Search

Royal staff face uncertain future amid palace shake-up

King Charles III is reportedly planning to slim down the ranks of staff at England’s royal residences, months after staff at Clarence House were told they were being made redundant. According to a royal insider, the reported 491 full-time staff working across Buckingham Palace, Balmoral Castle, Windsor Castle and other royal residences, per <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/king-charles-reportedly-planning-to-fire-late-queen-s-ladies-in-waiting-among-other-staff/ar-AA14jAlj?cvid=94ec179e798b4a65b52b3da30143492b" target="_blank" rel="noopener">msn.com</a>, are “extremely worried” about their positions and fear they will be unemployed by the end of the year. "It's a really testing time. Many are already resigned to leaving jobs they have cherished for years," the insider told <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/20479578/king-charles-makes-major-royal-shake-up/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Mirror</a>. "It's left a real sense of dread among staff." Royal insiders believe Queen Elizabeth II’s ladies-in-waiting at the Royal Stud in Sandringham are among those at risk. The news comes one week after the King announced a one-off cost-of-living bonus for his staff, with a source telling <a href="https://honey.nine.com.au/royals/king-charles-pays-staff-bonus-out-of-pocket-cost-of-living/c4f05fbe-3d8e-4e13-b475-6b2f9c15a28d" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Sun</a> that Charles was paying hundreds out of his own pocket to help his lowest-earning employees during the country’s cost-of-living crisis. "It is being given on a sliding scale with those most in need and on lower wages getting the most money," the source said. For some royal staff, the recent risk of redundancy may come for a second time, after up to 100 employees at Charles’ former residence of Clarence House were given redundancy notices during the Queen’s thanksgiving service in September. In a letter sent to staff by Sir Clive Alderton, the King’s top aide, it was revealed that the Clarence House household “will be closed down”. “The change in role for our principals will also mean change for our household … The portfolio of work previously undertaken in this household supporting the former Prince of Wales’s personal interests, former activities and household operations will no longer be carried out, and the household … at Clarence House will be closed down. It is therefore expected that the need for the posts principally based at Clarence House, whose work supports these areas will no longer be needed,” his letter read, as reported by the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/sep/13/king-charles-staff-given-redundancy-notice-during-church-service-for-queen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Guardian</a>. “I appreciate that this is unsettling news and I wanted to let you know of the support that is available at this point.” It is understood that staff made redundant would be offered searches for alternative employment across the royal households. “Our staff have given long and loyal service and, while some redundancies will be unavoidable, we are working urgently to identify alternative roles for the greatest number of staff,” a Clarence House spokesman said at the time. Image: Getty Images

News

Junior staff are finding better contracts, senior staff are burning out: the arts are losing the war for talent

