Employment with Family Housing Association (Wales)
I began my employment with Family Housing on the 9 July 2001.
We had a team meeting five days later on 13 July. I will always remember DD's first words:
" The Caretaking Team is my Baby"
After about 2 weeks employment I was called in to see Darrin Davies, Head of Property Services
He went to great lengths to tell me how good the job is, good team mates etc etc,also that when I am wearing the uniform
I am representing FHA etc etc.....
He then finished off, by telling me, that I must phone the team leader
SF every day on my landline at 3.30pm when I get dropped off at
Exchange Court (where I was resident caretaker) to say I was home.
I was the only one singled out, to carry out this order. All my colleagues were as puzzled as me.
I found out the reason 2 months later, when I had to reluctantly phone my wife (we
were in the process of divorce) on a matter concerning our children
She asked me if was I being a good boy, and phoning in every day. She
reveled in telling me how she had gone with Jayne Macari (Head of
Special Projects) to see Darrin Davies my boss. " I told him I was
frightened that you would kidnap the kids from school
when they finished at 3.30pm, but I told him you were a good worker, and
not to sack you."
She also warned me to watch my step working with FHA, because Jayne was
a good friend of hers and Jayne had great influence on DD.
My next confrontation with DD was during the the FHA Christmas party of
2001. I'd had an altercation with JM, (because I believed she had
been a bad influence on my wife in the months up to our breakup) My wife
had been employed with FHA for two years previously. I was regulary informed
about all the goings on in FHA and all the indiscretions in previous
Christmas parties etc,when she returned home from work.
He DD accused me (re JM) of having an attitude problem, and that I had better behave or else.
We therefore never liked each other.
There are a few occasions where I was unhappy with his management , but time now is to short to elaborate.
Kevin Petters
There is so much to relate about KP, that I need to devote a whole section to him.
A few quotes for now:
"He was the same in school, if it was his ball, you had to play by his rules," Wayne,
"I fail to understand, how someone can spend all day avoiding work, then pay to go to the gym in the evening." J Bowden
Another workmate brought a cutting from a paper (Is your boss a control freak) and said "who does this remind you of"?
A Bigot
I worked with John, in my first summer with FHA.I worked with the Carm's
team one week, and he worked with the Swansea team (where I was based)
on the other second week.
I considered him to be a good worker, and a good friend. I always
remember his advice, "Brian , if you want to be happy working with FHA. Do not think.
Although we did not work together after that first year, we remained friends and kept in contact.
He accompanied me to my disciplinary in Nov 05. He said afterwards "If
they (DD and CF) had sacked you, you could have had a field day in court. Obviously CF
must have been the one to realise that, and talk DD out of it."
I agreed with him, but did not appeal against their decision, to be put
on probation,.and be exiled to the Carm's area, because I was just
happy, to have some respite from KP.
When
I arrived in the Carm's area, I had a rude awakening . I had encouraged
JB, 2 years earlier, to apply for the supervisory position, because I
believed he was the obvious choice. A good worker, sensible, fair and
able to organise the work. I was totally wrong.
Today, there is a strong emphasis on, Health and Safety. The days of
tying scaffold poles together with rope, have gone, but not with John.
I could not believe how he had allowed himself to be photographed
for the company brochures etc using a strimmer, that should never be
seen in public. BUT, it was a strimmer, that he
used every day. Also he keeps his guard up!
I reluctantly, kept quiet
There were many instances where I was unhappy with his complete
disregard (or naievity) to H&S, but I regretfully curbed my tongue,
because I was on probation.
The times I did not stay quiet, were when, I was very unhappy with his attitude, especially:
His dogmatic approach to working
The spreading of Pesticide.
. The condition, and servicing of the equipment (not ready 12 june 07)
Our Team Leader, Rob
High Steet
Ammanford 
when Rob told us to go on to the next site as he would finish strimming
the site on his own.
"You cannot, strim here because there is no guard on the
strimmer" I said.
The FHA Flag
"I will take that risk," he replied
I stared at him for a minute, then warned him, "Rob, it is not
you I am concerned about, this is a busy area, if you see anyone in
front of you, you obviously
stop strimming for safety reasons. But if anyone is walking behind you,
they cannot be seen. Without a guard, anyone walking behind you, would
be in danger,
especially children, who innocently, and naturally would stare at the
noisy strimmer, and
could easily lose an eye, because stones on the ground often shoot out at an alarming speed and
force".
His reply, frighteningly, is what I have come to expect,
from
our leader
"I will take full responsibility"
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