Contract Termination

[black_knight]

OP - wouldn't be a telecoms company based in and around Crewe would it ?

Yes.

[OwlHoot]

OP - wouldn't be a telecoms company based in and around Crewe would it ?

I had a contract with one of the Caudwell group about five years ago, 20:20 Logistics I think it was. They seemed a decent lot back then, although the working conditions were fairly rudimentary (and they were using Perl rather than VB, at least on the project I was on).

At the time it was based in an out-of-town industrial estate, with a view over a river valley outside the office, which was one of the few redeeming features of the site when I went outside for a fag.

Some time later I went for an interview with a larger Caudwell site in the centre of Crewe, in what looked like a converted warehouse, and I didn't think much of the ambience or the people (and they apparently didn't think much of me as I didn't get that contract).

[HankWangford]

I had a contract with one of the Caudwell group about five years ago, 20:20 Logistics I think it was. They seemed a decent lot back then, although the working conditions were fairly rudimentary (and they were using Perl rather than VB, at least on the project I was on).

At the time it was based in an out-of-town industrial estate, with a view over a river valley outside the office, which was one of the few redeeming features of the site when I went outside for a fag.

Some time later I went for an interview with a larger Caudwell site in the centre of Crewe, in what looked like a converted warehouse, and I didn't think much of the ambience or the people (and they apparently didn't think much of me as I didn't get that contract).

i've heard it's more like a chicken coop, less leg room than a ryanair flight and if you scratch your nose you chaff your fellow chicken in the eye with your elbow......

[DaveB]

i've heard it's more like a chicken coop, less leg room than a ryanair flight and if you scratch your nose you chaff your fellow chicken in the eye with your elbow......

Sounds like Crap Gemini's place in Sheffield. The site support guys would fight like hell to avoid being rotated back to the main office.

[bobhope]

I did a very brief stint at Enron UK - I think they had about one square metre per worker. At least there are regulations for battery hens!

[OrangeHopper]

Don't know if Interflora are still at the same place but I saw their their office 10 years ago between Valentines' Day and Mothers' Day. Space was allocated according to width of screen not human.

[Lucy]

Just like the room for the IT staff at one of the 'big three' in the city. The rows of benches were so close together you couldn't walk between them without people having to pull their chairs in.

But, hey, their junior partners take home £0.5M, so of course treat their staff with disregard.

[Spacecadet]

I had a contract with one of the Caudwell group about five years ago, 20:20 Logistics I think it was.

I had a perm interview with the Caudwell group about 12 months ago, seemed like an easy job to get at I'd been getting agency calls about the job for 6 months all of them hyping it up.
I got there on time, although as I get into reception the agency calls me as the manager has been phoning them to find out where i am!
I then have an interview with 2 people who would have been above me in the food chain. Both of them seemed to have the attitude that I should be grateful to work at Caudwell. Both of them came across as the type of people I could not have any working respect for.
Given I'd be a team leader there, the question of "how to motivate staff to work unpaid overtime" came up. I told them very matter of factly that if the overtime was a result of management mis-managing (which given the state of the 2 muppets interviewing me was highly likely) then I would not expect my staff to work unpaid overtime and I'd be kicking the crap back up the ladder to see what came down.

Obviously i didn't get the job... they gave the excuse of it being too far for me to commute
Even funnier, i was still getting calls from other agencies about the vacancy more than 6 months later

[MarillionFan]

Why anyone would want to work for the Cauldwell group I give in.

That program a few years back (a little like the apprentice) where he was looking to hire someone 'just like him' was class.

Mobile phone salesman are the lowest of the lowest, down lower than rec cons and the people who want to work for him I wouldnt want near me in a crisis as they'd sooner stick the knife in than look at you.

[black_knight]

Well, all I can say is that what I did was stupid.

I actually liked the people and work at Caudwell. It is right what has been said before on this thread that what I did was akin to going into someones home and insuting the curtains. I would hate that if it where done to me.

The problems with my environment where out of my control. Whether the projecct had been poorly set up and/or my pc had been trashed by the previous user I dont know. I did tell them, but I should have made it perfectly clear that these problems would delay the development, and on Friday, when I realised that my UAT environment was not working I should have spoken up instead of waiting until after the weekend.

Talking about changing contracts anywhere in the office (on the phone) was also wrong. I never thought anyone was in ear shot, but it goes to show that there is always someone who can hear you, so it is better not to take calls while on client site.

I didnt like the hours, I thought 9-6 with a half hour lunch was a long day to carry off every day. I didnt like the drive; an hour and 20 minutes both ways made the day even longer. But I knew all of this going into the contract, and was happy enough to accept it.

I think what did get to me thoughh, was when even working these long hours we were asked to stay behind after hours to move our desks, something which I tohught should have been done in company time...and then there where the looks I got when I did leave at 6pm, instead of staying until 6:30 like everyone else.

But I have worked for Caudwell's before and should have known what to expect. I should have kept my mouth shut and got on with the job.

It is just too bad that I actually liked the work.