Recession hits average pay
Thursday 26th August 2010, 9:38AM BST.
THE full impact of the recession was revealed today with the release of new figures showing workers on average suffered a real-terms pay cut of 1.7 per cent over the past 12 months.
Between June 2009 and June this year, average earnings rose by 1.1 per cent, the smallest rise for 20 years. During the same period, the cost of living rose by 2.8 per cent.
However, despite the news, Social Security Minister Ian Gorst denied that Islanders still battling the worst economic downturn for generations were now worse off than at any time for two decades.
• Are you an above-average earner? Find out in Wednesday’s JEP.
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“Social Security Minister Ian Gorst denied that Islanders still battling the worst economic downturn for generations were now worse off than at any time for two decades”
Not easily convinced is Mr Gorst, I wonder if he’d admit that night follows day or today is Wednesday.
If the cost of living rose by 2.8% then any pay rise of less than this amount is a pay cut. I’ve had no pay rise for 2 years, Mr Gorst would probably say I’ve never had it so good.
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Recession hits average pay – thank god I earn below average, presumably mine won’t be affected then.
Now watch the bosses use this to their advantage and give lower pay rises if any at all. Those employers who are busy must be loving this recession.
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And please bear in mind that this 1.1 % rise in earnings is average.
Translated into plain English this means that some people will have received a pay raise of more then 1.1 % and the rest of the working population had no pay raise at all (some may even have had a cut in pay). Once you offset that against a 2.8 % raise in the cost of living, the real-terms pay cut for a lot of people comes out at 2.8 % (or more).
Not to mention those individuals who have lost employment altogether.
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I think Ian Gorst is obviously no good at maths then!!! 0.1% pay rise for last two years due to recession and cost of living up 2.8% this year alone = worst off ive been in years!! Be better off on social soon at this rate…. Well done also to the genuis who has just worked that information out, hopefully it didnt take them the last 20 years!
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When you take into account the changes in tax which have eroded allowances and mean that a higher proportion of our wages is taxed, we are a lot worse off than 1.7% (2.8% -1.1%)
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Sorry Mr Ian Gorst; rising unemployment, stagnant wages, a heap of ‘cheap imports’ after the few job going, hardly the good news story you blurt.
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The interviews on the radio this morning said it all form me , at least;
Connetable Len Norman Economic Development Assistant Minister with responsibility for Ag and Fish .
” The 3.3% rise in Agricultural wages is an outcome of successful seasons and significant investment in the industry”
Five minutes later;
Deputy Gorst Soc Sec
” The reason for the rise in Agricultural wages was due to the rise in the minimum wage”.
SPIN SPIN SPIn SPin Spin spin spin!!!!!!!
Stop treating the public as idiots please!
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You have to remember that Ian Gorst is an accountant!
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Ian Gorst’s assertion that people’s income hasn’t gone down is amazing – I can see the men in white coats approaching his office as I type. Does he actually believe the statistics his ‘bean counters’ pass on to him. Remember, bureaucracy is the art of making the possible, impossible and not the other way around. He should consider a change of career to that of a stand up comic.
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no suprise here at all, the ordinary working persons wage is going nowhere.
this will sound familiar, to some.
“in one hand, out with the other”
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When will any politician in the States understand what is happening in this island and start supporting the working population instead of trying to treat us all like idiots, never mind only 16 months and counting, then i can be rid of the lot of them!!!
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Can’t believe that average weekly bonus for finance workers is £90!!! Is that true? That should be added to the figure for average weekly wage surely or are bonuses tax free as well?
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What is the average pay, then?
Come on. Let’s all have a laugh.
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13 C Le Verdic –
What is the average pay, then?
Come on. Let’s all have a laugh
Last I heard the average wage in Jersey was circa £30K PA, last nights Channel Report stated that the average wage in finance ( the highest paid group of employees ) is £46,000. This followed by civil servants ( misnomer methinks ) at £42,000.
You have to appreciate the way averages are calculated, I don’t know many people earning £30K much less £45K. Having worked in finance I can tell you the majority are on just over £20K. These people pay for their own parking, accommodation and associated costs. Ironically the high earners, especially those flown in as ex pats often don’t pay for accommodation, rates, electricity, gas, heating or parking. Crazy isn’t it, those best able to pay don’t have to – sound familiar?
Those of us on less than average wage ( of whom I am one ) pay through the nose for everything subsidising the high earners, we are only being squeezed harder and what makes it hard to swallow is the divide between them and us. If we are all in the same boat and must all weather the storm why aren’t those who occupy an elevated position contributing their share.
I can see a time when we will tolerate it no more and the cry will be ” the workers are revolting”
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And he could be our next Treasury Minister if PIP wants the Top JOB.
We should all be very scared
rs
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14. Mulvie Le Phew. Do you ever wonder how the ‘high earners’ become high earners? You certainly seem to imply that they are undeserving. I suggest you do a bit of research and then come back to us when you have improved your knowledge on the subject & can appreciate the amount of effort/sacrifice (from an early age) most ‘high earners’ have made to obtain their success.