In 1997, consulting firm McKinsey & Company coined the term “<a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/34512/war-talent">the war for talent</a>” to define increasing labour shortages that had significant potential to impact organisational performance. The war for talent significantly impacted corporations at the time, creating a scarcity mindset and encouraging a wave of employee-focussed initiatives designed to attract and retain staff. For the most part, the arts and cultural sector have been sheltered from the war for talent over past decades. Global growth in creative oriented higher education coupled with the “<a href="https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/lsereviewofbooks/2016/04/26/book-review-be-creative-making-a-living-in-the-new-culture-industries-by-angela-mcrobbie/">romance of being creative</a>” has led to a steady stream of workers willing to enter the sector on low pay. However, in 2022 things have changed. Faced with labour shortages, arts and cultural organisations increasingly find it challenging to operate. In 2021, it was reported screen productions in Australia were <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-24/high-demand-creates-film-skill-shortage/100479392">being jeopardised</a> due to lack of technical skills. Now, summer festivals are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/nov/07/will-australias-festivals-survive-a-wet-chaotic-expensive-summer">struggling to find</a> frontline workers, including security, stage crew, ticketing and transport. It’s not just entry-level positions that remain empty. After <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2021/may/11/australias-culture-of-ideas-suffers-when-we-starve-our-creative-institutions-of-funding">a decade</a> of funding cuts and policy neglect, followed by the stresses induced by COVID-19, I am observing arts leaders leaving to find secure, better paid and sustainable work elsewhere. In Australia’s increasingly tight labour market, the arts are finally facing a war for talent. <h2>A culture of burnout</h2> If we consider the role of the “arts manager”, it becomes easy to recognise why arts leaders are abandoning the industry. Arts leaders do not just support the creation of art. They are marketers, customer service specialists, supply chain and logistics experts, grant writers, human resources managers and – increasingly – risk managers. They are trying to bring back audiences post-COVID while juggling a contentious funding landscape that balances the need for revenue with audience, staff and artist <a href="https://overland.org.au/2021/09/the-arts-in-australia-need-to-break-up-with-fossil-fuels/">expectations</a> arts organisations do not partner with corporations that fail to align with organisational values. I am increasingly seeing young people leaving arts jobs for opportunities that recognise their skills and provide secure, better paid work. Art workers are highly valuable in today’s economy where creativity and innovation are seen as <a href="https://australiacouncil.gov.au/news/speeches-and-opinions/creative-skills-in-times-of-crisis-how-the-arts-can-help/">keys to success</a>. This lack of younger workers increases the workloads of senior staff, causing them to be burnt out and leave the sector, too. Staff shortages jeopardise the sector’s ability to get back on its feet after the brutal impact of COVID-19. Those that remain in our arts companies are exhausted, left trying to rebuild programs and audiences with fewer resources. While “<a href="https://theconversation.com/quiet-quitting-why-doing-less-at-work-could-be-good-for-you-and-your-employer-188617">quiet quitting</a>” gets media airtime, others in the sector are asking arts workers to embrace the mantra of “<a href="https://larsenkeys.com.au/2022/09/26/post-covid-or-post-burnout-less-is-necessary/">less is necessary</a>”. Individuals need to take action to address their wellbeing. Still, it is also necessary to consider the systems and structures that underpin our arts organisations and how they impact workers. <h2>Structural issues</h2> One way to address the war for talent is to increase the labour supply. Higher education providers who develop creative talent are lobbying for more resources to expand programs and are pushing for changes to the Job Ready graduate scheme that <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-inequity-of-job-ready-graduates-for-students-must-be-brought-to-a-quick-end-heres-how-183808">imposes higher costs</a> on arts and humanities graduates. The latest <a href="https://www.aare.edu.au/blog/?p=14754">Graduate Outcome Survey</a> shows that the employment outcomes of creative arts and arts and humanities graduates have increased over 20% since 2019. The high rates of graduate employability aligns with Australia’s historically low unemployment rate, but also demonstrates the value creative skills now hold in the broader economy. What these positive statistics do not tell us, however, is the working conditions of those employed. The arts are the original gig economy. Of the over 80% of arts and humanities graduates employed six months after graduation, how many earn a living wage? How many work in the arts? How many recent creative arts graduates are juggling multiple short-term contracts simultaneously to build skills, grow networks and cope with cost of living increases? As Australia’s labour market tightens, arts workers are realising they can take their skills to better paid jobs with secure contracts, in fields such as health, technology and management consulting. Unless arts organisations respond by providing similar security and career paths, the departure of talented workers will only continue. This loss of staff will not only impact the ability of organisations to operate today, but will also influence the make-up of arts organisations in the future. When only those who can afford to work under precarious conditions remain, the ability of the sector to attract and retain leaders from diverse communities <a href="https://www.artshub.com.au/news/features/how-do-we-stop-losing-artists-from-the-sector-2578669/">decreases</a>. <h2>Decent work</h2> Arts leaders eagerly await the launch of a new <a href="https://theconversation.com/a-new-national-cultural-policy-is-an-opportunity-for-a-radical-rethinking-of-the-importance-of-culture-in-australia-188720">National Cultural Policy</a>, hoping for significant change in how the arts are valued. Yet arts organisations need to also get their own house in order. Sustainable arts careers mean <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-crisis-of-a-career-in-culture-why-sustaining-a-livelihood-in-the-arts-is-so-hard-171732">decent work</a>. This means structural changes in how arts workers are employed, a shift away from the reliance on volunteers and <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/culture/art-and-design/why-is-a-major-sydney-arts-festival-working-with-google-to-offer-an-unpaid-internship-20220516-p5als1.html">incorrect appointment of unpaid interns</a>, low-wage casual or fixed-term roles to more secure and fairly paid employment. Many in the sector are championing change. The National Association for the Visual Arts is campaigning to <a href="https://visualarts.net.au/news-opinion/2022/recognise-artists-workers/">recognise artists as workers</a>, highlighting the need for an award to support this group that often falls under the industrial relations radar. The music sector has made similar calls for minimum wages for artists, <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/paying-musicians-a-minimum-wage-would-kill-live-music-tote-owner-20220923-p5bkgw.html">yet face critics</a>. The pandemic showed us how important the arts are to our lives. For the arts to continue to play a vital role in our national identity and represent our diverse communities, the sector must be funded appropriately. It is also essential organisations create safe, secure and viable jobs for arts workers. If the industry can only exist by systematically exploiting workers, then the war for talent will be lost. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/junior-staff-are-finding-better-contracts-senior-staff-are-burning-out-the-arts-are-losing-the-war-for-talent-194174" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.

