Snodgrass: 'Mr Who'

Dear Nigel,

I have been happily employed in the same role for over fifty years. The only drawback is that every so often I am asked to ‘regenerate’. This is a painful procedure that requires substantial transformation, after which, to be honest, I can hardly recognize myself. Any advice?

D. Who, Gallifrey

Dear Mr Who,

I recommend that you look at development not as a chore but as an opportunity: without it, your skills will probably not keep pace with the changing economic, political and technological environment.  I also strongly advise that you tie-in your ‘regeneration’ with the objectives outlined in your PDP. Speaking from personal experience, a PDP-inspired training agenda helped substantially in my ‘regeneration’ from payroll clerk to industrial relations executive.

Dear Nigel,

I am working in a hotel in Devon where I am bullied all the time by my boss who is not a nice man and keeps poking me in the eye. Once he even told me that he had put my pet rat in the ratatouille and hit me in face with mooses head and always with the frying pan. ¿Me puede ayudar?

Manuel, Torquay

Dear Mr Manuel,

Whilst industrial tribunals might be an option, my advice would be not to disturb the operational culture that is an essential part of the commercial drive towards the achievement of strategic goals. In other words, if you can’t stand the heat of the frying pan branding your forehead, get out of the kitchen.

Dear Nigel,

I was engaged on a five-year mission to explore strange new worlds, and seek out new life and new civilizations. Unfortunately, there has been significant ‘mission creep’ and I am still working remotely after more than forty years. What are my rights?

J.T. Kirk (Captain), USS Enterprise

Dear Mr. Kirk (Captain),

My major concern would be that after years away from your line manager you might have fallen behind on your performance reviews and health and safety updates. I would also recommend taking tax advice, particularly with regard to any exemptions to National Insurance payments that non-UK domicile may entitle you to.

If you’re a star, please forward your HR queries to Nigel at editorial@hrville.co.uk

About the author

Nigel Snodgrass

Nigel has worked in Personnel for as long as he can remember. His favourite activities include time and motion studies, deliberating over the niceties of employment law, and not using the internet. When recruiting, he only accepts CVs by fax or post, and even then will bin any delivered in an envelope mailed with a second-class stamp.