Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock

What Escapee said - don't confuse training with experience....

[Digital Fanatic]

Originally Posted by Hugh

What Escapee said - don't confuse training with experience....

Exactly

[Peter_]

Originally Posted by TheWolf

How much difference is there in reallity to 1st and 2nd line? hardly any, although I'm sure you'll disagree. They just have a couple of more applications with a higher level of access. My guess is that 99% of the current liverpool 2nd line were originaly 1st line?? So what's the difference here? Yes it's a fresh start and a couple of knowledgeable people are leaving the company but at the end of the day nobody is irreplaceable in any job role.

I take it you know very little about the job 2nd line do otherwise you would not make such an assumption, our 2nd line have to be very knowledgeable and the majority are also very technically minded they are nothing like any 1st line agent either in Liverpool or Swansea.

Originally Posted by TheWolf

And correct me if I'm wrong but there are 3 or 4 staff in the Swansea 2nd line who have over 10 years service and previous experience in 2nd line when it was based in south wales a few years back?

The maybe one or two but they will have been Ex-NTL and not Ex-Telewest and all 2nd line went to Liverpool and 2 of those people you mention went with it.

Originally Posted by TheWolf

I've browsed the Virgin forum but can't see anything alarming at all, maybe a few mistakes with grammar but so what, wasn't Albert Einstein dyslexic? he seems to have done ok for himself.

Now that shows that you have either missed the relevant posts or just do not want to see them, the are a few both in the broadband and the television and telco sections, not going to post any as any bad posts are fairly obvious, also it is not just me saying this as Digi has seen some and the customers themselves.

Originally Posted by TheWolf

And talking of cringing, your paragraph about taking sweets from a child? That made me cringe!

It should have been like taking sweets from a baby, but you do know exactly what I meant so please do not try to twist it in order to fit in with your own little agenda.

In simpler terms your women especially in the ex mining villages are quite easy.

Spoiler: 

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by Itshim

This is the way it works the world over. Have friends working in ILRC since they left school. know there jobs inside out, So jumped up know it alls straight of Uni. Say that every one must work from a script. Which they have written with out fail every week memos are sent around saying things are wrong. However look out if you fail to tow the party line. The "big boss" in there office was promoted from custom & excise & does not have a clue is, never seen & complains about everything - Latest Memo you must give your FULL first name ie Thomas not Tom even if you never use it. Hey you can even be put on a report for not doing so.
Give power and it shows how stupid some people can be. Never let anyone who knows what they are doing( Liverpool) keep the job its cheaper to give a script and hope for the best. please note the Liverpool jobs have come to my part of the world ( better then else were but still a daft move I feel.
Feel better now that is off my chest. Sorry

I also do not allow any of my staff to refer to themselves as "Dave" or "Andy" etc to customers. It sounds over familiar, unprofessional and slack.

Originally Posted by Digital Fanatic

A Virgin Media Director who was in charge of closing Albert Dock and Swansea becoming a In-House centre. It was said to a group of staff, including myself.

If you feel confident in doing so, I would be grateful if you could give me the name of the Director in pm.

Originally Posted by TheWolf

How much difference is there in reallity to 1st and 2nd line? hardly any, although I'm sure you'll disagree. They just have a couple of more applications with a higher level of access. My guess is that 99% of the current liverpool 2nd line were originaly 1st line?? So what's the difference here? Yes it's a fresh start and a couple of knowledgeable people are leaving the company but at the end of the day nobody is irreplaceable in any job role. And correct me if I'm wrong but there are 3 or 4 staff in the Swansea 2nd line who have over 10 years service and previous experience in 2nd line when it was based in south wales a few years back?
I've browsed the Virgin forum but can't see anything alarming at all, maybe a few mistakes with grammar but so what, wasn't Albert Einstein dyslexic? he seems to have done ok for himself.
And talking of cringing, your paragraph about taking sweets from a child? That made me cringe!

See you around.

I do not tolerate any of my staff using poor grammar or spelling mistakes in anything that can be seen externally. If this genuinely cannot be avoided eg dyslexia, they are allocated other duties. This is because poor grammar and spelling looks unprofessional and creates a bad impression of the company.

