Careers and Jobs

There has been much speculation in the last few weeks about Waterford Wedgewood in Waterford. The company has made a plea to the government for a dig out to help save the company. The plea has been for 39m loans for a 3 year period. This would provide financial support to a company expected to make 100m euro losses for the financial year to March 2008.

The company is in the process of reducing its staff by 490 and these loans would help secure the remaining 550 jobs at the factory. The question is how long Waterford Wedgewood can fight a poor exchange rate scenario. The US is a huge market for them and the weakened dollar is showing no sign of improving and if anything it could get weaker.

This situation raises the whole question of government intervention. I would not like to see anyone lose their job so would be in favour of any initiatives to prevent this. Should the government have to do this? Some wealthy people have interests in the company and they could certainly afford 39m. If the government intervenes what about other companies in the future BUT what about all those who lost their jobs in the last 12 months?

Politics is related to jobs if you like it or not. We can argue that this is a jobs and careers article. There has been a new job created in Ireland and there is one Bertie Ahern who is in need of some expert career advice!!

Bertie Ahern creates new job in Government.

I must say I like Bertie Ahern and think he did a great job for Irish politics. He has certainly left big shoes to fill. I was listening to the news updates this morning and most FF politicians are siding with the Brian Cowen corner to fill the new vacancy. I must say it was a bit of a shock the news but that is life. Anyway who would blame him for getting out? Negative media and attacks on his personal life. Sure the poor man couldn’t even enjoy a pint of Bass in peace.

What next for Bertie Ahern?

My guess is that he will not be stuck for offers or that he will ever have financial trouble to worry about or personal loans to secure. Look at Clinton and soon to be Blair. These guys are making a killing. Worst case scenario is that he can always to into competition with his daughter and become a writer – we have the title already – “ps – i owe you”. Judging from the emails, texts and pictures you can see that the jokers have been working overtime on the Bertie Ahern jokes.

From Bertie Ahern to Brian Cowen

This is a jobs and careers site so what advice can we give Brian Cowen assuming that the bookies favourite gets the newly created post. I would be interested to hear what you have to say – funny or serious comments.

Expect the announcement today of congestion charges for Dublin in a new “pay-as-you-drive” scheme. The system will be similar to that introduce and operation in London. This scheme will be introduced to help top up government coffers due to reduced funds following the crash in the property sector. Or is it to address the traffic problems in the Dublin city center.

This plan is called “Sustainable Transport and Travel” and has an aim to promote the use of public transport over cars and free up congestion levels in the city. The system will work similar to tolls. Workers will pay to enter the city center cordon.

Government says that this is a necessary move because;

- Average rush hour speeds have dropped from 13km/hr in 2006 to 8km/hr today.
- Care usage is increasing obesity in Ireland.
- Increased traffic pollution is causing health problems

Will this plan improve the situation and reduce congestion or will things remain the same but just more expensive. Let’s face it the tool has not deterred workers from using the M50. Feedback from London suggests that the project will work as it has reduced car numbers by 20% but the jury is still out in Ireland.

This government announcement coincides with Work Life Balance day on 29th February. The WLB day is a great initiative and promotion WLB awareness. Unfortunately for workers in Ireland thought things just seem to be a downward spiral making Ireland a difficult place to work with little WLB.

Good News for the Dublin today as ServiceSource announced the creation of 100 Multi-Lingual sales jobs in Cherrywood. ServiceSource is based in San Fran and established its EMEA offices in Dublin 2005. The company currently employs 175 staff in Ireland.

There was also good news for Belfast where Fidessa announce that it would be setting up a Development Center. This will mean the creation of 26 high skilled software programming jobs. Hey are these not the type of jobs the Government and IDA have promised us!! Apparantly we were considered but the availability of Engineers in Belfast swung it – hmmmm!!

SHOCKER: One in five people are claiming disability benefit but are actually fit to work. 22,038 individuals are claiming disability benefits but when examined 4,722 were deemed fit to work. I would never have guessed this!!

So who is benefiting from the fraud – looks like everyone!!

1. The claimant – Yes the taxpayer is getting hit in the pocket again. While we are miserable at work those defrauding the system are relaxing in St Stephen’s Green funded by us.
2. The doctors – Correct me if I am wrong but I guess they are making a living handing out sick notes.
3. Investigators – Wow there is a whole new career path here. All you need to do is grow a thick mustache like magnum and spend your days hiding in a skip outside claimants houses with your camera. What a great job!!
4. The Irish Workers – Reduced travel time to work as there are 4,722 less cars on the road during rush hour traffic. And dwellers in the city center will gain from reduced noise pollution which is now a huge problem according to the Herald.
5. Government – This is 4,722 people they do not have to find jobs for and they can manipulate their figures to keep them of the published unemployed figures.

So the morale of the story is that Fraud pays – not!! If you know anyone cheating the system direct them towards this site for inspiration to get back on the tools.