You Know What Really Grinds My Gears? Now with 3x more gears...

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by DoubleF

Swimming is an amazing cardio though. A few years ago, I decided to do it more as a good recovery activity between sports and working out. You watch these old guys slowly go back and forth on the lanes and you think, "Pfft. I can outdo that." I could, but 2-4 lanes later vs 1 for the old guy, I'm dying and panting and out of breath and the dude slowly turns around for his 10th lane or whatever insane marathon practice swim he had decided on.

Yeah it's an amazing full body workout. I get into the Olympics and if I could have any athlete's body there as my own, it would definitely be swimmers. Just shredded.

I'm a member at Lindsay Park/Talismann/Repsol/MNP Centre (whatever iteration you're used to), love hitting the pool & hot tub after a workout. There's a tonne of swimming events there so I see the competitive swimmers. It's so bizarre hearing all these knucklehead 14-16 year old dudes with awkward teenage voices being loud and hyperactive in the hot tub or locker room like they are at that age, then you glance over and they're cut like ancient Greek statues, it's insane. I would've killed to be shredded like that in JH/HS, good lord. Definitely a fantastic full workout, wish I figured that out in junior high lol...

[Fuzz]

What percentage of a lane style swimming pool is sweat? I figure with all that activity, it's gotta be close to the kiddie pool pee content ratio.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

It has caffeine now? I wonder when that happened because for the longest time it was caffeine free because of Canadian regulations.

About 20 years or so.

The regulations used to be that you couldn't sell caffeinated soft drinks in Canada unless they were dark in colour (so, things like colas, root beers, and Dr. Pepper could have caffeine).

When Red Bull and other energy drinks started to become a big thing in the US in the early 2000s, the regulations were changed to allow light coloured drinks to have caffeine so long as they were marketed as "Energy" drinks... so, that's what Pepsico did, introducing Mountain Dew Energy to Canada, which was sold alongside the old caffeine-free variety. They later changed the name to Dew Fuel, but it was still just the American version.

Later, the regulations were changed again and the Energy drink label was no longer required, so Pepsico switched the regular Mountain Dew to the caffeinated version.

If you've had Mountain Dew in Canada any time in the last decade or so, it had caffeine in it, and caffeinated Mountain Dew has been available in one form or another since the early 2000s.

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by 81MC

Accepted a position, gave my notice accordingly. Big Whigs call me up, make me an offer to stay. Think about it, graciously accept this counter offer. Was told it was moving rapidly and Big Whigs talking about how proud they are at it moving so quick. Notify the hiring manager that I wouldn’t in fact be able to take the position I had been offered originally due to what was offered in response.

2 ####ing months ago. What I thought was a sure thing that would be in place already has turned into 2 months of talk and every time there’s an update it’s a less and less sure thing. And now, the window has closed on the other position so I can’t even beg to be accept anymore.

I don’t doubt the counter offer was made in good faith and everyone is doing what they can, but fuxk me if I don’t feel like the biggest fool right now. A sinking feeling it’ll be three months when I find out the promotion actually doesn’t come through and I’ve just thrown away other opportunity because my company couldn’t figure out what to do if I left when I had originally indicated. So damn annoyed right now.

Serious question: What made you apply and accept the position with the new company instead of trying your hand at a promotion at your current employer?

The reason I ask is that there has never been a time I can think of where I was ready to accept a position with a new company while I was happy with my employment at the current one (short of being offered an opportunity I would be a complete fool to decline which is completely hypothetical at this point), and it's a big reason why I've never accepted a counter-offer, even if the money did end up ahead of the new role.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

Serious question: What made you apply and accept the position with the new company instead of trying your hand at a promotion at your current employer?

The reason I ask is that there has never been a time I can think of where I was ready to accept a position with a new company while I was happy with my employment at the current one (short of being offered an opportunity I would be a complete fool to decline which is completely hypothetical at this point), and it's a big reason why I've never accepted a counter-offer, even if the money did end up ahead of the new role.

I also find this interesting if you dont mind.

[RichieRich]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

Serious question: What made you apply and accept the position with the new company instead of trying your hand at a promotion at your current employer?

The reason I ask is that there has never been a time I can think of where I was ready to accept a position with a new company while I was happy with my employment at the current one (short of being offered an opportunity I would be a complete fool to decline which is completely hypothetical at this point), and it's a big reason why I've never accepted a counter-offer, even if the money did end up ahead of the new role.

Definitely an interesting conversation...
Years ago I was given a token raise... which I actually rejected and said it was unacceptably low and provided proof/guidance. They offered more and said that was it. But I still said it didn't meet industry standards nor my level of responsibility. A few weeks gave my notice and suddenly "heeeeey what can we do for you!!?? Hey can we offer more money... heeeeeeeyyy...etc etc...". Told 'em it was too late and they'd had plenty of chances. If they'd bumped me only another coupla $k/yr I wouldn't have looked elsewhere because I did enjoy the work and the people. Because I actually looked I ended up with a ~20% pay bump above first companies best offer. So yeah, it does pay to look around and I've learned (the hard way, same company had burned me on an internal move so I was wary of false promises) that if it ain't in writing then it's worthless. So unfortunately sometimes lessons learned, and you have to look out for #1... yourself. Doesn't mean you have to burn bridges though. unless you want to blow it up.

