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Feb 12, 2021 15:54:57 GMT
Post by Tim on Feb 12, 2021 15:54:57 GMT
I find myself in the unpleasant position of agreeing with an employee of KPMG I really don't see what's wrong with his REPORTED comments, of course if there's more to it then that may be different. Everyone I know who has been on any sort of work-sponsored self improvement course has very quickly slipped back in to their old ways. Maybe I just need some new colleagues and friends? www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-56038215
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Feb 12, 2021 17:08:20 GMT
Post by johnc on Feb 12, 2021 17:08:20 GMT
I don't disagree with the sentiment of what he said at all. However someone has taken exception to it because they are oh so sensitive. In future maybe employee selection (or more likely rejection) will be through some sensitivity test instead of the psychometric testing. I hate bullies in the workplace but everyone needs a bit of a backbone.
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Feb 12, 2021 17:10:39 GMT
Post by michael on Feb 12, 2021 17:10:39 GMT
I'm not an accountant but I'd have thought as a profession it's one used to giving and receiving uncomfortable truths.
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Feb 17, 2021 7:46:12 GMT
Post by PG on Feb 17, 2021 7:46:12 GMT
What did for him was not so much the comments (which at face value seem to be pretty much common sense), but the toxic culture he'd created at the firm in recent years. So the staff were out to get him and he gave them the perfect opportunity. Reading the more in depth articles on the business pages, KPMG has been trying to save money by cutting staff without actually having to pay to make them redundant. They did this by introducing a forced ranking staff appraisal system. The bottom section were all put on Performance Improvement Plans and a lot of them resigned rather than be "managed out". Thus KPMG saved a fortune of redundancy payments. Good pay rises and bonuses only go to the top echelon, thus more money can also be saved on pay rises and promotions.
Having worked for an employer who also ran this system for a few years, I can tell you that it is utterly toxic for good staff relations. Yes you may save money on making the bottom 10% redundant and the top 20% will be happy with their situation. But the "vital 70%" as staff were called, just get increasingly pissed off.
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Feb 17, 2021 8:41:47 GMT
Post by Tim on Feb 17, 2021 8:41:47 GMT
Perhaps that goes some way to explain why KPMG are, in my opinion having been audited by them for 2 years, utterly shit?
They know how to charge fees as well. Our cost tripled simply because a couple of people at the top of our organisation felt we needed to have an auditor with a recognised name rather than a more local firm. Even though that name was in the media for all the wrong reasons at the time (2016).
Fortunately common sense prevailed and we're back with someone more reasonable who also provide a much better service both for audit and additional support.
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Feb 17, 2021 9:29:16 GMT
Post by PG on Feb 17, 2021 9:29:16 GMT
Perhaps that goes some way to explain why KPMG are, in my opinion having been audited by them for 2 years, utterly shit? I've not got a good word to say for a any of the big four, although (like most shit organisations) within them they have a few really good people who are great to work with and seem to justify what they charge. But in general, the big 4 all know how to charge huge fees for nothing special, yet seem to think they are god's gift to the business world.
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Feb 17, 2021 19:45:17 GMT
Post by Boxer6 on Feb 17, 2021 19:45:17 GMT
Having received an email about an "exciting online event" from Skoda today, I've just specced as close to my current Octavia as possible with the only major difference being DSG instead of a keep-fit box.
£34,895!!!
Won't be troubling them any time soon I fear.
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Feb 17, 2021 19:53:52 GMT
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Post by PetrolEd on Feb 17, 2021 19:53:52 GMT
Having received an email about an "exciting online event" from Skoda today, I've just specced as close to my current Octavia as possible with the only major difference being DSG instead of a keep-fit box.
£34,895!!!
Won't be troubling them any time soon I fear.
If that’s the cost of the “budget” brand, how much is the Gti or S3
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Feb 17, 2021 21:37:29 GMT
Post by Boxer6 on Feb 17, 2021 21:37:29 GMT
Having received an email about an "exciting online event" from Skoda today, I've just specced as close to my current Octavia as possible with the only major difference being DSG instead of a keep-fit box.
£34,895!!!
Won't be troubling them any time soon I fear.
