so

[abigailbrady]

regarding this

it looks like i'll be no longer employed in a few days. in meantime i am on "gardening leave".

i'd better start updating my CV then.

unfortunately i don't have a garden. although i have been considering buying a pot plant. on the plus side it does mean I get to watch Bargain Hunt more often for a while!

Comments

[deborah_c]

Eep. I'm sorry.

What kind of work would you be looking for, and are you only looking in Leicester?

[abigailb.livejournal.com]

Programmer. Most fluent in linux/C/C++ etc, but picked up reasonable Java and Oracle (SQL) at my last job.

Leicester would be ideal, but open to Birmingham/East Midlands possibilities, especially Nottingham. If it goes on too long I may have to reconsider that.

[feuermaus.livejournal.com]

Arse badgers! What's happened, I haven't really been keeping up to date with the details. I will keep my eyes and ears open for any jobs I hear, and wish you the best of luck in finding something. Will you get any monies to wander off with or is it literally just normal pay?

[nniaa.livejournal.com]

So sorry to hear that :( Jobhunting is no fun.
*hugs*

[lithiana.livejournal.com]

:-(

maybe you should come work for us :-)

[squirmelia.livejournal.com]

Lack of employment sounds annoying. :( Good luck in finding something new.

[abigailb.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

It came as a bit of a shock. Terms not yet decided on and anyway can't discuss those in public.

[feuermaus.livejournal.com]

Of course not. Best of luck anyway, and if need be I hope your union can help if it gets sticky or anything. *hugs*

[abigailb.livejournal.com]

You hiring, then?

I dunno, though. Last time I tried working from home it ended up very badly (as I alluded to back here), but then, I was rather depressed at the time.

[abigailb.livejournal.com]

Unions, for some reason, don't seem to exist in the IT industry. I do, however, have a nice friendly lawyer.

[deborah_c]

*nod*

If you get to the point of considering Cambridge, I can ask around for you, although knowing a little more about what kind of programming you're interested in would be handy :-)

Good luck!

[lilgreendave.livejournal.com]

I'm with Unison so I'm guessing they might apply to you. If that's the case they might be able to help, although I don't know what they're like in general nor how effective they'd be.

"Nice friendly lawyer" is probably equally as effective :D

[abigailb.livejournal.com]

I should probably join one, anyway. But in a non-unionised workplace there's little that a union can do other than offer legal advice.

[lilgreendave.livejournal.com]

Anyways, I hope you give them hell!!

[elfbiter.livejournal.com]

Aw grud. Excuses or "real" reasons?

[maryrcrumpton.livejournal.com]

Sorry to hear about this. Hope you find something else soon.

Mary x

[x-mass.livejournal.com]

ack
sorry
and sorry to be crap but...
You need to sign on and sort out HB immediatly!
Like do this today whilist your on leave!
you might get a job next week but if you don't you will be hemoraging money
If you sign on and get JSA that gets you into the system, once your registered as unemployed or that you will be unemployed at X date, then you immediatly goto to Housing benefit and register with them. If you have IS/JSA then you will immediatly get full HB assuming that the rent officer oks your rent.
whatever happens you need to do this now, don't leave it i have watched people drive themselves into massive debt rather than sign on, do it and now, today and then move on with looking for a job

[abigailb.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I don't even know when I'm officially leaving - so is that possible yet? I'll definitely get stuff sorted out quickly this time - I remember last time round I was so depressed I took months to sort it out - but not living with parents now so that's not an option anymore.

[firinel.livejournal.com]

aww, that sucks. I'm sorry, and will think good job-finding thoughts for you.

[x-mass.livejournal.com]

I think its possible to get it started but they wont be able to complete the sign on without a leaving date
on HB you can pretty much start that immediatly they will want evidence of your savings, so they can adjust how much you will get.
You might want to go to a local bookstore and order a copy of The CPAG handbook AKA welfare and benefits and tax credits handbook 2005/2006 isbn 1 901698 75 0
I use the handbook to track my way round the benefits system its £33 now or you could wait till your signed on and go down to to london to CPAG and they will sell you one for £7. They might ship it by post to you direct now and since your now unemployed you might get it for £7 but they haven't been reliable with me in the past

[grim-tim.livejournal.com]

That's nasty. Best of luck with the job hunt

[grim-tim.livejournal.com]

Sorry, I meant to use *this* icon :/

[barakta]

You can order the welfare handbook from CPAG's website and it's £8 for unemployed people. When I ordered mine they didn't ask for any proof of unemployment. Postage was free as well.

Useful book, especially when I had to play the income support game. I'd recommend it to anyone who's got £8 to spare.

Right at the bottom of http://www.cpag.org.uk/publications/ Click on the link and play with the form (which you have to print I think). I posted it with a cheque and my book came through within a week or so.

[hairyears.livejournal.com]

Put in a CV to ZEDA up in Nottingham, see what they say. In fact, a couple of days' commuting up to Notty and talking to pimps (SP? Recruitment agents?) is probably more productive than sifting the jobs market in Leicester.

I wouldn't think that Brum - even directly over New Street Station - is do-able as a commute these days.

And the time to start is now. Walking out before your notice is up, straight into a new office, is waay better than job-hunting when you're not in a job. Apparently the disloyal are desirable potential hires, and the unemployed are unemployable.

[abigailb.livejournal.com]

It always seemed rather absurd that it takes very nearly as long to get to Brum by train as it does to St Pancras. But then it's also a lot cheaper. Possibly things may change with the integrated East Midlands franchise.

[lady-miamew.livejournal.com]

Aww nuts thats bad news indeed. I really hope you find something else suitable soon. Will keep my ears open for you. *big hugs*

[annomalley.livejournal.com]

Well that's something - this brings back bad memory and I wished I'd had a friendly lawyer (or been in a union) at the time... Good luck!

[otterylexa.livejournal.com]

Get the forms and fill in what you can, anyway.

[merlina.livejournal.com]

ack - sorry to hear that sweetie :(
are you coming to psychocandy to drown sorrows?
I'l buy you a beer! ;)

[abigailb.livejournal.com]

I certainly shall!