Not so Newbie at EOC

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Promoted!!

Just had to post a quick one to say that I found out today that I have been promoted to Allocator. Woohoo!! Had the interview on Monday and apparently it went quite well and got the phonecall today!!

So instead of Beaker the EMD Grade 2, I am now Beaker the Allocator!! Yeah me - and everyone else who got it.

Will update photo with new epaulettes when I get them!!

posted by Beaker at 5:32 PM

31 Comments:

  • Good on you!

    By Anonymous mc1rvariant, at 7:19 PM  

  • Snap! Loads of congratulations to you!

    By Anonymous Mark Myers, at 7:46 PM  

  • YAYY!!!
    Well done buddy, big hugs and gongrats!
    xxx

    By Anonymous Bouncy EMD, at 9:18 PM  

  • why spend anytime at grade3 when you can just bypass it

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 8:12 PM  

  • Dear anonymous
    I've been doing the job of a grade 3 for the last year or so. If someone is able to do the job then give it to them.

    By Blogger Beaker, at 4:10 PM  

  • Actually Anon - Beaker HAS been working well above her rank for ages - and knows her job well.

    I've worked with her on many occasions and would do so again happily.

    By Anonymous Charlie, at 9:54 AM  

  • you've not been doing a grade 3 job tho ? you've been off sick for ages ?

    let's just hope you don't come unstuck without managers or certain others around to "assist " you

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 2:58 AM  

  • Some very jealous people seem to read your blog beaker..

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:44 AM  

  • Many congratulations!

    By Anonymous oliviascotland, at 10:44 AM  

  • We're not jealous, just disappointed that the LAS don't treat people equally...

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11:49 AM  

  • Who isn't being treated equally?

    I'm not going to apologise for being off to have 3 major spinal surgeries and even with that time off I've still been doing the job over a year.

    And it's not my fault if you, or someone you know and think should have got it, didn't.

    Usual promotional backlash - happens for every promotion! Thanks to everyone who has congratulated me.

    By Blogger Beaker, at 1:50 PM  

  • Fair enough re being off, but there are people that have been off for equally genuine reasons that management refused to let apply becauuse of that..... Doen't seem fair to me....

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 1:53 PM  

  • I thought I would jump in, Beaker has been refused promotion on several occations due to sick,that is why she was still a grade 2 when she got allocator. We all know on every promotion that some people seem to get knocked back who can do the job standing on their head which is why that is work's fault not the EMD. And as for the comment of beaker coming un stuck you obviousley don't know her very well. Congratulations Beaker

    By Anonymous Fellow Allocator, at 5:24 PM  

  • It could never happen.

    First, I can't imagine Beaker 'coming unstuck'. Second, even if she did, they'd always be people around to assist, because we all look out for each other (on our watch anyway). Beaker's helped me out plenty of times and I'm sure she knows I'd do the same for her anytime, and there's plenty of people that I know feel the same.

    We all love each other, and everybody loves Beaker! x

    By Anonymous Bouncy EMD, at 9:03 PM  

  • Anonymous. I think I know what you are getting at re being off so I just want to set the record straight. I was not on an MAP or any other informal or formal disciplinary regarding sick when I applied or got allocator. I was on an MAP Aug 2007-Aug 2008 hence missing out on other promotions as "fellow allocator" said. Please don't think Management or anyone else put me through when they shouldn't have. I was fully entitled to apply.

    And that is the last I have to say on this matter.

    By Blogger Beaker, at 12:16 AM  

  • I stand corrected and I apologised in that case. I only ever posted the second two comments so please don't think I doubt your ability - that was never an issue.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 8:59 AM  

  • If only beaker really knew the truth about what people think.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11:50 AM  

  • You mean what certain people think. This is a bit childish don't you think.

    By Anonymous Fellow Allocator, at 12:19 PM  

  • LOL it appears the control room is full of not only green polyester but also green eyed monsters!! Well I would like to wish you all the best and congrats. You are more than able to do the job, you know your stuff. Those that can't get onto or fail the promotional process should concentrate on putting their own house in order and less on the complaining and bitching about others. Better luck next time eh "Anon" !!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3:12 PM  

  • Re: Fellow allocator....childish? About as childish as keeping an online diary, but lets not get petty.
    Are we not able to give our opinions on the matter? And what better way than to direct them to the actual person in question.
    It's extremely frustrating in the room, and the phrase "if the face fits" springs to mind on numerous occasions.
    No green eyed monster here, just airing my views. Not that my opinion matters as my intention in life is not to brown nose certain superiors...

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 2:55 PM  

  • I know I've told you this in private, but wanted to say publicly...WELL DONE YOU!!!!

    As to those who aren't so pleased, I'm sorry you feel that way, but as a member of road crew staff, Beaker fully deserves the promotion.

    Nothing is ever too much trouble for her when crews want help - no matter how small or big the request is, and I've NEVER heard her be rude or short with any crew - no matter how far they've pushed her.

    Beaker is a credit to the job, and knows exactly what she's doing, and keeps a cool head in a crisis. My only regret about her promotion to Allocator is that she won't be on the SW desk any more.

    If you don't like her blog - then don't bloody read it - don't come on here slagging it off. Between Beaker and Neenaw, I've got to have at least some understanding of why sometimes you get sent on something that I otherwise would have questioned.