By the way the revolution occurred years ago – the bold and the inteligent realised this and did something about it to improve their lot.
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I work in finance and don’t earn anywhere near the average wage and I am the highest paid on my section.
And I don’t know where the £90 a week bonus is from, we don’t even get that a year now!
No pay rises or bonuses for the last two years, that is the reality to a lot of people in finance.
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16 God’s Mentor – Do you ever wonder how the ‘high earners’ become high earners? You certainly seem to imply that they are undeserving. I suggest you do a bit of research and then come back to us when you have improved your knowledge on the subject & can appreciate the amount of effort/sacrifice (from an early age) most ‘high earners’ have made to obtain their success.
By the way the revolution occurred years ago – the bold and the inteligent realised this and did something about it to improve their lot.
I’m guessing that the “intelligent”
( apologies for correct spelling ) are defined by their ability to spell the word as a basic prerequisite.
I don’t object to anyone who has made sacrifices to improve their position, rather my objection is that they don’t pay their fair share of the tax burden, sorry I thought this was obvious from my post. I do however object to ex pat’s taking positions that could be filled locally and then remaining in that position for an indefinite period, often until they achieve local qualified status without ever having paid a penny in rent. Meantime local ( people who live locally, not those indiginous to Jersey ) are made redundant. Makes you wonder just what it is that these people do that can’t be taught to a local during their extended tenure.
Nice Nom de plume btw, I’m sure God learns a great deal from you, basic English aside.
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Ok this has to be said!
All those people moaning about finance workers. its not like theres some devine hand picking us out to work in finance. we decided thats wat we wanted to do and went and applied for a job. if your jealous then come and join us. if your one of those people who says “o i could never work in an office, sitting at a desk all day, how boring” well then your kinda saying we are doing a job you dont want to do, so why cant we be paid more?
We work for private companies and if the private companies do well we get rewarded, its a direct reward from the effort we put in. we dont just sit in a room and wait for the money to hit our bank accouts you know!
Also can we just clarify here how averages are calculated. you will take the sum of all finance workers total rewards (salaries & bonuses) and divide it by the number of people. so yes obviously its inflated becuase the top dogs in banks earn millions, so if your a cashier counting coins of course your not getting paid 30k.
Also i dont see why everyone is so caught up on bonuses, basically all it is is your employer saying im going to pay you a base salary and then the rest is dependant on how well you work, if you do well we’ll pay you more at the end of the year. if it makes it easier for you poopers to handle they can just divide our bonuses by 12 and payit as part of our salary, but it wont change the averages!!
DC @ 17 – i dont think anyone was implying that finance workers are paid £90 every week. again this is an average of annual/monthly bonuses divided to a weekly equivelant. The fact you have not grasped this clearly explains why you are working in finance but not earning any near the avg. (no offence)
MLP @ 14 – again your missing the point. they are not given cost free living (which by the way will be paid by the company, not you) because their boss thinks they cant afford to pay it themselves. its called an incentive. at the end of the day these people are high earners because their are good and if you dont offer a good package they will go elsewhere and make money for someone else. its called supply and demand!
Also alot of the times these incentives are a good way to increase the benefit an employee will receive without increasing their tax liabilities. (in stupid terms it means giving them stuff they otherwise would have had to pay for, therefore increasing the expendalbe income they have left without paying them more which would lead to paying more tax!)
Basically what im trying to say here is its survival of the fittest. if you were someone who mucked about at school and spends every evening in the pub watching football or whatever, you cant really complain that your career is going nowhere.
Likewise if your someone who has children and living of benefits and complaining its not enought. its a simple solution (family planning!!!!!!)
I dont go out and buy a ferrari on HP then moan my social benefits aren’t covering my outgoings.
if you cant afford to support a child, then well dont have a child. its not complicated!
honestly. some people on here just want everything handed to them and moan when someone is better then them in any aspect of life!
Just get a grip people!
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The spin machine is hard at work at the CM office
How about the reality ? rice wheat and other foods in England have increased by over thirty five percent this year with no reports of reductions, Jersey buys from England. Electricity up 17%,( or 8.5% over two years ) changes in the personal rate of tax paid all heading upwards. Doctors fees up and taxis 6% increase. Less disposable income for the employed and yet lo and behold inflation is a mere 2.8%.
Now who employs the statistics department and the spin doctors, the chief ministers department of course, cosy.
Enough said !
Davey.
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Finance workers may earn the largest cash salaries, but get few other benefits nowadays. States worker get paid nearly as much, get an index linked pension, and a job lor life (unless they volunteer for a lucrative redundancy package).
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Lots of people referring to past comments and bickering over what others say when in reality ya’ll can write what you like in the comment box and nothing gets done about it.
Just keep saying yes and paying your tax. Thats all they want you to do.
Not like anyone will ever say “No, why should I pay tax? I’ve had enough – this ends TODAY” and start a revolt.
The same applies to the housing rental market and cost of living. Just keep raising the prices – we’ll keep on paying.