Art

Cabin staff reveal what it’s really like to work on a cruise ship

It’s undoubtable – cruises are a fantastic way of meeting new people. Couples, families, individuals and even the staff themselves can help make a trip memorable. But have you ever wondered what it’s like to work on a cruise, meeting new people every single day? <a href="http://experience.usatoday.com/cruise/story/best-of-cruising/2015/04/03/what-its-like-to-be-a-cruise-ship-cabin-steward/70842246/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">USA Today</a> sat down with two Carnival Cruise crew members to find out. <ol start="1"> <li>Prepare to be pranked – Carnival Breeze worker Galyna Berzina from the Ukraine revealed that some passengers like to play pranks on the crew and vice versa! Some of these practical jokes include stuffing a bed with pillows to make it look like someone’s lying there. One staff member took it a step further, creating a “pillow person” sitting in the bathroom, giving one passenger the fright of her life!</li> <li>You hear all types of requests – young couples often ask the crew members to make adults-only “naughty” towel animals for them, but Berzina says staff aren’t allowed to.</li> <li>It’s always busy – Carnival cabin staff work in five-hour shifts with a four- to five-hour break in between. They usually have to take care of around 26 cabins a day. Carnival Fascination crew member Merlyn Parola from the Philippines says, “to work as a cabin stewardess is not much different than working at a hotel, though you need to be more speedy.”</li> <li>You get a decent break – cabin crew usually work for between six and eight months at a time, followed by a two-month break. In between their shifts, staff can go onshore or remain on the ship like a regular passenger.</li> <li>You get paid well – staff are mostly paid from passenger tips, which are pooled together and distributed amongst the crew. Berzina says the income is enough to keep her and her family financially comfortable. “The salary is good, I can't complain. I pay for my son's education and I support my family.”</li> <li>The crew quarters are comfortable – staff have access to a phone, Internet, TV, and a decent selection of food. However, unlike regular passengers, they don’t have windows.</li> <li>Meeting people is the best part – Berzina says meeting the passengers is the highlight of the job, particularly children who are fascinated by towel animals. “People come from the U.S., Europe, Asia, and honestly, it's interesting. They talk about different things. It's stuff you can't learn in a book.”</li> </ol> Image: Getty

Cruising

Prince Harry admits to "significant tensions" with Palace staff

Prince Harry has laid bare "significant tensions" with one of Queen Elizabeth's top aides as his case against police protection has gone to court. The Duke of Sussex is suing the UK Home Office due to its refusal to spend taxpayers’ money on his bodyguards after he quit royal life in January 2020. The Sun reports that Prince Harry's lawyers asked Mr Justice Swift at a hearing in London to allow a full judicial review of the Home Office’s decision. They revealed Harry believes the Queen’s private secretary, Sir Edward Young, “should not have been involved” in the February 2020 decision, adding there were “significant tensions” between the pair. The Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (known as Ravec) - of which the Queen’s private secretary was involved - ruled that Prince Harry would no longer be given the “same degree” of personal protective security when visiting the UK, despite offering to pay for it himself. The duke’s legal team want to argue the security arrangements set out in a letter from Ravec, and their application when he visited the UK in June 2021, were invalid due to “procedural unfairness”. Shaeed Fatima QC, the lawyer for the duke, told the court, “He didn’t know at that stage that the Royal Household was involved at all... he was told it was an independent decision.” She also said there were “significant tensions” between Harry and Sir Edward Young, at that time which influenced the decision. Ms Fatima said he was denied the opportunity to make representations directly to Ravec and was “materially prejudiced” because “among other things, his offer to pay (for security) was not conveyed to Ravec before the decision was made”. Harry has now hinted at a second lawsuit, with the court filing adding, “[Prince Harry] has engaged in pre-action correspondence for a proposed second judicial review claim in relation to these matters, and intends to issue that claim shortly.” Image credits: Getty Images

