The sudden increase in friends, those trying to be friendly and those wanting jobs.

Dolomite · Jan 27, 2024

Lots of warmongering, talk of war spreading from distant lands and the assosiated speculation. As talked about on here previous. Lots of posts and articles about conscription and building the forces up due to shortages of personnel and likelihood of a war with Russia. Moving from a post war country to pre war flooring etc. Some quite worrying chat from ministers really.

But who's expecting or already had a sudden interest from the "never befores" about work, employing their kids one day or just general starting to get to know you. As we are is a reserved occupation as it was referred to in WW2.

I only ask as it dawned on me why some have been asking and showing more interest lately (last 3-4 weeks) or getting very pally when in the past we have been at outs or still are. Maybe they have forgot about the hassle they have caused or don't care and i haven't? One even asked if i need a worker or likely to in the future for their kinds of grand kids. One asked on Thursday how many workers can so many acres justify or require. All seemed odd at the time and fobbed them all off. But sat listening to the radio it's suddenly dawned on me. They are all starting to strategically plan how to get out of it and save themselves, their kids, grandkids etc. Can't blame them to be honest but i also won't be there for the benefit of those that's wronged me or impeded my business. They'd soon forget the favours done and start to try stitch us up again.

*Never befores- wouldn't normally give you the time of day, normally ignore you, ones that like to go around the parish surmising and gossiping falsities about folk. Look down on country folk and farmers like they are lepers. You know the type or very similar.

happycows · Jan 27, 2024

I think you will find it has more to do with the way government pays people.
The introduction of universal credit instead of tax credits is bringing a vast amount of workers to the market place looking to fill the hole.
2 nearby friends recently advertised for milking staff. 6 months ago not a single reply. Today 12 people begging him for the job including 6 that would have been more than capable.

Kidds · Jan 27, 2024

Not noticed anything myself.

glasshouse · Jan 27, 2024

happycows said:
I think you will find it has more to do with the way government pays people.
The introduction of universal credit instead of tax credits is bringing a vast amount of workers to the market place looking to fill the hole.
2 nearby friends recently advertised for milking staff. 6 months ago not a single reply. Today 12 people begging him for the job including 6 that would have been more than capable.

Building industry shrinking big time is the reason
Hs2 shortened as well
Farm work and building always competed in same labour segment

ollie989898 · Jan 28, 2024

What is changing that is bringing people into the labour market?

toquark · Jan 28, 2024

A contractor of mine was telling me he advertised for labourers last year and had near to zero response, put out a similar ad a fortnight ago and has had over 80 responses, many suitable too. Something’s changed.

Yale · Jan 28, 2024

Local guy who runs stone trucks currently has very little work.

happycows · Jan 28, 2024

ollie989898 said:
What is changing that is bringing people into the labour market?

The way I understand it is the government have rolled 7 different support payments into one Universal credit.

In the past if a single mum, working family on low to middle income or self employed but low profit's (including many farmers) you would get a top up, especially if you have children. About the only requirement was you worked 16 hours a week.

This amounted to several hundred pounds a week for many families on the lower end of the pay scale.

This is now stopping and people are migrating to the new system.
if your self employed you have to submit your figures monthly and then go to a meeting to fight why your profit is low and if there’s not much prospect of this changing you’ll be told to go and get a proper job and earn/work more.

I believe where a family for example the dad goes out to work and mum has stayed at home they have had a fairly favourable top up through family tax credits or working tax credits. Now mum will be told to go and get herself a job as there will be no top up of any significant amount any more.

This is just how I understand it from reading bits in the press.

It’s been a strange old system and we have had it in the past at times. Probably throwing money around too easily, but I’m under no illusion that lots of families have needed this to survive.

It’s going to get pretty tough for many if they can’t find work.

fgc325j · Jan 28, 2024

happycows said:
The way I understand it is the government have rolled 7 different support payments into one Universal credit.

In the past if a single mum, working family on low to middle income or self employed but low profit's (including many farmers) you would get a top up, especially if you have children. About the only requirement was you worked 16 hours a week.

This amounted to several hundred pounds a week for many families on the lower end of the pay scale.

