Employment Law Explained

Category Archives: Miscellaneous Stuff

Warning: This Site May be Compromised

Posted on 21/05/2012 by Michael Scutt • 0 Comments
hackerimages Warning: This Site May be Compromised miscellaneous stuff

The only Hacker I've ever liked

Hackers!  Don’t you just hate them?  Late last week a couple of people got in touch to say that a search for this blog  not only showed my posts on employment law but also an invitation to buy viagra.

Now, whilst times may be hard and pressure on solicitors’ fees ever more intense, I haven’t yet diversified into selling viagra, or any other such products, to supplement my income.  I suppose in these post-ABS days there’s no reason why one couldn’t of course, but it’s not really the done thing, is it?

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Filed Under: Miscellaneous Stuff

Race The Sun 2012

Posted on 24/04/2012 by Michael Scutt • 2 Comments

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Given all the rain we’re having at the moment it may seem inappropriate to write about the Sun, but come the 1st September I hope he’ll have his hat on and if not playing, at least putting in an appearance. For on that day I will be cycling, walking and canoeing for charity in an event called “Race the Sun” in the Lake District.

 

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Thirlmere from the top of Helvellyn

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Filed Under: Charidee, Miscellaneous Stuff

In Praise of the City

Posted on 12/02/2012 by Michael Scutt • 2 Comments

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If you came to this post expecting a defence of bankers and their bonuses or an erudite explanation of why the City isn’t to blame for the country’s economic woes, I’m sorry to disappoint you.  I thought it time to have a break from employment law and go off piste, as they say. If I wasn’t a lawyer I’d like to be an historian and that is what this post is, sort of, about. Many commuters gripe about the trouble getting into the City; late and crowded trains, the cost of a season ticket and not seeing enough of the family during the week, to name but a few.  And there’s no doubt that it can be a drag. But, lots of things make up for it. More pubs, bars and restaurants and gyms than you could shake a stick at, not to mention recitals in churches, proximity to the West End and all its theatres and shops. However, there is something beyond even that lot.

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Filed Under: City of London, Miscellaneous Stuff

Oddball Interview Questions & Other Guff

Posted on 11/01/2012 by Michael Scutt • 0 Comments

For some light relief, take a look at the the 25 Top Oddball Interview Questions of 2011, as compiled by Glassdoor.com, a website that allows people to say what they really think about the company they work for.  These questions were ones that were really asked in interviews, apparently.  My favourite  (and I say that sitting here in the comfort of my own home and not sweating in an interview) is “Just entertain me for five minutes. I’m not going to talk”.  How would I answer? Nervous laugh?  A song and dance routine. Tell the guy he’s a complete ar*e and walk out?  I don’t know and I hope I never have to provide that answer.

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Book Review: Hopeless in Gaza?

Posted on 30/12/2011 by Michael Scutt • 1 Comment

 

Out of it Cover Book Review: Hopeless in Gaza? books

I always enjoy the week between Christmas and New Year; it gives me the chance to do all those jobs that I’ve wanted to do around the house and to wade into the pile of books and novels I collect throughout the year and never quite get chance to read. This year has been no different and in amongst all the festivities I’ve managed to make some inroads into the reading list.  A case in point is the first novel by Selma Dabbagh, a British Palestinian writer, called Out of It.  It makes for a very uncomfortable, although very readable experience (if that isn’t a contradiction in terms).

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New Year, New Look

Posted on 28/12/2011 by Michael Scutt • 4 Comments

In the dog days of 2011, when all there is to do is eat cold turkey and chocolate (but not necessarily at the same time), I thought it time to give the old blog a make over.  I was a bit jaded with the old blue and grey colour scheme and wanted something minimalist that would fit in with the other two blogs I write – Troubleahead and UK BlawgRoundUp.  I like the cleanness of the white background, contrasting with black writing.  I’d also got fed up with seeing my mugshot in the sidebar.  I might get a new photo done in due course, but for the time being I’m going with the stripped down bare basics look. The old theme – Persephone – didn’t provide much design flexibility and altering the borders round photographs proved beyond my coding skills. The problem was the text font was very hard to distinguish from the background colour: not so anymore.

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Filed Under: jobsworth, Miscellaneous Stuff

So You Think Your Job’s Bad? Part II

Posted on 01/12/2011 by Michael Scutt • 2 Comments

Continuing the theme from my last post, I stumbled upon a picture of another employee forced to dress up for work. I don’t think this is quite as bad as forcing Father Christmas to promote Pizzas at road junctions, but it’s not far off.  Love it!

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So You Think Your Job’s Bad?

Posted on 19/11/2011 by Michael Scutt • 0 Comments

 

Then think again. It could be a lot, lot worse. For instance, this morning (19th November – 35 shopping days to  Christmas) I saw Santa with a sandwich board advertising Dominos pizzas standing at a cross roads.

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This prompted several questions, mainly from my 4 year old daughter who may still believe; such as “what is Santa doing standing there”, “why?” and “where are the reindeers?”.  My question was “what has Santa got to do with pizzas?”  Is it likely to make me rush out to Dominos and invest?  Unlikely and not just because I’m a food snob.

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Saturday Digressions

Posted on 10/09/2011 by Michael Scutt • 0 Comments

 

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The Bribery Act probably doesn’t outlaw breakfast “networking” meetings that just happen to coincide with rugby matches and take place near a large TV screen.  I’m always very keen on that sort of networking. Invitations to all rugby, cricket and football matches accepted.

On the way to the said networking meeting you can listen to Lucy Kellaway’s excellent podcast called, appropriately enough “Listen to Lucy”.  I’ve only recently discovered them and they are great: short, amusing, pithy but always worth a listen. Lucy’s theme is usually the nonsense surrounding corporate life – buzzwords, mission statements, public announcements, research etc.  Her latest considers a recent report that says teddy bears may be a benefit in the boardroom.  You can listen by clicking here.

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Filed Under: Cartoons, Miscellaneous Stuff

Should Clarrie be Sacked Pt.II

Posted on 04/08/2011 by Michael Scutt • 1 Comment
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The villain of the piece

 

Please forgive me for writing a second post on “Clarriegate” but leaving aside the actual issues of who what when etc, it occurred to me that the main focus of this story, to my mind anyway, is how a business can recover from a devastating blow like this. Is it possible at all and if they can survive will they have to rebrand to distance themselves from the “old business”?.

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Filed Under: Miscellaneous Stuff, Silly Season