Legal

Boss threatens to sue employees over wage talk

An employee has called out her manager after he threatened to fire staff for talking about their wages. The business owner of Planet Fitness gym in Kentucky, US, hung a poster on the wall informing staff not to talk about their wages because it is illegal. However, under the National Labor Relations Act, employees are entitled to speak about their wages freely. “ATTENTION ALL SUBORDINATES,” the letter, which was shared to Reddit began. “Effective immediately, conversing about wages (both on duty and off duty) is strictly forbidden, “This is considered proprietary information and as such, it is protected legally. “If you are overheard speaking (OR LISTENING TO!!) a conversation in which wages are discussed, you will receive disciplinary action up to and including termination.” One of the gym’s employees, Shelly, did not accept her boss's premise and decided to get back at him. Another photo shared to the post shows multiple hammers and sickles drawn on it - representative of the communist party. “Seeing as you’re a manager in the great illustrious word (sic) of Planet Fitness gym franchises, it may behoove (sic) you to become familiar with the laws pertaining to it,” Shelly wrote. “Sprinkling legalese and word-salad across an 8.5x11 paper you printed does not make a legal doc. “Needless to say, you can’t legally tell us not to discuss wages in the good ol’ U.S. of A. We will continue to do so.” She ended the note with “Love, $10.50 an hour Shelly” which then saw her colleagues write their own wages. Viewers commended Shelly for the move which showed a united front against the boss who was very much in the wrong. "I LOVE $10.50 an hour Shelly!" someone wrote. "Long Live Shelly. I hope she is $25.00 an hour Shelly very very soon,” another commented. “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of SHELLY SHELLY!" another joked. Images: Reddit

Money & Banking

Hotel staff walk out leaving guests in the lurch

Hotel staff who walked out of their job have left their shocked and confused customers in the lobby. Employees of the Hampton Inn and Suites at Boynton Beach in Florida appeared to walk out, leaving customers out to dry and unable to check in. A video shared to <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Wellthatsucks/comments/tlzp6q/entire_hilton_suites_staff_walked_out_boynton/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reddit</a> shows police at the front desks on the phone attempting to sort out the situation, according to the poster. “Entire Hilton Suites staff walked out, Boynton Beach,” the post read. “No one has been able to check in for over 4 hours. “Mine and another guest’s keycard are not working so we can't get into our rooms. Six squad cars have shown up to help?” It is unclear whether the staff quit, however, commenters suggested that it could be due to poor management. “Some manager must have really ticked everyone off,” one person wrote. “Do I smell a bad work environment and incompetent local leadership?” another commented. Image: Reddit

Travel Trouble

“We can’t leave”: Russians accused of holding hospital staff and patients “hostage”