Agree or Disagree – I won’t be offended.
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It is quite obvious that there is less money about.
Just have a look at the special offers, own brand goods, etc that have appeared in the supermarkets plus the sales and shop closures.
Ian Gorst should try getting out more or even going shopping with his wife!
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Jersey Boy 19 – MLP @ 14 – again your missing the point. they are not given cost free living (which by the way will be paid by the company, not you ) given that the financial institution is 86% owned by the taxpayer I beg to differ. So many grammatical errors here I barely know where to begin. Do you really work for a financial institution and if so are you permitted to communicate with customers?
A few basic rules, I is always a capital letter when referring to oneself. There’s/that’s/can’t/it’s/I’m all require an apostrophe – basic English. Any letter beginning a new sentance is always a capital, there’s more but I’m losing the will. Crikey did you go to school, sorry did u go 2 skool?
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Obviously one doesn’t need a pass in English to work in the finance industry, Jersey boy.
Mind you, an essay brimming with errors would probably satisfy a present day examiner. Nowadays the content matters more than the presentation. They need to keep the pass rate high so that they can brag about how exam results are constantly improving.
Surely, if nothing else, you should know that important words like ‘Ferrari’ take a capital!
Let’s just hope the general standard of ‘adding up’ within the industry is a bit better!
As far as your content goes, it is rather full of generalisations and tenuous connections between working hard at school and ‘success in life’. Things aren’t always that clear cut, you know.
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Must agree, do find it a bit tougher these days, and haven’t had a pay drop (received 3% increase, and don’t work in finance industry by the way). Anyhow, my wife and I no longer have a cleaner, and generally only get out for dinner two out of every three weeks!
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“There’s/that’s/can’t/it’s/I’m all require an apostrophe – basic English”
No, that is colloquial English.
Formal written English uses cannot instead of can’t, etc.
The apostrophe is reserved for the possessive e.g. my cat’s whiskers.
You should have gone to a decent school and worked!
Your grammar is worse than dreadful.
I suppose you are one of the idiots that work at my bank that send me letters written in jive?
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@24. Fantastic, you pick apart other comments for poorly written posts, yet your opening paragraph contains at least 3 mistakes.
Instead of wasting everyones time, how about just sticking to the subject.
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Nobody pulled Mulvie up over ‘sentance’.
Is that how you all spell it?
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Big Bean –
Fantastic, you pick apart other comments for poorly written posts, yet your opening paragraph contains at least 3 mistakes
I can see a spacing error which is a typo but can’t see anything else, happy to be proven wrong can you enlighten me. The absence of a capital letter at the start of my comment is deliberate as it is intended to be a continuation from the original post, informal and possibly innacurate I accept.
As for sticking to the subject, why nobody else does, one of the best things about this forum is the way topics diversify, if you don’t like it don’t read my posts.
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C Le Verdic
Mulvie Le Phew
Pip Clement
You 3 really do need to get out into the real world more, or form an anoraks club and check each other are doing everything correctly, you could have hours of fun.
Jersey boy #19 has made some heartfelt comments and all you can do is rubbish him for his use of English.
I imagine it was sheer frustration at some of the holier than though comments on here that he forgot to spell and grammar check before posting.
I don’t know how old you 3 are but nowadays workers have a lot of pressure to work economically and its much easier and cheaper on the customer who is paying for these people, sometimes by the minute, to flash write their thoughts and use a cheap, fast checker.
I am sure were this a letter to a customer he would have proof read his contribution.
I for one understand all he was trying to say.
And agree with the main point. His job is competitive and his remuneration is commensurate to his effort.
C Le Verdic, as an ex union protectionism man, you should listen to him, he is trying to bring your costs down not up like Corbel.
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I am not rubbishing Jersey boy, I am pointing out that Mulvie Le Phew who attacked him for his use of English is just as bad if not worse.
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24 -your missing the point shoud be you’re missing the point. Sentance should be sentence.
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WTF @ 24,25,27,29.
Quit your gibber-gabber fools, you ain’t english teachers!
just pixels on a screen babbling about spelling mistakes *lawl*
Todays world is not a spelling competition. It is about hand-shaking and deal making. Doesn’t matter what language (be it jive, txt or k0d3) a document or agreement has been constructed, if it is signed then it is agreed and acted upon. Now STFU and get back on topic.
Oh and my entire post is filled with gramatical errors,. becahse.i.want.(you)to.get.upset-while’r eading it!?!?
That is all
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31 PJG – I couldn’t disagree more, correct use of grammar is very important, why else spend so much money sending our children to school. The ocassional mistake is forgivable but Jersey Boy’s post is awash with them, this is not an oversight, it is poor grasp of grammar. I don’t care how busy you are ( and if you have time to post on here not very is my guess ) correct use of grammar should be automatic requiring no thought.
To say that correct use of English does not matter is like saying it doesn’t matter if you have passed your driving test, you have the basics, drive as much as you like.
