Day One of Work

Monday

It was a little bit of a shock to wake up and actually go to work. I’ve not actually been into work for about a month, and the last time I actually was at work, I was kneeling on a dirty road, in the pouring rain, and the freezing cold night looking after someone who had been run over. What a change? The sun was shining, and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky.

I wasn’t that prepared for work, and had shirts to iron. (That is a shock, as the Sussex Ambulance Shirts didn’t get ironed very often.) The ambulance HQ has a drive thru coffee shop – Muzz Buzz – next door to the training school (great innovation – large cappuccino for one please—ambulance discount, what a bonusJ) I was a little nervous meeting everyone, but we all seemed to be in the same situation. I say we all were in the same situation but we weren’t. There are 4 paramedics from Trafford Ambulance Station (near Manchester – in anyone still left there), and a South African couple are actually a couple.

The day was what you might expect at a new job, with introductions, and a couple guidelines, before coffee. And then the boredom set in. The first people in to speak to us were the people for the Human Resources Department. The first session was on equal opportunity/employment legislation/bullying and harassment policies. I know that it is important, but my goodness, it is a little gruelling.

Coffee again. (This is great, it’s only 11, and we’ve actually had 2 x 20 minute breaks) I don’t think I’ll get burnout too quickly.

After coffee – more legislation. This time Health and Safety, and Manual Handling, and Risk Management. I don’t think that lunch couldn’t come quick enough.

After a light lunch of a roast beef sandwich (only one round of bread) and another hour break – It was more from HR. This time it was administration. Visa validation, driving licence checks (I hadn’t got mine yet, although it was good to know that the service will reimburse me for the licence – I’ll get the longest one possible, 5 years for £70), pension fund checks, bank details, ID pass photos, Tax Declarations. There are a lot of differences from the UK – I don’t understand what salary sacrifice is, but it will make me money so I’m all for it. (And a couple breaks)

We were all sent home about 14:30. Not bad for a first day. I think tomorrow will be a lot longer.

I managed to get my driver’s licence, without a test. They recognise that the UK drivers licence, and will transfer it into Australian Licence straight away. The South Africans on the course are having to take driving lessons, and a driving test. (There are 5 of them). I would hate that.

I wonder what the rest of the week will bring. I pondered that thought for a while in the pub down the road for a while.