If that’s the cost of the “budget” brand, how much is the Gti or S3 I'm almost too scared to look! And that was for the SE-L spec, so pretty much middle of the range, with the Laurent & Klement and vRS above it (plus at least one other I can't remember now). Didn't get brave enough to look at the Kodiaq, or even a Superb, either of which I might have considered.
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Feb 17, 2021 21:48:34 GMT
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Post by LandieMark on Feb 17, 2021 21:48:34 GMT
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Feb 17, 2021 21:51:20 GMT
Post by Martin on Feb 17, 2021 21:51:20 GMT
If that’s the cost of the “budget” brand, how much is the Gti or S3 I'm almost too scared to look! And that was for the SE-L spec, so pretty much middle of the range, with the Laurent & Klement and vRS above it (plus at least one other I can't remember now). Didn't get brave enough to look at the Kodiaq, or even a Superb, either of which I might have considered. Take at least 17% off that and it’s £29k. A Golf GTI starts at £33.5k, so from £29k before options and an S3 is £38k (£34k), but you’d want a Vorsprung so you can have DCC so make that £45.5k (£41.5k)
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Feb 18, 2021 8:44:35 GMT
Post by johnc on Feb 18, 2021 8:44:35 GMT
Or you could get a relatively lightly used M2 or even M2Comp for that money.
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Feb 18, 2021 9:08:36 GMT
Post by Martin on Feb 18, 2021 9:08:36 GMT
Or you could get a relatively lightly used M2 or even M2Comp for that money. Or a relatively lightly used Octavia / GTI for a lot less money! If you didn't have to have new, Mk8 GTIs are down to £26k already and I've just had a look, you can get a new shape Octavia SE-L (manual admittedly) for £19k.
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Feb 18, 2021 15:31:04 GMT
Post by Boxer6 on Feb 18, 2021 15:31:04 GMT
Or you could get a relatively lightly used M2 or even M2Comp for that money. Or a relatively lightly used Octavia / GTI for a lot less money! If you didn't have to have new, Mk8 GTIs are down to £26k already and I've just had a look, you can get a new shape Octavia SE-L (manual admittedly) for £19k. To be honest, I only looked as they were punting a 0% finance offer for the specified period. I have little interest in new cars these days, precisely for the reason that I could get one at not much more than a bawhair over half list price with most, if not all, the spec I want. I struck extremely lucky with my current steed, and I have no intention of moving it on any time soon unless something major goes tits-up. It's getting a nice new set of PS4's next week, just to show it a bit of love - might even give it a wash!
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Feb 18, 2021 17:46:51 GMT
Post by PG on Feb 18, 2021 17:46:51 GMT
.. just to show it a bit of love - might even give it a wash!.. Steady on. It's the winter.
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Feb 18, 2021 17:50:46 GMT
Post by Martin on Feb 18, 2021 17:50:46 GMT
.. just to show it a bit of love - might even give it a wash!.. Steady on. It's the winter. It does feel like a bit of a waste of time, but it's good to get the salt off. I gave mine a 30min hands free clean on Sunday morning and it was dirty again by the afternoon, but it did really need it. Hopefully they have stopped salting the roads now and it will start to stay clean for longer.
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Feb 18, 2021 19:24:36 GMT
Post by Boxer6 on Feb 18, 2021 19:24:36 GMT
Steady on. It's the winter. It does feel like a bit of a waste of time, but it's good to get the salt off. I gave mine a 30min hands free clean on Sunday morning and it was dirty again by the afternoon, but it did really need it. Hopefully they have stopped salting the roads now and it will start to stay clean for longer. I tend to the Blarno school of car washing I'm afraid, but there are limits - and it's reached them! Besides, it's more pleasant for the tyre guys working on a clean(ish) car, I'm sure.