I wouldn’t employ anyone in an office position who didn’t understand and employ a good knowledge of written English. We have a beautiful, rich expressive language and it’s being ruined by people who are too lazy or thick to observe it’s rules.
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35 – Get back on topic.
Just accept that some people cannot spell, oh and not ONE of you supposed English teachers took into consideration that Jersey Boy might actually be dyslexic.
Think long and hard before you criticise again.
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Well said, Stan #36. It should be a matter of national shame that standards are low.
Since the end of the second world war, if not the first one, the advent of broadcasting and increased educational opportunity should have ensured perfection by now.
There is absolutely no excuse for sloppiness, just as there is no excuse for bad driving or bad manners.
Instead we have huge numbers of people who habitually say “One them” instead of “One of those”, or use ‘sat’ instead of ‘seated’or ‘sitting’, ‘done instead of ‘did’, to quote a few examples.
However, on balance, the general standard of debate and presentation on this forum is better than many. That is probably because Jersey is a fairly upmarket environment.
I do get out, PJG, having a damned good hedonistic time, all day long, all year round, thank you. I don’t watch television or DVDs so this is part of my screen based enjoyment after breakfast and at odd times in the evening.
I enjoy satire and like to see people having their thoughts provoked and sometimes having their minds changed by others (see the Leah Holmes comments elsewhere.
PJG, I am surprised that your desire to do most other things in a fairly conventional manner doesn’t include reasonable – not necessarily perfect – spelling and grammar.
Pip Clement rightly points out the difference between colloquial and formal English. When I first started posting I had resevations about using apostrophes to convey ‘is’,'have’,'not’,etc. However, this forum doesn’t need to be ultra formal but there is no need for it to be sloppy either but it would be nice if one or two habituals stopped using commas as apostrophes and had enough self respect to award themselves capital ‘I’s.
#34. This is not the place for your adolescent ‘TF’ abbreviations. Please reserve your foul fingered abuse for texting like minded associates on your raspberry blower.
This is actually not too far off topic as the recession may well be linked to a general decline in standards.
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Mulvie in your initial post (no .24) you quite clearly write ‘your missing the point.’ This should be ‘you are’ or ‘you’re.’
To then proceed to castigate someone else’s poor grammar is nothing short of scandalous. Hang your head in shame you naughty, naughty boy.
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36
Tax & Living
35 – Get back on topic.
Just accept that some people cannot spell, oh and not ONE of you supposed English teachers took into consideration that Jersey Boy might actually be dyslexic.
Think long and hard before you criticise again.
You don’t have to think long or hard, it’s obvious he’s not dyslexic, he just can’t spell and doesn’t understand bsic English. If he was dyslexic he would still know a new sentence began with a capital letter and that an apostrophe was used for words like it’s and there’s.
As for get back on topic – who are you the forum police?
I knew a dyslexic devil worshiper – he sold his soul to Santa.
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#37 – Do I get under your skin? Please say yes. I’m on here for a laugh and I’m getting it xD. Man, I can’t wait to revisit this page to see what your next comment will be to this one!
#39 – Yes I am the forum police, may I have a cookie? If you add a glass of milk to the offer of a cookie then I will cherish you!
————–
Now are you guys/gals gonna continue slogging it out for the Jersey Darwin Awards for Spelling A-Z or are you gonna start talking about the recession again like good little pixels?
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Just to stay totally off topic:
My son is a teenage dyslexic and starts random words with capital letters and never uses punctuation. He has a very high I.Q. and is obviously working on these issues. I don’t know if Jersey Boy is dyslexic or not but the “gift” of dyslexia takes many forms.
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Some of de spellin on’ere is imbarrisin!
Makes me fink dat some ov’ya ain’t ad n’education! Not’ta mention, dem people dat correct dem bad spellers, sum’ov’em r even worser dan de geezers wiv problems!
I fink de teachers r ta blame! Letz be onist, wots de good of tellin kids dat can’t spell ta’luk wordzup in a dictionary? Stupid init! I mean, in order ta’luk a word dup, yav gotta’no how ta spell it, ain’t ya!
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The average wage is said to be £30,000, which is £600 a week.
Senator Shenton has just informed us that a married couple with two children on £15,000 can through Income Support have that sum increased to £31,000,where indeed is the incentive to work, something is not right!.
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38 Mr Grammarpants – Mulvie in your initial post (no .24) you quite clearly write ‘your missing the point.’ This should be ‘you are’ or ‘you’re.’
I fully accept that there are grammatical errors in my post but this is not amonng them. Read carefuly, I have copied Jersey Boy’s original comment and responded to it, the error you highlight is his not mine.
Bo Nidle – like it, my uncle was a dyslexic pimp, he went bust when he bought a warehouse.
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it seems that gorst uses the same calculator as ouzof the answer is always positive and wrong no wonder this island is in such a mess
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I used to read these forums as I was interested in peope opinions and thoughts over current issues that could have some impact on all of our lives, but I got fed up with the constant bickering, mainly from the spelling police.
Having recently returned I see things haven’t changed.
