shot is available now in Australia.

Cove, isn't the shingles virus the same as the chicken pox one?So if you HAVE had it, I presume you'd have the antibodies in your system. Surely you'd only need the injection if you'd never had chicken pops (as my son used to say)> Lucky old me, I had it once as a child and again in my early 20s - boy I was sick as a dog for a week and extrordinarily spotty

 

[Julesmac]

Sounds familiar, in fact with mum it was worse - medical muck-up discharged as A-OK and severe stroke within 20 minutes leaving her right side paralysed, no speech but 100% knowing everything going on.

Any phone call always note down time call start, who you speak to and their title. For full effect get them to spell their name so they understand you are writing it down. In the rough transcript below I've left out the length of 'on hold time'.

So Telstra;
"Hi I want to arrange a direct debit to pay for my mothers phone account out of her bank account as she's had a stroke, is paralysed and cannot speak anymore."
"Are you Mrs XX"
"No, that is what I just told you."
"Well only Mrs XX can do it."
"How, she's paralysed and cannot speak."
"Privacy reasons."
"So you're telling me that you refuse to help any of your customers who've had the misfortune to become paralysed and lose their speech."
"No, only Mrs XX can operate the account."
"Even though all I am trying to do is get the account paid by her own bank account in the identical name to the Telstra Account details."
"Yes, that's correct."
"Can I please speak with your team leader or supervisor."
"They are unavailable, can I help you?"
"Well so far you are refusing to. I am happy to hold on until your supervisor is available, one to two hours no problem but it will make your call centre performance look very poor. But no matter I will hold for as long as it takes."
"I cannot leave you on hold."
"OK, then let's keep going round in a circle until they become available and then it will just be your performance that looks bad."

4 minutes later;
"I'll transfer you now."
"Thank you."

3 minute repeat of above,
"Can I please speak with whoever you report to."
"They are unavailable."
"Ok, can you please tell me there name so I can verify this when I contact the Telstra Company secretary once I finish with this attempt."
"I am unable to give you those details." (enter sub-routine where I say not true vs I cannot)
"Well, as a team leader I had hoped you were aware of the operating procedures, apparently you are not. Don't worry I've noted that down and when the recording of this call is requested by the Company secretary's office later this afternoon that will become apparent."

"I report to XX."
"What is her title?"
"Something something customer manager.'' (There were so many of these calls the titles are blurred).
"Perhaps you could go tell XX that you have said they are unavailable despite me requesting to speak with them 8 times in the last 19 minutes. That I know for a fact that Telstra policy is that any customer facing role is required to interrupt any internal meeting or break attend to a customer request if they are being asked as a result of an elevation request."

"I will transfer you now."

Again 2-3 minutes,
"Your suggestion that I take my mother into a Telstra shop has merits but not from your company's perspective. I will book the ambulance to bring her and I will also notify Channel XX so they can send along a film crew. But first I'll ring HHHHH's office."
"Who?"
"The Telstra company secretary and senior legal officer who reports to the Board. I am sure the negative publicity will not enhance your future."

2 minutes later.
"Can you fax me a copy of your mother's doctor's letter stating she is paralysed and unable to speak and then I'll process the direct debit."

Call length was over 90 minutes. Subsequent call to company secretary just under 4 minutes. Warm inner glow - many hours. An apology letter came a few days later, "We are reviewing our procedures after the serious flaws you brought to my attention."


Moral:
Google Telstra Company Secretary Phone ASX (should get it for you). Write down name and details, and commence battle. Hopefully it won't take 90 minutes but I won't hold my breath. Power company (I think it was) all done in 5 minutes. "Unfortunately this is something that is getting to be all too frequent a request."

ANZ Bank - after sending Dr's letter - also brilliant. May just have been the branch manager - he set up note on file, added additional anti-fraud protection just in case. Never a problem.

Why do they do it, do you ask?? Just because they CAN! :evilo you think they'll use your call(s) for training purposes??? I betcha they don't! It's always fun asking them to bump you up the responsibility ladder - I use the expression "can we escalate this to your superior". Gets them scurrying, hopefully

 

[hummel]

So just found $90USD Duty free vouchers from Asiana in my carry on from a delay in April.

Anyone know a way I can use them?

 

[Pushka]

Cove, isn't the shingles virus the same as the chicken pox one?So if you HAVE had it, I presume you'd have the antibodies in your system. Surely you'd only need the injection if you'd never had chicken pops (as my son used to say)> Lucky old me, I had it once as a child and again in my early 20s - boy I was sick as a dog for a week and extrordinarily spotty

I think it's the opposite. If you have had chicken "pops" then you are vulnerable to shingles. MrP had shingles a few years ago on his abdomen. He was very uncomfortable for a while.

 

[JessicaTam]

I think it's the opposite. If you have had chicken "pops" then you are vulnerable to shingles. MrP had shingles a few years ago on his abdomen. He was very uncomfortable for a while.

Agreed. I had chicken pox as a child, and then I had shingles eight or nine years ago. You are more susceptible if you are run down and stressed, which was the situation in my case. Fortunately I got treatment very early on, and was really uncomfortable for only about three days. Could have been much worse, save for the early intervention.

 

[Katie]

Cove, isn't the shingles virus the same as the chicken pox one?So if you HAVE had it, I presume you'd have the antibodies in your system. Surely you'd only need the injection if you'd never had chicken pops (as my son used to say)> Lucky old me, I had it once as a child and again in my early 20s - boy I was sick as a dog for a week and extrordinarily spotty

Hopefully on of the doctors on tue forum while chime in ...

My anecdote is that I had chicken pox in high school. My Mum had cow pox as a child, and nursed at least two of her siblings through chicken pox in her youth.
She got shingles from my chocken pox... I was definitely her least-favourite child.

 

[drron]

indeed if you have had chickenpox you can have shingles.After the original infection the virus lives on in the nerves and often flares many years later.if you have never had chickenpox you will not get shingles.

 

[JessicaTam]

indeed if you have had chickenpox you can have shingles.After the original infection the virus lives on in the nerves and often flares many years later.if you have never had chickenpox you will not get shingles.

And while the Doctor(ron) is in... Is it correct that shingles can be contracted multiple times?

 

[Pushka]

Cow pox means you don't get small pox? Well, it's been eradicated now anyways.

 

[drron]

Usually only 1 episode of shingles.Only about 1% get it more than once and then usually only twice.