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Feb 18, 2021 19:28:47 GMT
Post by Martin on Feb 18, 2021 19:28:47 GMT
It does feel like a bit of a waste of time, but it's good to get the salt off. I gave mine a 30min hands free clean on Sunday morning and it was dirty again by the afternoon, but it did really need it. Hopefully they have stopped salting the roads now and it will start to stay clean for longer. I tend to the Blarno school of car washing I'm afraid, but there are limits - and it's reached them! Besides, it's more pleasant for the tyre guys working on a clean(ish) car, I'm sure. I’ll never understand not cleaning a car for months I’m afraid, not unless it’s something you really don’t care about.....I hope I never feel that way about my car. It doesn’t take long anyway and I’ve not used a bucket and sponge (mitt) for some time, no need when it only takes 30min (less for the Golf) to get it 90-95% clean. Which is 110% clean compared to most hand car wash places! Thankfully I’ve not had to use one of those since I had the 520d and rented an apartment for 6 months.
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Feb 18, 2021 19:38:18 GMT
Post by Boxer6 on Feb 18, 2021 19:38:18 GMT
I tend to the Blarno school of car washing I'm afraid, but there are limits - and it's reached them! Besides, it's more pleasant for the tyre guys working on a clean(ish) car, I'm sure. I’ll never understand not cleaning a car for months I’m afraid, not unless it’s something you really don’t care about.....I hope I never feel that way about my car. It doesn’t take long anyway and I’ve not used a bucket and sponge (mitt) for some time, no need when it only takes 30min (less for the Golf) to get it 90-95% clean. Which is 110% clean compared to most hand car wash places! Thankfully I’ve not had to use one of those since I had the 520d and rented an apartment for 6 months. I think the longest I've ever gone without washing any of my cars was about 6 weeks, which was in the bad winter of 2010! Washing a car then would have been pretty lethal in terms of the much increased pedestrian activity at the time!
In contrast, none of my bikes were ever left more than a week, and usually washed down every other day! Apart from the last ZX636 they all lived outside, so it was easy to motivate myself to do them.
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Feb 18, 2021 19:47:32 GMT
Post by Martin on Feb 18, 2021 19:47:32 GMT
I’ll never understand not cleaning a car for months I’m afraid, not unless it’s something you really don’t care about.....I hope I never feel that way about my car. It doesn’t take long anyway and I’ve not used a bucket and sponge (mitt) for some time, no need when it only takes 30min (less for the Golf) to get it 90-95% clean. Which is 110% clean compared to most hand car wash places! Thankfully I’ve not had to use one of those since I had the 520d and rented an apartment for 6 months. I think the longest I've ever gone without washing any of my cars was about 6 weeks, which was in the bad winter of 2010! Washing a car then would have been pretty lethal in terms of the much increased pedestrian activity at the time!
In contrast, none of my bikes were ever left more than a week, and usually washed down every other day! Apart from the last ZX636 they all lived outside, so it was easy to motivate myself to do them.
6 weeks, that’s not the Blarno school of car washing!
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Feb 18, 2021 19:50:20 GMT
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Martin likes this
Post by LandieMark on Feb 18, 2021 19:50:20 GMT
I tend to the Blarno school of car washing I'm afraid, but there are limits - and it's reached them! Besides, it's more pleasant for the tyre guys working on a clean(ish) car, I'm sure. I’ll never understand not cleaning a car for months I’m afraid, not unless it’s something you really don’t care about.....I hope I never feel that way about my car. It doesn’t take long anyway and I’ve not used a bucket and sponge (mitt) for some time, no need when it only takes 30min (less for the Golf) to get it 90-95% clean. Which is 110% clean compared to most hand car wash places! Thankfully I’ve not had to use one of those since I had the 520d and rented an apartment for 6 months. The last car I was meticulous about was the Legacy. I was less so about the Merc, but it got washed regularly. The Land Rover got washed when I felt like it which wasn't often or when it was plastered as I don't like mud drying too hard underneath. The new truck will get a weekly wash and I will keep it polished/waxed as needed. Probably use Aqua/speed wax in the winter as its quick. I've actually been to buy a new wash mitt and some foam and a foam gun as my last one is a bit knackered.
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Post by Boxer6 on Feb 18, 2021 19:56:08 GMT
I think the longest I've ever gone without washing any of my cars was about 6 weeks, which was in the bad winter of 2010! Washing a car then would have been pretty lethal in terms of the much increased pedestrian activity at the time!
In contrast, none of my bikes were ever left more than a week, and usually washed down every other day! Apart from the last ZX636 they all lived outside, so it was easy to motivate myself to do them.