The Topic – Recession Hits Average Pay and 19 of the 44 posts bang on about spelling.
These forums are a joke!
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46 Big Bean –
The Topic – Recession Hits Average Pay and 19 of the 44 posts bang on about spelling.
That’s because some of us think that a basic grasp of grammar is important, certainly the government do or why else spend millions educating our kids. When I was at school you’d be marked down in an essay for misuse of grammar or spelling mistakes. Seems to me the only people who don’t think it’s important are the divots who can’t spell.
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Well said #46, well said.
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Well said 46.
47: Fine, BUT it has nothing to do with this blog, such a discussion is for an article written about spelling/grammer. Most don’t care about it, and don’t appreciate others hijacking an article unrelated to the point being made!
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46. The forum is not a joke – just some of the people who post their ‘views’.
I accept grammar & correct spelling are important skills to have, however, picking people upfor what are largely mistyped errors on a site such as this is petty, pedantic & lets face it incredibly boring.
Mulvie Le Phew – I’ll stick with my 6 figure salary and lavish lifestyle – you are very welcome to trunce me in the spelling stakes.
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I just wished people would grow up and stop this petty ‘you spelt that wrong/bad punctation’ rubbish.
Act your age and not you’re shoe size.
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Okay lets do some examples shall we?
1. Would you hire a person based on their ability to spell or use grammer over their experience in the position they are applying for? No, you would go for experience in the position.
2. Do you think footballers earn their millions by knowing how to spell or use grammar? No, they use their reaction timings, their practice in ball control and dedication to the fine game.
3. Do programmers need to know how to spell to earn their high 5 or low/mid 6 figure wage packets? Nope, they just need to understand structure, the business model and requirements.
These are just 3 examples (I could go on forever, tbh) of situations where spelling and grammar are not 100% important to progress in life. Obviously a grasp of the English language is important however we do not have to be proficient in anything to achieve our goals.
Grammar is not important as long as the point the person is trying to make is understood. A basic grasp of everything is all people need to survive. We are all Jacks of Trades and Masters of None.
Now please people, just give it up. A prize will not be awarded for having a gramatically correct post, sorry to burst any bubbles.
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Wow,
You lot are funny
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Tax and Living
‘Would you hire a person based on their ability to spell or use grammer over their experience in the position they are applying for? No, you would go for experience in the position.’
I recently had to recruit several staff who were client facing and I must admit that when you are sifting through hundreds of cover letters, those with poor spelling and grammar will be binned. It shows thoughtlessness and carelessness (unless due to dyslexia etc of course) which is not an attractive quality when these potential staff will reflect your firm. I would sincerely encourage everyone to use decent spelling, punctuation and grammar where possible.
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Oops,
I forgot the full stop! Here have an extra one!
.
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Big Bean#46
I am sorry if one of those 44 posts that “bang on about spelling” is mine? My hope was that by trying to show these “spelling police” what silly little individuals they are it would stop their cowardly attacks on someone who actually has something important to say and should be allowed the right of free speech without being insulted by their pompous rhetoric.
It really gets my back up when these despicable people whose only input to an important discussion is to use their possibly expensive education to rubbish someone’s thoughts by attacking their lack of correct spelling and grammar not the essence of their thoughts, especially when such an attack is at someone whose situation they know nothing of and the mistake is of no importance to the understanding of the post.
It just goes to show that no matter how much one is educated; to have good manners and respect one needs the experience of personal encounters.
If the spelling police live their live as they write on this site they must have lonely lives, or permanent black eyes.
They obviously lack the tolerance and inter-person skills necessary to be loved and respected by others, even if they can spell correctly.
To all of you anoraks, you know who you are, I am sure I speak for many on this site, when I say, if I do not know how to spell a word or how to punctuate a sentence and “I DECIDE” I need help, I will look it up or ask somebody I know and respect.
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“Divide and rule ” has always been the policy of governments.Unity is strength.
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Oh dear
There really are a lot of degenerates in Jersey!
Being professional, in any industry, includes being able to perform to the best of your ability at all the skills required for the job.
Believe it or not Jersey Boy reading, writing and numeracy are essential in finance. Mis-interpretation, spelling mistakes or inaccuracy can cause the loss of money, a lost customer or a lawsuit!
How would you like your bank to make a basic mistake and pay your wages to the wrong account? Or how would you like to miss an important flight? Or get falsely arrested? Or given the wrong surgery/medicine?
These mistakes can all be made by incorrect spelling or mathematics.
Grow up and try to learn your mother tongue the way it was intended. Pathetic, made up nonsensical language is for the lazy and idiotic.
Correct spelling & numeracy are important in everything we do….if you were as clever as you think you are then you would already realise this!
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#54
If these people you recruited wrote their application/cover letter via Microsoft Word or any other text editor then they would NOT be full of poor spelling OR grammar as these applications correct this FOR YOU as you type.
I can see your point if they hand-wrote their cover letter or application but in this day and age people use technology to do everything for them, EVEN SPELL would you believe!
