A career as a signaller

[Tom Quinne]

You say that, but the same is also applicable at single-manned locations too. Notoriously, two signallers in Kent once made the front page of The Sun (must have been a slow news day!) after getting involved in a punch-up caused by a long-festering dispute over... fridge etiquette

(Can't find the Currant Bun version, but this incident.)

Same at Bristol Panel a few years ago!

 

[Nippy]

Same at Bristol Panel a few years ago!

That was about a window......

 

[nom de guerre]

I once read an autobiography by a former lighthouse keeper and it was a very familiar tale of people cooped up with too much time on their hands and petty grievances to settle.

This. A scenario which applies equally to single or multi-manned boxes, albeit usually implemented in different ways ...!


Note > this clip does contain some expletives...

 

[amanda08]

What have I let myself in for! Lmao

 

[Tom Quinne]

That was about a window......

I believe so yes, at least at TVSC you simply can’t open them ! lol

 

[Tom Quinne]

What have I let myself in for! Lmao

You’ll significantly bring up the Maturity level !

 

[High Dyke]

Thanks. I thought that may be the case.
Someone else said if you are to take RDW, best to do on on your single days off, for exactly the reason you give re night shifts!

Oddly enough...I'm doing that next week - one RDW for a week on nights. it saves rosters having to pay two RDW to someone else essentially. I know there are those that would rather have two RDW shifts, but a week of nights suits me.

Regarding time off for events etc. The roster clerks at Derby are pretty good, and will help you out where possible. For example they help me during football season with many early turns on the days my team has a home match; I volunteer as a member of the backroom staff. If you know well in advance when you may need to be there for transport for the young 'in, then just tell them you're not available (for example) 1800 - 2200. They will try their best to help you.

 

[High Dyke]

I have seen several very very elaborate attempts to annoy colleagues in signalboxes over the years. Sometimes managing signallers is like running a tots’ nursery class.

I've said before that we (signallers) can be our own worst enemy. I used to work a Grade 1 location where the three resident staff were just like that. Depending who was on duty meant you'd either have a sensible handover or a useless one. You would find post-it notes, from one individual, on the fridge complaining the temperature was too low and their milk was freezing up or that you could only look at the calendar if you were in the trade union. Yes, it was that petty! Their manager often despaired of them, but as they turned up for work on time and did the job without any issues there was little that could be said.

 

[LOM]

I've said before that we (signallers) can be our own worst enemy. I used to work a Grade 1 location where the three resident staff were just like that. Depending who was on duty meant you'd either have a sensible handover or a useless one. You would find post-it notes, from one individual, on the fridge complaining the temperature was too low and their milk was freezing up or that you could only look at the calendar if you were in the trade union. Yes, it was that petty! Their manager often despaired of them, but as they turned up for work on time and did the job without any issues there was little that could be said.

Yes, I remember all out war over a reliefman writing on the box calendar. It is apparently for the use of residents only you see.

I think because you spend so much time there, there can be a tendancy to become possessive about your box in a way that you do not get with an office job.

 

[High Dyke]

Yes, I remember all out war over a reliefman writing on the box calendar. It is apparently for the use of residents only you see.

I think because you spend so much time there, there can be a tendancy to become possessive about your box in a way that you do not get with an office job.

That's probably a fair point about a resident signaller. Whereas, us nomads of a certain % can be much maligned by our colleagues for not tidying up/emptying the bin, not replacing the toilet roll, taking pens and using another persons milk.

 

[LOM]

And of course the reliefman’s favourite pastime, poor aim in the toilet.

 

[amanda08]

And of course the reliefman’s favourite pastime, poor aim in the toilet.

I’m thinking my work equipment should include my own portable mini fridge and portopotty so I don’t accidentally annoy my colleagues lol

 

[Qball]

Or confiscating half a bag tea bags (1040 bag)

 

[godfreycomplex]

You say that, but the same is applicable at single-manned locations too. Notoriously, two signallers in Kent once made the front page of The Sun (must have been a slow news day!) after getting involved in a punch-up caused by a long-festering dispute over... fridge etiquette

(Can't find the Currant Bun version, but this incident.)

Oh good grief...
The examples above make for depressing yet familiar reading - there are some absolute weapons in this job sadly (the resident/relief “beef” is particularly idiotic)
But they are in a lot of locations outnumbered (Or at the very least about equalled) by friendly and welcoming normal people who just wish to live in harmony. To anyone coming into the job from outside don’t despair on reading the above, it’s by no means universal.

 

[Llanigraham]

Yes, I remember all out war over a reliefman writing on the box calendar. It is apparently for the use of residents only you see.

I think because you spend so much time there, there can be a tendancy to become possessive about your box in a way that you do not get with an office job.

I suspect every signle-manned Box will have some story of disagreements.
Our Box had a semi-official agreement that shift change was done 30 minutes before the booked time (so 0530, 1730) but we had one resident, who also happened to live closest to the Box, who would only ever turn up at 5 minutes to the hour. Even the LOM and the Union Rep wouldn't get him to change.
And then there's the resident who was less scrupulous with personal fresshness and didn't use deodorants.
Our biggest "moan" was the Reliefman who smoked. None of us residents did but this guy would smoke in the Box. That never got sorted out, even when they banned smoking; he just did it at the top of the stairs and left the door open.

 

[Cjbennett10]

Hi When I applied and failed the benchmark I contacted HR and they gave me my results and that I can retake the items that I didn't reach the benchmark in, in 6 months. Really hoping that I meet them next time, I was having a bad day, struggling with my computer and rushed the last few questions, I hope that was the problem when I failed, but we will see.