Officials of Ukraine’s besieged city Mariupol <a href="https://www.news.com.au/world/russia-ukraine-war-updates-mariupol-hospital-staff-patients-taken-hostage/news-story/290f75e5198aed84789d7d8d27c3bc67" target="_blank" rel="noopener">have claimed</a> that 400 hospital staff and patients have been taken as “hostages” by Russian forces. “We received information that the Russian army captured our biggest hospital,” Sergei Orlov, Mariupol’s deputy mayor, <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60757133" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told the BBC</a>. Pavlo Kirilenko, the head of the Donetsk Regional Military Administration, took to Facebook to share an account from a hospital employee who managed to communicate with authorities. “Russian occupiers in Mariupol took doctors and patients hostage,” Mr Kirilenko <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pavlokyrylenko.donoda/posts/506102444405648" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a>. “One of the hospital employees had time to pass this news. “‘It is impossible to get out of the hospital. There is heavy shooting, we sit in the basement. Vehicles have not been able to drive to the hospital for two days. “‘The Russians forced 400 people from neighbouring houses to come to our hospital. We can’t leave’.” Mr Kirilenko added that the hospital had been “practically destroyed” by the Russian forces, but that staff have continued to work and treat patients in the basement. “I appeal to international human rights organisations to respond to these vicious violations of the norms and customs of war, to these blatant crimes against humanity,” he said. “Russia and every citizen involved in crimes in Ukraine must be punished!” Mr Kirilenko said the hospital holding the “hostages” was the same one that was damaged by a strike last week, as Mariupol continued to suffer constant shelling. Russian troops have surrounded the city for nearly two weeks, with gas, running water and electricity cut off to the estimated 350,000 residents trapped there. The local council said about 2,000 cars left the city on Tuesday, with 2,000 others waiting to leave. However, as food and medical supplies dwindle, no aid has been allowed in. Image: Getty Images

Legal

What not to ask hotel staff when checking in

A former hotel receptionist has shared the annoying question she would constantly get asked by demanding guests. Janessa Richard acted out the scenario to her TikTok followers, showing how unreasonable some customers can be, and why hotel staff get so fed up. Janessa plays both the role of the receptionist and the rude customer in the reenactment, as she begins to demand a price reduction. "I was actually just online, and I saw a rate for $89 and I'm pretty sure we are paying $129, so you're gonna need to match that price if you want to keep us as your guests," Janessa, as the customer, begins. Obliging with the customer’s request, she asks the next logical, and very reasonable, request: if she can see the competing price on the customer’s phone. However, the simple question causes the customer to snap back. <div class="embed"><iframe class="embedly-embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2F7003760114041670918&display_name=tiktok&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40janessarichard%2Fvideo%2F7003760114041670918%3Fis_copy_url%3D1%26is_from_webapp%3Dv1%26lang%3Den&key=59e3ae3acaa649a5a98672932445e203&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" scrolling="no" title="tiktok embed" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></div> "Well, that's not gonna work because I don't have it on my phone anymore. That was like an hour ago," she says. The receptionist tries to offer a number of different solutions, but the entitled guest refuses to cooperate. "Oh my gosh. Why do you have to make this so complicated? I don't remember what the website was. I just need you to match that rate, or else we're gonna go elsewhere". The video concludes with Janessa explaining that they require proof of the cheaper pricing, as she continues to stay calm in conversation. She captioned the video, "When people don't understand how price matching works". The video has racked up over 200,000 views, with many people in the comments empathising with her tolerance of the service industry. Others who also work in the hotel industry commented their own experiences of dealing with difficult customers with price matching debacles. While many hotels do offer price matching discounts, as shown by Janessa’s clip, the guest has to show proof of the cheaper rate on a competing website. Image credit: Getty Images

Travel Tips

Queen stays at Balmoral despite staff member testing positive

Despite a member of the Queen’s staff at her Balmoral summer estate, testing positive for COVID-19, the Queen has decided she will be “carrying on at Balmoral as normal” a source claims. Her Majesty, 95, is double-vaccinated and she’s decided to stay on at Balmoral while the employee who tested positive was sent home on Saturday. Spokespeople for Buckingham Palace in London have said all the staff at Balmoral are tested for COVID on a daily basis and are wearing facemasks at all times. But royal insiders suggest the Queen and her family could be waiting for the results of their own PCR tests. Staying in her beloved Scottish sanctuary It’s been reported her Majesty decided to stay in Scotland so she could ‘get back to normal,' following the death of Prince Philip in April and the public spats between Buckingham Palace and Harry and Meghan. <img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="/nothing.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/200733da73f04977b0c6c98781030eb8" /><img style="width: 345.21484375px; height: 500px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7843241/the-queen-um-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/200733da73f04977b0c6c98781030eb8" /> The monarch, who once described COVID as a “plague sweeping the planet”, has her Scottish castle full of relatives including Prince Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, Princess Beatrice and husband Edoardo Mozzi, and Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their children are expected to arrive later this month. Scotland has been a welcome retreat for the royal family since Queen Victoria's day, with the Windsors relaxing and enjoying country pursuits in the stunning setting of the Scottish Highlands. Sources have reported that since the employee came up positive on Saturday, most staff were sent home and the staff canteen and bar were shut. The royals themselves are “pretty much carrying on as they were” before the positive test. However, the Queen and her family missed Sunday's church service on the Scottish estate - with insiders suggesting they may have done so while they wait for the results of their Covid PCR tests. Under government guidance, people in England and Northern Ireland who have had two COVID vaccine doses, no longer have to self-isolate if they come into contact with someone who has tested positive. Instead of undergoing 10 days of house-arrest, they are now advised to take a PCR test. They are also advised to wear facemasks in enclosed spaces and to limit contact with others, particularly the clinically vulnerable. Photo: Getty Images