6 weeks, that’s not the Blarno school of car washing! Well, I did say "tend" to!!
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Feb 18, 2021 21:23:56 GMT
Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Feb 18, 2021 21:23:56 GMT
Has anyone got an ice cream man coming round? For the last two weeks the same van has come round every single day. Got to love his optimism.
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Feb 18, 2021 21:34:51 GMT
Post by Martin on Feb 18, 2021 21:34:51 GMT
Has anyone got an ice cream man coming round? For the last two weeks the same van has come round every single day. Got to love his optimism. We have, I noticed it for the first time on Saturday.
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Feb 18, 2021 22:20:22 GMT
Post by Boxer6 on Feb 18, 2021 22:20:22 GMT
Has anyone got an ice cream man coming round? For the last two weeks the same van has come round every single day. Got to love his optimism. Has anyone got an ice cream man coming round? For the last two weeks the same van has come round every single day. Got to love his optimism. We have, I noticed it for the first time on Saturday. Have you noticed people nearby being slightly, umm, off their faces recently? Many of these things in certain (Glasgow) places are mobile dealing dens!!!
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Feb 19, 2021 8:14:05 GMT
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Post by michael on Feb 19, 2021 8:14:05 GMT
Has anyone got an ice cream man coming round? For the last two weeks the same van has come round every single day. Got to love his optimism. We have, I noticed it for the first time on Saturday. Have you noticed people nearby being slightly, umm, off their faces recently? Many of these things in certain (Glasgow) places are mobile dealing dens!!! I think that’s probably a Scottish thing. Worst drugs record in Europe and all that.
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Feb 19, 2021 9:30:06 GMT
Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Feb 19, 2021 9:30:06 GMT
Has anyone got an ice cream man coming round? For the last two weeks the same van has come round every single day. Got to love his optimism. We have, I noticed it for the first time on Saturday. Have you noticed people nearby being slightly, umm, off their faces recently? Many of these things in certain (Glasgow) places are mobile dealing dens!!! Two 99s and an ounce of skag please? I will investigate and report back. I remember the one that parked outside our school sold single cigarettes and the one that came round my mate’s house in Blyth did a roaring trade in under the counter porno videos.
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Feb 19, 2021 11:06:40 GMT
Post by ChrisM on Feb 19, 2021 11:06:40 GMT
Not heard or seen any ice cream vans round my way this year yet, but this does remind me of one place where I worked... and shows the kind of crap places I have worked at.....
We were on an industrial estate a little way from any shops etc, an ice cream van came round every weekday afternoon. After a few weeks one of our Directors went out and spoke to the driver/salesman, and told him not to stop close to our site as he didn't want "workers" interrupting their work to go out to buy an ice cream.
When said Director went on his summer holiday, it didn't take long for one of our staff to listen out, chase after the van and tell him he could revert to stopping outside our place for a couple of weeks as the miserable git was away
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Feb 19, 2021 14:41:28 GMT
Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Feb 19, 2021 14:41:28 GMT
Not heard or seen any ice cream vans round my way this year yet, but this does remind me of one place where I worked... and shows the kind of crap places I have worked at..... We were on an industrial estate a little way from any shops etc, an ice cream van came round every weekday afternoon. After a few weeks one of our Directors went out and spoke to the driver/salesman, and told him not to stop close to our site as he didn't want "workers" interrupting their work to go out to buy an ice cream. When said Director went on his summer holiday, it didn't take long for one of our staff to listen out, chase after the van and tell him he could revert to stopping outside our place for a couple of weeks as the miserable git was away I remember the van coming onto our industrial estate and the MD saw it out of his window and sneaked out for an ice cream. When he turned round with it there were over 20 members of staff queued up behind him and he had to buy every one a cone (and a Raspberry Mivvi for the strange bloke in IT). EDIT: It's back again, right on time.
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Feb 19, 2021 20:31:56 GMT
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Post by Alex on Feb 19, 2021 20:31:56 GMT
If you've only heard it not seen it then there's every chance it could be a sandwich van. But it wouldn't surprise me if it was an ice cream van bearing in mind that all school children are at home all day with frazzled home working parents who will happily let them go get an ice cream if it means they get 5 minutes peace!
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