[81MC]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

Serious question: What made you apply and accept the position with the new company instead of trying your hand at a promotion at your current employer?

The reason I ask is that there has never been a time I can think of where I was ready to accept a position with a new company while I was happy with my employment at the current one (short of being offered an opportunity I would be a complete fool to decline which is completely hypothetical at this point), and it's a big reason why I've never accepted a counter-offer, even if the money did end up ahead of the new role.

Long story short: discussions had taken place for a long while about my desire to move up, both from a professional development standpoint and the quality/scope/responsibility of what I was doing. When that gained traction and they did their thing (job assessment/needs assessment essentially), they came back with a level of promotion that I was not happy with. I confirmed that based on everything up to that point, what was presented to me was the direction it would go in and they confirmed.

At that point, I had already been looking for the right opportunity elsewhere for a while, and had already had a verbal offer for this other gig. I think I was rather professional about it, gave my reasoning for why I would not be taking the ‘promotion’ and explained why I felt it was in the best interest of the business to seriously reevaluate their direction so they were positives for success when I left.

Fundamentally, the original promotion was as dead-ended as the role I was in and didn’t appropriately capture the work I was doing and its importance. I didn’t spend nearly a decade at that place doing my best to ultimately make a move that anywhere else would have been a given 7 years ago.

I made the decision that while a step down and backwards to the place that had extended the offer would be hard, it was more likely to lead to where I wanted to go in due time; something that was evidently not going to happen if I stayed where I was an accepted the ‘promotion’ (and confirmed as such directly with leadership).

Once I have my notice, the counter to get me to stay was a very exciting opportunity (middle management ####, so nothing crazy), but creating and leading a new team and the base position I currently held. Honestly I was pretty hung-ho, and very understanding that this was such a new position with the business needs still being identified it would take some time.

Today however, it feels remarkably like they wrote a cheque they couldn’t cash and have me doing work that will cover them if I walk away. I don’t want to say I feel used, because well, it’s a job that pays well, but it does feel again like because I do the job, rather well, and with a good attitude, that the urgency on their end is gone. Worse yet, what was presented as a ‘for me’ position with a ‘small’ chance it could require posting is now ‘for the entire world’ position with a small chance I’ll get it.

I really don’t mind that latter part; if I can’t get the role on my merit, I don’t want it. I don’t need professional favours held over me. But it would have been really ####ing nice to not be dicked around for years, then sucked off to stay only to be dicked around again at the cost of a pretty rare opportunity elsewhere.

I like my job, I like the people, I like the business. But I can’t stay in the same level for years hoping it’ll pay off. Did that, and it’s apparently gotten me absolutely no where.

[Fuzz]

So they told you the new position was yours if you stayed, and now they are doing it as a job posting, and you have to pass the application process?


#### them, I'd go anywhere else. That's bull####. And next time get the offer in writing before dropping the other offer. If you stay, get any future offer in writing so they can't keep doing that to you.

[fotze2]

Goddamn, the most annoying co-worker on earth is back after a two week vacation. Three people have come to my office with an exasperated look on there face saying he's back. Del Griffith but with nothing endearing at all. His ex-wife hates him, both daughters have cut off communication. Weird.

A few of us were chatting and I decided to make it interesting so I brought up the Vaxx and smoke bombed it out of there with a fake phone call. They were mad. Haha.

[topfiverecords]

I'd 100% be out of there at the first chance I'd get.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

So they told you the new position was yours if you stayed, and now they are doing it as a job posting, and you have to pass the application process?


#### them, I'd go anywhere else. That's bull####. And next time get the offer in writing before dropping the other offer. If you stay, get any future offer in writing so they can't keep doing that to you.

Yeah, I think normally you should try to resolve things with your current company first and if things don’t work out, then pursue other employment opportunities and don’t look back. I would be very suspicious of getting a counter-offer from your current company to stay. It seems like a desperate move made out of duress, and as soon as they can, they’d just punt you. You have basically burned two bridges.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by fotze2

Goddamn, the most annoying co-worker on earth is back after a two week vacation. Three people have come to my office with an exasperated look on there face saying he's back. Del Griffith but with nothing endearing at all. His ex-wife hates him, both daughters have cut off communication. Weird.

A few of us were chatting and I decided to make it interesting so I brought up the Vaxx and smoke bombed it out of there with a fake phone call. They were mad. Haha.

How is this guy not fired?

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Wormius

Yeah, I think normally you should try to resolve things with your current company first and if things don’t work out, then pursue other employment opportunities and don’t look back. I would be very suspicious of getting a counter-offer from your current company to stay. It seems like a desperate move made out of duress, and as soon as they can, they’d just punt you. You have basically burned two bridges.

Yeah, if an employee has already looked at other offers, he's not happy here. And if you don't know why he's not happy here, you're not doing your job as a manager. There is no benefit for the company to counter offer other than it's a scam. And in the small case the counter offer is genuine, the middle manager should be fired for letting it go this far and costing the company money. What's the point of performance evaluations if you don't even know your employee is unhappy?