Originally Posted by Peter_

I take it you know very little about the job 2nd line do otherwise you would not make such an assumption, our 2nd line have to be very knowledgeable and the majority are also very technically minded they are nothing like any 1st line agent either in Liverpool or Swansea.


The maybe one or two but they will have been Ex-NTL and not Ex-Telewest and all 2nd line went to Liverpool and 2 of those people you mention went with it.


Now that shows that you have either missed the relevant posts or just do not want to see them, the are a few both in the broadband and the television and telco sections, not going to post any as any bad posts are fairly obvious, also it is not just me saying this as Digi has seen some and the customers themselves.



It should have been like taking sweets from a baby, but you do know exactly what I meant so please do not try to twist it in order to fit in with your own little agenda.

In simpler terms your women especially in the ex mining villages are quite easy.

Spoiler: 

I am surprised to see a trade unionist making such sexist remarks.

[Peter_]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

I also do not allow any of my staff to refer to themselves as "Dave" or "Andy" etc to customers. It sounds over familiar, unprofessional and slack.

In the Virgin Media world that is the norm and they want you to sound friendly and approachable, no starched collars, ties or suits required as every day is dress down day.

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

I am surprised to see a trade unionist making such sexist remarks.

It may surprise you to know that people are young once and they do have a past and that was a long time ago well before the thought of trade unions raised their heads, nothing wrong in reminiscing on what once happened.

[RichardCoulter]

It is my belief that many of the problems that VM currently have are in some way connected to this "dress down" attitude.

I accept that you were young once and were less mature, however, as a young man I never felt the need to treat/refer to women in such a derogatory fashion.

In addition, the sexist remarks were made today, not years ago.

---------- Post added at 22:37 ---------- Previous post was at 22:32 ----------

Originally Posted by Peter_

The would be no requirement for webcams as we are in peoples homes and that would be intrusive, anything company wise would be via an intranet/workaway so they would not be able to access the employees own computer so everything the manager would see would be on the intranet/workaway.

Webcams are required to ensure that quality of work and discipline are maintained within the organisation. Employees not prepared to have a webcam in their home office would be at liberty to decline any offer of a job that entailed this.

Mobile webcams are on their way that will allow a member of staff to hold a virtual meeting with their managers etc

Research has shown that some employees expect payment towards the cost of heating, lighting etc for the room where the office is.

I do not believe that this is appropriate as the employer will be paying for all the equipment, yet the employee will be saving on travel costs, enjoying more free time and there are possible savings to be made on childcare costs too.

Their home will be more secure from burglary and fire, they will be at the house with any pets and be at home for deliveries, meter reading etc (although the latter will be done automatically in a few years time.)

An alternative solution may be to install a solar panel at the employees home where suitable. This would provide free electricity for the office and may be an extra income stream for the employer as the employee would be paying for any electricity used for their own use. This could be offset against the cost of installation of the panels.

[Peter_]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

It is my belief that many of the problems that VM currently have are in some way connected to this "dress down" attitude.

How on earth do you come to that conclusion, the is no need to be in a collar and tie in the type of job that call centre agents do and it shows in the work ethic that most agents have in the workplace.

As for dressing down this is part of the work ethic employed by Virgin Media in every single one of its call centres and each and every centre has excellent results.

So no idea were you get the idea of an attitude problem, or is because we in the Liverpool Centre refused to roll over and let the company extract the urine, they are being sued for this at present by the union and deservedly so.

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

I accept that you were young once and were less mature, however, as a young man I never felt the need to treat/refer to women in such a derogatory fashion.

In addition, the sexist remarks were made today, not years ago.

I am on a public forum extolling the virtues that I pursued in my youth and if anyone takes offence then they have no need to read my words on that subject.

It is part of me and it will always remain in my mind a fond memory of a wonderful couple of weeks over a Christmas and New Year spent in my friends dads pub having a whale of a time many years in my past.

Now if I had gone into more detail then that would be different.

[Digital Fanatic]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

If you feel confident in doing so, I would be grateful if you could give me the name of the Director in pm.

I'm not comfortable with that, sorry.

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by Peter_

How on earth do you come to that conclusion, the is no need to be in a collar and tie in the type of job that call centre agents do and it shows in the work ethic that most agents have in the workplace.

