My Opera"In the Land of the Blind the One-Eyed Man is King."
Monday, February 4, 2008 8:15:20 PM
Yes dear reader I have spent my first day on government 'training'. I'm sure you await with baited breath the pearls of wisdom that I can now dispense. Alas life is full of little disappointments.
I turned up at 09:26 only to be told to wait (until 09:55). During the morning we were given the usual Emergency information; yatter about Rules, Rights & Responsibilities; and an outline of the wonders to come!
We were not given the grand tour as the trainers occupy the former PEC premises - one large room divided by half barriers and two self-contained classrooms. So no real privacy and a male toilet that seems to be as bad as it ever was (getting blocked at the drop of a hat). Incidentally is 1 male and 1 female WC sufficient for about 40 adults?
Of course certain questions put by yours truly obtained somewhat discouraging answers.
Q1) What is your success rate?
A1) 55% (35% base rate)
Q2) Why don't we get paid minimum wage for work placements?
A2) It counts as training not work.
Q3) Can we have a copy of our contract?
A3) You can get that from your New Deal Adviser.
We were advised that a complaints procedure exists. Unsurprisingly it is not exactly fast. We were also advised that if we were unhappy our NDA would help us. I almost gagged at this ludicrous statement.
So what marvellous resources are at our disposal - well newspapers, 6 PCs (with many sites already blocked) and 2 telephones (one in a classroom which will be frequently unavailable). It almost makes me nostalgic for the old PEC days - but not quite.
During the afternoon I barely stayed awake. No doubt the number of (prescription) drugs I'm on doesn't help but the lecture material was not exactly rivetting. Hazards & Risks plus Prejudice & Diversity swam before my consciousness - or I think that they did.
Tomorrow we are promised Learning Styles - I can barely contain my excitement.
I turned up at 09:26 only to be told to wait (until 09:55). During the morning we were given the usual Emergency information; yatter about Rules, Rights & Responsibilities; and an outline of the wonders to come!
We were not given the grand tour as the trainers occupy the former PEC premises - one large room divided by half barriers and two self-contained classrooms. So no real privacy and a male toilet that seems to be as bad as it ever was (getting blocked at the drop of a hat). Incidentally is 1 male and 1 female WC sufficient for about 40 adults?
Of course certain questions put by yours truly obtained somewhat discouraging answers.
Q1) What is your success rate?
A1) 55% (35% base rate)
Q2) Why don't we get paid minimum wage for work placements?
A2) It counts as training not work.
Q3) Can we have a copy of our contract?
A3) You can get that from your New Deal Adviser.
We were advised that a complaints procedure exists. Unsurprisingly it is not exactly fast. We were also advised that if we were unhappy our NDA would help us. I almost gagged at this ludicrous statement.
So what marvellous resources are at our disposal - well newspapers, 6 PCs (with many sites already blocked) and 2 telephones (one in a classroom which will be frequently unavailable). It almost makes me nostalgic for the old PEC days - but not quite.
During the afternoon I barely stayed awake. No doubt the number of (prescription) drugs I'm on doesn't help but the lecture material was not exactly rivetting. Hazards & Risks plus Prejudice & Diversity swam before my consciousness - or I think that they did.
Tomorrow we are promised Learning Styles - I can barely contain my excitement.