This is now stopping and people are migrating to the new system.
if your self employed you have to submit your figures monthly and then go to a meeting to fight why your profit is low and if there’s not much prospect of this changing you’ll be told to go and get a proper job and earn/work more.

I believe where a family for example the dad goes out to work and mum has stayed at home they have had a fairly favourable top up through family tax credits or working tax credits. Now mum will be told to go and get herself a job as there will be no top up of any significant amount any more.

This is just how I understand it from reading bits in the press.

It’s been a strange old system and we have had it in the past at times. Probably throwing money around too easily, but I’m under no illusion that lots of families have needed this to survive.

It’s going to get pretty tough for many if they can’t find work.

Yes, the "tax credits" system did throw money around - it was introduced by Gordon Brown, and you could argue that it's been the drip, drip effect of having to borrow
to finance it, that has been 1 factor in record levels of Government debt. No doubt the impending Labour election win will have them introducing changes which will
make things more complicated/expensive. Micro-managers love to tinker.

kfpben · Jan 28, 2024

Is it adults or teenagers wanting work experience? I’ve had plenty of requests for lambing placements but that’s nothing new

glasshouse · Jan 28, 2024

ollie989898 said:
What is changing that is bringing people into the labour market?

Read post 4 above

glasshouse · Jan 28, 2024

fgc325j said:
Yes, the "tax credits" system did throw money around - it was introduced by Gordon Brown, and you could argue that it's been the drip, drip effect of having to borrow
to finance it, that has been 1 factor in record levels of Government debt. No doubt the impending Labour election win will have them introducing changes which will
make things more complicated/expensive. Micro-managers love to tinker.

That system was and is a disaster
No one wanted to work more than 16 hours

spanners and hammers · Jan 28, 2024

would love some to come and ask for work , they dont want work round here

Andrew_Ni · Jan 28, 2024

They want work to prove to the dole office that they’ve applied but it didn’t work out. As far as I’m aware they need to be seen to be looking for it, regardless of they do anything. As for the 16 hours a week, anything more than that on the books and they lose out.

Goweresque · Jan 28, 2024

Yale said:
Local guy who runs stone trucks currently has very little work.

Guy I know who runs trucks said exactly the same to me yesterday. Suddenly its gone from his drivers all wanting pay rises or they'll go and work elsewhere to him getting phone calls every day from drivers wanting work. Similarly he was able to get back loads of stone up to London when collecting rape meal from Erith, now the stone loads have completely dried up, and he's having to send lorries to Erith empty. This has all changed in the last 6-8 weeks.

Johnnyboxer · Jan 28, 2024

Goweresque said:
Guy I know who runs trucks said exactly the same to me yesterday. Suddenly its gone from his drivers all wanting pay rises or they'll go and work elsewhere to him getting phone calls every day from drivers wanting work. Similarly he was able to get back loads of stone up to London when collecting rape meal from Erith, now the stone loads have completely dried up, and he's having to send lorries to Erith empty. This has all changed in the last 6-8 weeks.

Recession is looming

BRB John · Jan 28, 2024

fgc325j said:
Yes, the "tax credits" system did throw money around - it was introduced by Gordon Brown, and you could argue that it's been the drip, drip effect of having to borrow
to finance it, that has been 1 factor in record levels of Government debt. No doubt the impending Labour election win will have them introducing changes which will
make things more complicated/expensive. Micro-managers love to tinker.

Aww lay off with that shite.
Conservatives have been in power for over a decade you can't still be blaming Labour for conservatives ineptitude.
They've had plenty time to correct past mistakes but instead have decided to not do that but instead make everything worse.
Regardless of sides we need a change in government the rust and incompetence is rife

Chae1 · Jan 28, 2024

No still no friends.

Nobody trying to be my friend either.

copse · Jan 28, 2024

kfpben said:
Is it adults or teenagers wanting work experience? I’ve had plenty of requests for lambing placements but that’s nothing new

I’ve had very few inquiries for lambing placements this year when do you lamb ?

kfpben · Jan 28, 2024

copse said:
I’ve had very few inquiries for lambing placements this year when do you lamb ?

Start c.10th March

The sudden increase in friends, those trying to be friendly and those wanting jobs.

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Up to 25%

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50-75%

75-100%

100% I’ve had enough of farming!

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