Are you absolutely POSITIVE the spelling and grammar was wrong or are you attempting to defend the spelling police?
#56
Huge amounts of respect to you!
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56
well put.
not all of us had the opportunity to have a good education and were put out to grass when very young.
Still if it makes them feel superior they must be lacking in something else.
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#59 ‘If these people you recruited wrote their application/cover letter via Microsoft Word or any other text editor then they would NOT be full of poor spelling OR grammar as these applications correct this FOR YOU as you type.’
Why wouldn’t they be full of mistakes? If only most spell checkers were that smart.
Many of the regular mistakes we see such as peddle v. pedal may well be down to spell checkers.
Think about it. Joe Soap incorrectly types ‘pedl’. The spell checker asks “Did you mean ‘peddle’?” Joe meant ‘pedal’ but opts for the checker’s suggestion of ‘peddle’.
#52, the spellchecker wouldn’t know the difference between ‘earn millions’ and ‘get paid millions’, for example.
It’s happenning all the time, no wonder there’s a recession with so many incompetents around!
It looks as though ‘grammer(sic)is becoming the default spelling.
Well said, #47. It’s time the employers replaced the divots. Unless of course they are so off course that bad English is par for the course.
#58, hear, hear also.
PJG, you take us nitpickers too seriously sometimes. Pedantry can be playful and educational without being hurtful.
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Perhaps the JEP should install an auto spell checker on this site.
C Le Verdic #61 you say
“PJG, you take us nitpickers too seriously sometimes. Pedantry can be playful and educational without being hurtful.”
There is the problem “can be playful” or it could be “hurtful”.
You and your cronies have no idea at who you are directing your ridicule.
I would have thought that as an ex union senior you would be more careful of remarks that may be mocking the afflicted.
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#58
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These “mistakes” that you speak of regarding medical supplies, lawsuits, wages, flights and being arrested can be made by a person who has poor grammar and spelling as well as people with almost-immaculate grammar and spelling. What’s your point here? Mistakes are made by absolutely everybody (that includes you) regardless of their education.
#60
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Not everybody can go to harvard eh? Some of us have to work at an early age based on our circumstances. The spelling and grammar police have not even considered why some people may not be educated to THEIR standards.
#61
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“Pedantry can be playful and educational without being hurtful.”
I disagree. YOU think it’s playful and educational but what about the people who have no say in their education, who have struggled in life with what has been handed to them?
If you don’t think you are hurting the people who have struggled to educate themselves to a degree where they can afford a mortgage, keep their family afloat and obtain some savings off their own back then you are grossly mistaken.
#53/55
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“Pretends to be the Microsoft Word Paperclip”
I see you are trying to write a sentence. Would you like me to force my opinions of how you should spell, use correct grammar and punctuation down your throat? Short and sweet comments, can’t help but agree with you.
#62
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Could not agree more.
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Get with it. The whole point of averages is that those elite few on the highest salaries totally skew the results to the detriment of the low paid. e.g.
6 people on a section earning as follows:
66k, 45k, 30k, and 3 earning 24k the average salary is £35,500.
So 4 out of 6 people earn below average, but the whole world (sorry the states, social security, SSU and JEP) will use this average for ALL their calculations thus affecting the lower paid unfairly as they all think we earn more than we actually do.
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#64 – And there are a LOT of elites on high 5 and low 6 figure sums. Most office workers are on 24k (decent wage for them?) so I fully agree with this statement.
How a 24k earner can afford the new 1bed rent in the island is beyond me. Look on jerseyinsight for 1/2 bedroom flats to residentially unqualified people, do we think this is fair?
Who will stand and who will fall xD
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“Recession Hits Average Pay”
To many on this site, spelling and punctuation are more important than the subject matter.
Who cares about spelling mistakes?, how childish, stick to the issue.
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I love how when you can’t back your case for or against anything, punctuation and grammer is suddenly sooooo important.
Well done.
For the record, expats pay their rent, living expenses, holidays, oil, gas, parish rates…oh wait some of us don’t pay for the water since it comes from a borehole…but that’s not our fault…it came with the lease…not the govt nor employer
(Nitpick my grammer all you want..there’s plenty for everyone..)
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Ok to all those people (specifically MLP) who picked my comment apart for spelling or grammar. You do realise this is the equivelant of getting beaten in an argument and then coming back with something like “yea, well you smell” I pitty you fools!
If your going to troll on sites like this then you have get with it. No one cares about spelling, grammar or if i say wat instead of what. In my oppinion the english language is whatever we use to communicate written or spoken. This is evident in the fact that words that my generation made up are now published in the dictionary. So if my generation “a generation of cyber communication” know what eachother are talking about even if we use coded english you old folk dont get, then maybe your too old n grumpy to be on the internet in the first place. Not to mention the fact that i aint got time to sit here a proof read some comment that im posting. im hardly getting marks for it lol.
Next you’ll be telling me that because i work in a bank i need to learn long division despite having a little thing called a computer.