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by RichieRich

Definitely an interesting conversation...
Years ago I was given a token raise... which I actually rejected and said it was unacceptably low and provided proof/guidance. They offered more and said that was it. But I still said it didn't meet industry standards nor my level of responsibility. A few weeks gave my notice and suddenly "heeeeey what can we do for you!!?? Hey can we offer more money... heeeeeeeyyy...etc etc...". Told 'em it was too late and they'd had plenty of chances. If they'd bumped me only another coupla $k/yr I wouldn't have looked elsewhere because I did enjoy the work and the people. Because I actually looked I ended up with a ~20% pay bump above first companies best offer. So yeah, it does pay to look around and I've learned (the hard way, same company had burned me on an internal move so I was wary of false promises) that if it ain't in writing then it's worthless. So unfortunately sometimes lessons learned, and you have to look out for #1... yourself. Doesn't mean you have to burn bridges though. unless you want to blow it up.

Oh yeah, I've learned that lesson. I was promised a salary increase by a previous manager and when it came time for it, I made sure my new manager was aware (old manager was literally one office over if there was any doubt). He changed the raise to be a bonus increase (which was moot as I was already performing to the level of 50% billable hours revenue sharing). It wasn't in writing, but he could have confirmed with the other manager the terms we'd agreed to.

That was when I started looking and accepted an offer elsewhere. They made two counter-offers and I made sure that they knew that manager and stiffing me on the raise was the reason I was leaving, even though their second counter-offer was more money than my new gig.

But again, when I'm happy somewhere, I'm not really looking for reasons to leave. It was them screwing me on a previously negotiated pay increase that I decided to look around.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by getbak

About 20 years or so.

The regulations used to be that you couldn't sell caffeinated soft drinks in Canada unless they were dark in colour (so, things like colas, root beers, and Dr. Pepper could have caffeine).

When Red Bull and other energy drinks started to become a big thing in the US in the early 2000s, the regulations were changed to allow light coloured drinks to have caffeine so long as they were marketed as "Energy" drinks... so, that's what Pepsico did, introducing Mountain Dew Energy to Canada, which was sold alongside the old caffeine-free variety. They later changed the name to Dew Fuel, but it was still just the American version.

Later, the regulations were changed again and the Energy drink label was no longer required, so Pepsico switched the regular Mountain Dew to the caffeinated version.

If you've had Mountain Dew in Canada any time in the last decade or so, it had caffeine in it, and caffeinated Mountain Dew has been available in one form or another since the early 2000s.

Fun fact about Mountain Dew is that it is a different product in the EU. North American Mountain Dew contains an additive that is banned in the EU, so they use a different recipe. The European version is also only 25% owned by Pepsi.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Fun fact about Mountain Dew is that it is a different product in the EU. North American Mountain Dew contains an additive that is banned in the EU, so they use a different recipe. The European version is also only 50% owned by Pepsi.

Food generally tastes better in the EU IMO. I think it's because the EU is far stricter when it comes to additives, GMOs, etc.

[fotze2]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

Oh yeah, I've learned that lesson. I was promised a salary increase by a previous manager and when it came time for it, I made sure my new manager was aware (old manager was literally one office over if there was any doubt). He changed the raise to be a bonus increase (which was moot as I was already performing to the level of 50% billable hours revenue sharing). It wasn't in writing, but he could have confirmed with the other manager the terms we'd agreed to.

That was when I started looking and accepted an offer elsewhere. They made two counter-offers and I made sure that they knew that manager and stiffing me on the raise was the reason I was leaving, even though their second counter-offer was more money than my new gig.

But again, when I'm happy somewhere, I'm not really looking for reasons to leave. It was them screwing me on a previously negotiated pay increase that I decided to look around.

Oh ya, the only sure fire way to get a raise is to change jobs/companiys. The human resources horsecrap process makes it so outlandish to give a raise that isn't around the inflation rate level that its almost impossible to get anything bigger. The supervisor has to go so far out on a limb to demand it that I can see why it doesn't happen until a pressure point is applied.

[RichieRich]

Originally Posted by fotze2

Oh ya, the only sure fire way to get a raise is to change jobs/companiys. The human resources horsecrap process makes it so outlandish to give a raise that isn't around the inflation rate level that its almost impossible to get anything bigger. The supervisor has to go so far out on a limb to demand it that I can see why it doesn't happen until a pressure point is applied.

I think you’ve nailed it - too many times the only way to get a big bump (pay/position) is to move on.

[Doctorfever]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Fun fact about Mountain Dew is that it is a different product in the EU. North American Mountain Dew contains an additive that is banned in the EU, so they use a different recipe. The European version is also only 25% owned by Pepsi.

Another fun fact. Pepsi has recently purchased Viagra. They plan on offering the Viagra in liquid form, it will be bottled and marketed as Mount and Do.

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by Doctorfever

Another fun fact. Pepsi has recently purchased Viagra. They plan on offering the Viagra in liquid form, it will be bottled and marketed as Mount and Do.

Everyone's dad just called and wants their joke back.