UK Ferry Tickets

Most of the responses this week were on the work/life balance, and whether we’ve got it right. Jackie says she is fortunate enough to be able to purchase up to 10 days’ extra leave per year. She adds: “and guess what…I do!”

Someone who signs off as “cm” says that no-one is irreplaceable and points out the folly of refusing to take holiday.

“When you do take your holidays (and you should for your own mental and physical health, if nothing else), anything that cannot wait will be done by someone else and everything else will be on your desk when you get back,” says cm. “It’s a bad manager who expects his work force to feel under so much pressure that they do not take their holiday and it does not make for a happy workforce.”

Terry is very frustrated. He has been applying for jobs over the past five years and is fed up with employers telling him he is too experienced or over-qualified for the jobs he applies for. He is 40, has epilepsy and believes the truth is that employers are reluctant to give him a chance because of his condition.

Terry, here’s a suggestion. Why not email me some more of your details – experience, location and type of job you are looking for. I can include them in the next blog (in the New Year), along with your email for prospective employers to contact you if they wish. You never know, it may lead to something.

Meanwhile, Paul strongly believes there should be some regulation preventing holiday companies from advertising prices on websites that fall far short of the total amount you have to pay.

He says that, by now, companies should be aware of fuel costs and not have to charge hefty supplements. But the thing that annoys him most is when companies quote a price and then add a hefty extra if there are only two people travelling (this is because prices are often based on four or six people buying the trip).

“On one occasion, the holiday price quoted was £250 and the extra supplements totalled £350!,” he says.

Of course, with the new APD ruling, the supplements are going to get even bigger.

Guest Article by Jeremy Skidmore

Sunday, December 31st, 2006