Boots and saddles
So, I'm back on the staff of a civil engineering company, which is pretty much the last thing I expected for what is likely, the last lap of my career.
There's a general purge going on, of contract employment as IR35 bites deeper. There's a lot of pushback, because civil engineering simply doesn't pay enough for what it demands, the work-life balance is seriously lacking and working conditions are no better than ever.
However there is an acute shortage of labour and skills and rates are rising. I still wouldn't travel any distance for work under the conditions offered, having become accustomed to conditions in other sectors. Who knows what Boris is doing with HS2, but the next couple of years are going to be pretty nuts on the recruiting front ... and 2-3 years is a long time in my present career state.
But, right now I'm in steady work within an easy commute, so I'm going with that.
As ever, PPE is an issue and I can't wear my drillers wellies (until I get the Risk Assesment signed off, anyway). I've also thrown out my old lace up boots and gone for the Red Wing Boa boots I got from the Slimdrill rep in Yarmouth (freebies are back on the oilpatch, folks!). Same goes for my full brim hard hat. I've got a big issue of cheapo stuff from Arco which has gone straight in the back of the car, I've got Helly Hanson and Cofra, Black Lader (blackadders as they are known over here), I don't need Arco cheap junk for a British winter!
Edited by rockershovel
- 1
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