International Travel

Hospital staff host heartwarming ceremony for pregnant couple

With the COVID-19 pandemic disrupting special events all over the world, especially weddings, one Bay Area couple in the US weren’t the exception - but their attempts to tie the knot came with several big surprises. Californian Jeff Nunes and his now-wife Fatima, have been together for 12 years and trying for a baby for a while. They were also due to marry last year, but the ceremony was delayed due to the pandemic. But, this year Fatima found out she was pregnant, and when she was taken to the hospital for issues with her kidney and bladder last week, there was talk that the baby could come at any time. “The patient mentioned that she would like to get married before having birth,” said Deedee Pubien, the unit director of the Birth Center at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital. The staff prepared a surprise for the couple - a small outdoor wedding in the hospital’s garden courtyard on the hospital’s third floor. “When I walked in to get married to my wife. Just her, myself, and a witness, there was a whole ceremony planned for us!” Jeff said. “I’m standing there on the edge of the carpet with rose petals that nurses and doctors threw down and [Fatima] comes out and has a wedding gown on and she is pregnant of course. Eight months pregnant looking beautiful, amazing, and she starts crying, then I start crying with joy,” he continued. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CScYanUJXad/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CScYanUJXad/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by UCSF Health (@ucsfhealth)</a> </div> </blockquote> Pubien said: “Seeing their faces, seeing their smiles and their tears - but out of joy, that was the best moment.” And, just 24 hours after they toasted the newlywed couple with non-alcoholic sparkling cider, Fatima went into labour and gave birth to their son, Logan. “I’m a dad, I’m happy, and I don’t think there are any words that can explain that. Just happiness, pure happiness,” Jeff said. Baby Logan was born four and a half weeks premature, but his dad says he is healthy, happy, and beautiful. With the surprising turn of events, the new dad has advice for others in similar situations. “Don’t give up. We didn’t think it was going to happen and it did, and we are blessed, and we prayed and we were given a wonderful blessing in our life that we are going to nurture and take care of,” he said. Image: UCSF Health / Instagram

Relationships

Restaurant staff blown away by enormous tip left by generous customer

A group of restaurant workers was left shocked and amazed when a regular diner left them a hefty tip, then disappeared before they could say thank you. The employees at Eggs Up Grill in South Carolina, USA, said this particular diner always tips well and has been generous even during the pandemic. But they were certainly not expecting his generosity after a meal. After dining at the restaurant, the man left an envelope containing the tip for his $10 meal (AUD $13). Inside was a note, and over $2,000 cash (AUD $2,575), which he wrote should be split among all the staff working. "The gentleman that left the tip is a regular who comes in at least 6 days a week," Eggs Up Grill Managing Partner Adam Bair told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.foxnews.com/food-drink/south-carolina-restaurant-staff-2k-cash-tip-note-regular-customer" target="_blank">Fox News</a> via email. "The gentleman paid for his $10 meal and left the envelope with the money and the note without waiting around for his server to open the envelope. We tried to catch him in the parking lot to thank him, but he had already left." The note revealed four servers at the restaurant received $400 (AUD $515), with the rest of the cash split between other staff based on the hours worked. While staff considered him a generous customer, no one was expecting the enormous tip he had left. "It was very surprising. It made a huge impact on all of us above the monetary value," Bair wrote. "It made the servers feel appreciated during a very turbulent time with COVID. Their tips have gone down tremendously and I know the money was very much needed. It was perfect timing." The tip was allegedly left as part of the 'Just Be Nice Challenge' which encourages diners to leave large tips for their servers. Now, staff are keen to see the man again to say thank you. Waitress Selene Montalvo told WYFF4: "He paid most of my bills this month, and that's why I can't wait to see him to really thank him."