    And as for her being off sick - I know of times when she's been at work even though being in excruciating pain - and worked through it to the end of her shift.

    If only others could have that much guts....

    By Blogger Steve, at 4:57 PM  

  • Oh, and as for the comment:

    "And what better way than to direct them to the actual person in question."

    Why don't you approach her and talk to her fae to face? Beaker is one of the most approachable people I know, and she'd respect you a lot more for it.

    This is a problem I've had with my blog - and it pisses me off too, knowing that someone I work with is too gutless to say something to my face!

    By Blogger Steve, at 5:10 PM  

  • Let her know face to face? It would not be worth my working life coming in and my day being an absolute nightmare as her "bodyguards" at work give me hell. No thanks.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 5:58 PM  

  • LOL!!!!!!!!!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 7:15 PM  

  • This is a blog not an insult page

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 7:32 AM  

  • Well done Beaker its was much deserved, and as for those who say they are airing their opinions, simply get over it!

    Beaker got the job fair and square so get on with it and get over it.

    The comments are cowardly especially when your not brave enough to tell beaker who you are.

    Again I say well done Beaker and all the best for the future.

    By Anonymous KGL, at 5:31 PM  

  • What has upset people in EOC more about this latest round of promotions is the the whole promotion process. 5 years ago , there was no "management referral", you had to apply , get short listed , pass a written exam , and then the part that is no longer used and probably the MOST important part you had a work place assessment to make sure the person could actually do the job in real life ,and then pass an interview not like the promotion process now where people can go to one manager for a management refferal get turned down as they are deemed "unsuitable" , so they go to another manager whose more of a soft touch who just signs the bit of paper and thats it.Classic case of this was for a certain person who was turned down for a management referral by there OCM and AOM , so went to a different OCM who gave him the referral ...
    It also seems strange these days that people can jump from grade 2 to allocator and bypass a grade , even though they failed when they applied to become a grade 3 ?? So i suppose someone could actually become a allocator whose never even used the radio ?
    If you have been in EOC a few years you might remember a person who became a Sector controller , from being an EMD 2 - using this "new" style promotion process, he had only ever worked on the FRU desk, got his sector controller rank movedto a sector and could only do the radio and answer phones ! whereas if there had been a practical workplace assessment this would have been noticed before he got promoted !!

    The other fault with this management referral lark , is that different managers are applying the application criteria in different ways. i.e. having 6 periods of sickness or 18 days in the previous 2 years is a automatic block to the promotion, regadless if the reasons are genuine or not. The whole reason "management referral" wasnt used several years ago was so there could be no accusations of favouritisim.As demonstrated by this latest round of promotions, obviously peoples fears have been well founded.

    On a final note , whats scary , is that a couple of the people promoted to allocator, one person was not allowed by there own team to allocate or when they worked with different teams as they were considered dangerous and a liability ! one has only ever worked on one sector and bursts into tears if there is more than 5 calls on there screen !!

    so, sorry but the whole promotion system in EOC is now considered farcical , even to the point of being corrupt.
    My solution ?
    1- get rid of the management referral
    2 - stop the applicaton papers being marked by EOC managers(even though they state they cant see the persons name on the paper)
    3 - Go back to the old way of having to apply and the papers going to an outside agency to be marked before you could get shortlisted and through personnel dept to make sure they had low sickness , no discips etc
    4 - bring back an 8 hour workplace assessment to actualy make sure the person can do the job rather than just write and talk about it

    By Anonymous An Allocator, at 2:38 AM  

  • well you know you have made it when your blog hits BWTS lol......

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 4:38 PM  

  • And the post on the BWTS shows -- people really do not care! The only ones having a dig and bitching are the ones that are jealous and wanting to make a personal attack. You can call it "frustrated" , dress it up however you like, but by coming on here and having a go, behind the safety of your pc and your anonymity is really very sad. Surely you can use Beavers case as an example should you be refused the chance to reply next time. It's not all bad!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 5:20 PM  

  • well seeing that the majority of people that post on BWTS are roadstaff , thats probably why they dont really care ..

    But i think another EOC persons blog , who was also promted to allocator (nee-naw blog) , has had no negative comments re there promotion , unlike this one which has had plenty ! No smoke without fire as they say ?

    By Anonymous fredthefrog, at 8:05 PM  

  • I work for another service but if road staff act and treat us like kids then we ain't going to be upset to send you on late calls, I work in a control room and I have plenty of road staff friends, and funnily enough try actually know how it works in control.

    Don't blame the call takers, dispatchers and allocaters about bad triage the call takers know when the triage system is wrong and they can't see the pnt all they get is a voice on the phone.
    As for re never getting off late that's a lie more often than not I will end up leaving late and I'm not bitter about it, we certainly don't get home cooked breakfasts and the chairs have you ever been in a control room most of them are falling apart and aren't very comfortable especially when your doing 8-12 hour shifts.

    Don't be so personal when it comes to operations if there needed there needed and it's management and occ health who decide if you go back on the road and you now that.

    And you are the spineless, cowardly one you leave a uncalled for comment, you probably haven't even met beaker so you can't pass judgement and you probabt have never been in control for more than what an hour and have never seen what happens and how it works.
    And if your as bitter as that it's probably about time you did another job, and work where everything is perfect and you have everything you way and where pigs fly!

    Keep your chin up beaker!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:23 AM  

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