I might not have the same grasp of written english as you MLP, but ive got a lot of money says i can do things with computer software that would blow your mind.
Its people like me that come into banks and can up productivity by 200 – 300% using our knowledge of computers to automate what was previously a 3 day job, to 30 seconds work. If you insist on wasting your time learning shakespeare and all that rubbish then lets see who gets extinct first lol.
If you want the younger generations to waste time learning the same things at school you did then by the time they go into the work place they would be 20 years behind everyone else.
Using technology to your advantage (spell checking, excel formulas etc) rather then wasting time learning how to do it on paper is a good thing.
Unless cyberdine systems becomes self aware in the 60 years and destroys all computer based technology then im sure i will manage!!
(sorry to all of those who havent seen terminator as the above will not make sense
Right – so MLP have you got a response to my point i was making originally rather then this childish tit for tat.
Just as a bit of fun can anyone decode this, and yes its real internet slang!
” DPS LFG 2 CoT CoS HC, got 5k gs n 4k dps. Im in STV atm Pwnin Nubs cuz im Ub3r l££t rotflmao!”
Haha answers on a post.
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I’ve never claimed to be a union senior. Neither am I ‘ex’ union, PJG.
However, even though I have no recollection of you having a good word to say about unions, I am inclined to treat your comment as well meaning. It has been taken on board, as they say.
As I have suggested before, there is every opportunity nowadays for even ‘the afflicted’ to learn and catch up if they were left behind at school.
I am sorry but it disappoints me, and no doubt several others, that poor standards are so clearly evident amongst those who profess to be high flyers and high earners. For them there is even less excuse. I agree that some of us are wandering off topic. This might not happen so frequently if the stimulii did not exist!
# 66, PJK. If it makes critics happy, here, without reference to spelling or grammar, is a further comment from me on the subject of the article:
Interesting.
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#67
‘I love how when you can’t back your case for or against anything, punctuation and grammer is suddenly sooooo important.’
Isn’t this something of a generalisation? There certainly no particular logic involved in the statement even though in isolated cases it might be true.
There are some who can’t back up their case who don’t resort to nitpicking. There are also spelling and grammar fuss pots who can back up their topic related arguments adequately.
There are others who don’t get involved in the subject under discussion, only in the nitpicking!
I am interested in the increasing use of the word ‘expats’ apparently meaning ‘imported workers’. I hope that the word doesn’t become as misused as ‘ethnic’ has.
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C Le Verdic
My apologies on the union bit.
I seem to recall you saying you were involved with claims of union members involved with “Asbestos”. (You’re not a dreaded lawyer are you?)
I must have put 2+2 together and made 5.
I really do hope you have “It has been taken on board” because although I “DO” believe you think you are being light-hearted and possibly helpful you are not.
I work with a large cross section of people, ranging from 1 or 2 whom, for whatever reason, (probably the lottery of parents) are semi illiterate up to graduates. One of the former is attending adult classes in his own time at Highlands to try and improve his literacy standard, he is improving, but he is finding even the basics an uphill battle and I fear will always be of a low standard.
He is top grade at his job and has an earning potential of 35 to 45K PA. The job he is doing does not require perfect spelling and grammar (it involves driving specialise heavy goods vehicles (up to 100Tonnes loaded) he is paying taxes supporting his family and contributing towards society. He has not had a rise in basic pay for 2 years so is suffering from the “Recession Hits Average Pay” as we all are, why should he not be able to voice his opinion on sites such as the without bullying spelling police driving away valuable contributions such as his (just because he has made spelling mistakes his contribution to this forum would be no less valuable, or do you think it would).
These people work hard support their families and are sometime the butt of thoughtless jokes such as YOUR “It’s happening all the time, no wonder there’s a recession with so many incompetents around”.
I see their faces when this happens, they are hurt!
I have offered to bring a disciplinary against this bullying (because that’s what it is) but I usually receive a no thanks it will make it worse.
There is a time and a place for your “playful and educational” corrections, but not when you have no knowledge of the situation of the recipient of your attack. Argue and attack on subject, fine we all put our heads over the subject parapet when posting on here.
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To all of those picking up on my post for how it was written as oppose to what it says, i have this to say to you:
IT IS AN INTERNET POST!! not an english essay or as BS Deluxe would believe a medical certificate.
Jeez people i was trying to make a point in the last 10 minutes i had of my lunch hour i didnt have time to go back and spell check blah blah. you know what i was/am saying. you just dont have the maturity to come back with anything other then picking up on my spelling or grammar.
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To those moaning about people these days using Word and couldnt hand write an important document. Well your correct, but thats not a bad thing. I can tell you now most of the people who make the most complicated computer software in the world are probably rubbish at english grammar but then they didnt waste time learning something that they we have developed software to mean its not so important to learn anymore. In this day and age with so much knowledge out there and so much to learn it is the way of the world to become an expert in a field. If you are a website designer and you need a “terms and conditions” section written you would employ the skills of a lawyer, not go and take a law degree to do it yourself. You people who who are “good” at all the generic school subjects but a master of nothing worth knowing, well good luck to you, ill wave to you as you pump the petrol into my car
Unless computers become self aware and destroy themselves in the next 100 years then i think ill manage without it thanks. Its got me this far and by the sounds of it im doing better then some of the people criticising me.