Ah really, that’s good to hear, I’ve tried contacting HR as I feel one of my tests didn’t go through right as it said I had completed it before I had even clicked start.. who knows. Hopefully they can show me the error of my ways and then we can both fingers crossed pass the next time around. Going to be a long wait though - I’ve never felt so ready to do something - the wait is awful!

 

[amanda08]

Can I just ask about salary as relief?

Pay one grade below during training school and in box training.
Move to full grade pay once passed out of home box
How many boxes to you have to be signed off for, before getting relief %?
I read it takes about 8 weeks to be signed off in first box. Are the other boxes the same, or is it it a faster process subsequently?

Do you tend to train in one box at a time, or Multiple boxes together?

Many thanks

 

[Tom Quinne]

Can I just ask about salary as relief?

Pay one grade below during training school and in box training.
Move to full grade pay once passed out of home box
How many boxes to you have to be signed off for, before getting relief %?
I read it takes about 8 weeks to be signed off in first box. Are the other boxes the same, or is it it a faster process subsequently?

Do you tend to train in one box at a time, or Multiple boxes together?

Many thanks

As soon as you sign your 2nd location you’ll get your full relief.

Your first box your learning the job, as well as the box wo will take longer - after you’ve learnt the job and been passed out the next location will be signed off much quicker.
You’ll learn one location at a time, however you may find your pulled off training to man shifts at boxes you sign, unless your LOM states you’ll learn all then sign them off in bulk.

 

[amanda08]

As soon as you sign your 2nd location you’ll get your full relief.

Your first box your learning the job, as well as the box wo will take longer - after you’ve learnt the job and been passed out the next location will be signed off much quicker.
You’ll learn one location at a time, however you may find your pulled off training to man shifts at boxes you sign, unless your LOM states you’ll learn all then sign them off in bulk.

Thanks Tom. It's good to know it all speeds up after the first box is signed off.

 

[Tom Quinne]

Oh good grief...
The examples above make for depressing yet familiar reading - there are some absolute weapons in this job sadly (the resident/relief “beef” is particularly idiotic)
But they are in a lot of locations outnumbered (Or at the very least about equalled) by friendly and welcoming normal people who just wish to live in harmony. To anyone coming into the job from outside don’t despair on reading the above, it’s by no means universal.

I spent the last two weeks on tour, everyone I met was fantastic. Extremely welcoming and helpful, however the experience would be very different at another location much closer to home ironicall.

 

[LOM]

Can I just ask about salary as relief?

Pay one grade below during training school and in box training.
Move to full grade pay once passed out of home box
How many boxes to you have to be signed off for, before getting relief %?

As soon as you sign your 2nd location you’ll get your full relief.

That is not how it is supposed to be done - it should be full flexibility premium from the day of passing out in your first box then proper grade from the day of passing out in your final box. I have had this argument several times with HR who try to apply whatever interpretation they calculate will save the most money.

 

[Tom Quinne]

So grade 2 (training) with FP at the point of singing your first box, then full salary (Grade 3) when you sign your last ?

I got my 4% the day I signed my first desk, but I was a 7 before so the training salary wasn’t an issue.

 

[danners430]

That is not how it is supposed to be done - it should be full flexibility premium from the day of passing out in your first box then proper grade from the day of passing out in your final box. I have had this argument several times with HR who try to apply whatever interpretation they calculate will save the most money.

The world would be such a simple place without HR...

He says, eyeing up the pile of paperwork that would come my way if that happened

 

[LOM]

Yes that is how it should be. It is buried in the blue book or the SRI somewhere.

 

[BRblue]

Yes that is how it should be. It is buried in the blue book or the SRI somewhere.

Seems a bit harsh... I know of relief signallers who have signed multiple boxes but still have 1 or 2 left to learn. Unfortunately they cannot get the necessary time in those because they are covering other boxes already.

 

[Tom Quinne]

Seems a bit harsh... I know of relief signallers who have signed multiple boxes but still have 1 or 2 left to learn. Unfortunately they cannot get the necessary time in those because they are covering other boxes already.

That was my problem, I signed one desk then it took me 18 months to sign the other two as I was always taken off to cover.

 

[LOM]

Yes it is a common problem, it can be very hard to release an already productive signaller to learn new boxes when the area has vacancies and sickness. But before training starts the LOM should set out an agreed plan to prevent that happening. It is especially bad when you have a relief who signs one high graded box and a number of low graded boxes - they may learn the higher box first and be working it for months but be prevented from earning the full grade until they've signed all the lower boxes. Very unfair but that is the agreement.

 

[Jaysub]

I have an interview scheduled for this one in the next few weeks.

awww great,that means i didnt get one if you have one already lol

 

[crusty]

Hello all.
As many have said on here, this really is a very useful thread with really helpful people and is much appreciated.

I have a couple of questions about the online psychometric test If I may?

Does anyone know what kind of pass mark is required? And if your CV and assessment questions are good, do they make allowances for a not very good pass mark?

Also, I have applied for 2 positions and have been invited to do these psychometric tests for both positions. Will I need to it twice or if I only do it once, will it be stored against my file?

I have done them before in my previous job, but after doing some practice ones today, it doesn’t look good

Thanks for your time

 

[endofthetunnel]

I have a couple of questions about the online psychometric test If I may?
Does anyone know what kind of pass mark is required? And if your CV and assessment questions are good, do they make allowances for a not very good pass mark?
Also, I have applied for 2 positions and have been invited to do these psychometric tests for both positions. Will I need to it twice or if I only do it once, will it be stored against my file?

The mark itself isn't super high to pass but passing does not mean progression. If you pass you then are scored against all the other candidates for each post when working out who to interview - so for one post you may be top 5 but another at the bottom. The same scores are used each time.

You can only take them once then your scores are valid for 12 months. If you do badly you can retake them after 6 months after contacting HR I think.