As for dressing down this is part of the work ethic employed by Virgin Media in every single one of its call centres and each and every centre has excellent results.

So no idea were you get the idea of an attitude problem, or is because we in the Liverpool Centre refused to roll over and let the company extract the urine, they are being sued for this at present by the union and deservedly so.




I am on a public forum extolling the virtues that I pursued in my youth and if anyone takes offence then they have no need to read my words on that subject.

It is part of me and it will always remain in my mind a fond memory of a wonderful couple of weeks over a Christmas and New Year spent in my friends dads pub having a whale of a time many years in my past.

Now if I had gone into more detail then that would be different.

Even if customers etc cannot see the informal dress, it does change the way people work.

It is well known that if people dress in a business like manner, they also adopt a more business like attitude and act in a more professional way.

The problem with saying that people don't have to read your words, is that the offence caused has already taken place by the time a person has realised it!

There's nothing wrong with a stroll down memory lane, but times and attitudes change along with society. The overt sexism and racism that you have displayed towards Welsh women is no longer tolerated in polite company.

This behaviour could also potentially bring the CWU into disrepute. I strongly suggest that you retract your comments, apologise to anyone who may have been offended and desist from making any more potentially upsetting comments.

Originally Posted by Digital Fanatic

I'm not comfortable with that, sorry.

That's ok

[Peter_]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

Even if customers etc cannot see the informal dress, it does change the way people work.

It is well known that if people dress in a business like manner, they also adopt a more business like attitude and act in a more professional way.

If that had ever happened then it would have been changed sharpish, but it did not and the company stood by its decision and it is part of the Virgin Media tenet.

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

This behaviour could also potentially bring the CWU into disrepute.

I am writing as a private individual on a public forum and I am not an officer of any union so what I post is down to me as an individual so that is a spurious and rather stupid remark.

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

I strongly suggest that you retract your comments, apologise to anyone who may have been offended and desist from making any more potentially upsetting comments.

Are you now trying to act as judge and jury on this forum if so I kind of think that the team will take a very dim view of your posts or are you going to try and censor other threads as well as this forum does not require a Forum Host.

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Now as this is now getting way off topic lets get back to the actual subject matter.

As I have said a few times on here I rather doubt that the Albert Dock will actual reach its closure date of the end of April, as you only have to go on Facebook to see how many people are leaving even today.

Some are going to Knowsley but many are going eleswhere as Liverpool is lucky to have many vacancies at this time and many companies went on site head hunting.

I should be starting my own new position on Monday and the business I am going to is less than half the distance I did to get to Liverpool city centre, plus we actually get yearly wage rises unlike at Virgin Media.

I just want everything to work out for as many of my ex colleagues as possible, I include myself in this comment.

Yes it's time we got back to the topic..

[Peter_]

Originally Posted by Peter_

I should be starting my own new position on Monday and the business I am going to is less than half the distance I did to get to Liverpool city centre, plus we actually get yearly wage rises unlike at Virgin Media.

I just want everything to work out for as many of my ex colleagues as possible, I include myself in this comment.

I have had my confirmation so Monday awaits, I will not post details as yet due to the thread above but the relevant people know where I am going.

Good luck to everyone at the Albert Dock and I wish them well with their endeavours in securing a new position.

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by Peter_

I have had my confirmation so Monday awaits, I will not post details as yet due to the thread above but the relevant people know where I am going.

Good luck to everyone at the Albert Dock and I wish them well with their endeavours in securing a new position.

Good luck Peter

[Peter_]

Originally Posted by Sirius

Good luck Peter

Thank you much appreciated.

[joglynne]

Originally Posted by Peter_

I have had my confirmation so Monday awaits, I will not post details as yet due to the thread above but the relevant people know where I am going.

Good luck to everyone at the Albert Dock and I wish them well with their endeavours in securing a new position.

Very glad to hear you are sorted Peter. Lets hope the rest of the VM Liverpool guys are as successful.

Can I also add that I have come to know you over the time you have been a member of CF and I assume that you, like most normal people, have changed and matured as you grew older so I viewed your earlier comments as being a candid reflection back on more youthful times.