Oh and just for the record – im not dyslexic. Just rushing. I dont think i included random capitals as much as just not using any lol. I would also put this down to the fact i have a broken finger at the moment and cant use the shift key on the right of my keyboard without a serious amount of pain!!
Thank you to all those who condemn the simpletons who have to come back with “ohh spelling mistake” rather then discuss the oppinions i have put forward on the subject of this forum!
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Don’t worry about it JB, the spelling police only skim past the topics and go for the real meat – the comments.
Let them believe in their own minds that they are gods. We will just nod, smile and hand them a window-flavoured lollypop as a thank-you for correcting our posts.
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jim (45) it seems that gorst uses the same calculator as ouzof
Jim – It could appear that thanks to the spending cuts Ministers now have to share the one SofJ calculator!?
The basic calculator model, without the numeric spell-check, should the annually retentive be concerned.
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What is a window-flavoured lollypop?
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Jersey Boy
With all your long winded and,frankly, boring ranting you seem to have gone somewhat off topic yourself.
Ironic hey?
Look that up in your free online dictionary!
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Do you really have to ask? #76 Jenny? lol
Have a think about it, the answer will come to you xD
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Oh dear, PJG, we seem to be struggling.
I wrote ‘I’ve never claimed to be a union senior. Neither am I ‘ex’ union, PJG.’
In other words, although I am a union steward I do not hold what one might consider a senior post. Your memory was correct about the asbestos. I have been instrumental in getting compensation for the orphan of a deceased colleague.
I am not an ex union member because I am a current member (life member, in fact).
I still think that you are overstressing the alleged hurt to others from essentially light hearted comments. Nevertheless your comments have been taken on board and I’m sure you know what that normally means in employerspeak!
I like your tale of the guy you supported at work, perhaps you should get involved in union work too!
While I’m at the keyboard, Jersey Boy @73 falls into the generalisation trap with: ‘You people who who are “good” at all the generic school subjects but a master of nothing worth knowing, well good luck to you’
Why are people who are reasonably well educated necessarily ‘master of nothing worth knowing’?
There are many who are not only brilliant experts in their chosen field (over and above fuelling cars in an island where self service has never quite caught on) who also have other accomplishments and skills including good English. I trust that PJG will consider taking up arms on their behalf in case they feel insulted by such comments.
Before I get accused of generalisation for writing “It’s happening all the time, no wonder there’s a recession with so many incompetents around(!)”, I would point out that like many of my posts, that line was also in jest. The exclamation mark (left out by PJG) was a clue.
To anyone else who wants to have a go at me, please think twice before making hurtful comments. I might have an unfortunate condition which prevents me from understand the feelings of others. I might even be annually(sic) retentive with a widow(my spelling)flavoured lollipop.
I am still finding the original topic incredibly interesting.
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C Le Verdic#79
“I like your tale of the guy you supported at work; perhaps you should get involved in union work too!”
No thanks, I’me his boss, I can do more for him than any union and as I’ve said before, an employee is much better off with a boss who rewards his efforts than a union who drags him down to the lowest common denominator.
I consider a union steward a senior “union” post, so if you want to be pernickety, that does make you an “ex” senior union member, now you are just a union member.
I will only consider taking up arms on their behalf if some idiot uses a public forum to further his argument of his superiority bought about by an accident of parentage, you know, like the Nazis did with the Jews.
But I am pleased you have “taken it on board”, perhaps now you will use your obvious excellent command of the English language to better uses than taking the urine out of others who are different.
And finally, the “I was only joking” comment stinks. I would have expected better of you.
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Ok, I was a bit over the top with my comment but about people being good at everything but great at nothing – my apologies.
However the point I was trying to make was that there are some people about who will tell you this that and the other about grammar and spelling, which is fine and ok maybe my spelling and grammar is not great, but then im sure there are a number of subjects I am great at that those same people know nothing about. But it doesn’t mean im going to pick up on it when it is irrelevant to the topic at hand.
Yes I may have gone off topic myself but that is only to defend against the childish posts made after my original post.
Yes I know what ironic means – I’m not stupid.
why cant you lot look at the point or view someone is trying to convey rather then come back with these facetious remarks trying to be clever.
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‘I consider a union steward a senior “union” post, so if you want to be pernickety, that does make you an “ex” senior union member, now you are just a union member.’
Blimey O’Reilly, PJG.
I am still(underlined) a steward and still(underlined) a life member. Let’s just leave it there, it’s not that complicated!
As you don’t know me, just as you criticise me for not knowing about other posters, how could you have ‘expected better’ of me? Or are you the only one permitted to read between the lines and make inspired guesses about people? !!!
Why shouldn’t I have been joking? That’s one of several reasons why I come on here. Expect more stinking comments from time to time!
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