Money & Banking

Rare opportunity: Queen Elizabeth is hiring a new staff member

The Queen’s royal household is hiring! It is not all that often the Queen hires new employees, but a new vacancy has been made on behalf of the royal household. The royal family is hoping to hire a Design and Development Assistant for the Royal Collection Trust shop at their Stoke-on-Trent office, where the China and Glassware products are made. The Royal Collection Trust's Retail team operate shops at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse. They also have a growing online presence. The role involves support, design, development and planning of the production of items. The website also states the role will also require the hire to be "providing vital admin and logistical support to the team, help place and oversee regular orders of stock, packaging and gift boxes, bringing all the components of a product together, ready to send out to the shops". The position is on a permanent contract, with interviews taking place till the end of the month. The royal household is looking for a person “confident working with numbers” and someone who has “strong IT skills and can use MS Office programs and database systems”. "With a keen eye for detail and excellent administration skills, you'll be able to process large volumes of work with complete accuracy,” the site states. “You'll also be highly organised, able to plan and prioritise your time effectively to meet multiple deadlines. As a good communicator, you’ll build a good rapport with colleagues and customers alike." The successful candidate could earn up to £23,000 a year depending on his or her experience.

Money & Banking

Ellen DeGeneres pens open letter to staff

Ellen DeGeneres has penned a letter to the staff of her talk show in the wake of allegations of a toxic workplace culture. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the note to crew is part of an effort to change the culture behind the scenes of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, which will reportedly also see one of the show’s producers ousted. In her apology note published by THR, DeGeneres insisted that steps will be taken to “correct the issues” going forward. “As we’ve grown exponentially, I’ve not been able to stay on top of everything and relied on others to do their jobs as they knew I’d want them done. Clearly some didn’t. That will now change and I’m committed to ensuring this does not happen again,” she writes. DeGeneres opens the letter with an apology, saying that what has happened was “the opposite” of what she intended for the show. “Hey everybody – it’s Ellen. On day one of our show, I told everyone in our first meeting that The Ellen DeGeneres Show would be a place of happiness – no one would ever raise their voice, and everyone would be treated with respect. Obviously, something changed, and I am disappointed to learn that this has not been the case. And for that, I am sorry. Anyone who knows me knows it’s the opposite of what I believe and what I hoped for our show,” she writes. Elsewhere in the letter, DeGeneres says she’s “learning that people who work with me and for me are speaking on my behalf and misrepresenting who I am and that has to stop”. The talk show host said if it wasn’t for the pandemic, she would have “done this in person”, and said she was “so sorry” to those who did not have a good experience working on the show. The Ellen DeGeneres Show is reportedly under investigation after numerous accusations by former staffers that it is a “toxic” work environment.

Ellen DeGeneres show staff overjoyed at recent bad press

After BuzzFeed News exposed the racism, fear, retaliation and intimidation on the set of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, staff members are reportedly rejoicing about the information coming to light. Along with a “toxic work environment," there has allegedly been situations of producers “bullying” staff, along with racist comments being hurled at black employees. They also allegedly fired an employee who took medical leave after a suicide attempt. However, the horrific allegations coming to light and gaining public interest has left staff members rejoicing. The source told US weekly, “They’ve been calling and texting each other about the story. They’re loving that the truth—which has been an open secret for years in the industry—is finally receiving more interest.” Ellen has remained eerily silent and has not issued a statement regarding the toxic work culture on her show. However producers Ed Glavin, Mary Connelly and Andy Lassner told E! News they were “heartbroken” by the reports made by employees. "We are truly heartbroken and sorry to learn that even one person in our production family has had a negative experience,” they said. “It's not who we are and not who we strive to be, and not the mission Ellen has set for us. For the record, the day to day responsibility of the Ellen show is completely on us. “We take all of this very seriously and we realize, as many in the world are learning, that we need to do better, are committed to do better, and we will do better."

“Don’t touch the bag”: Former Obama staff member reprimanded by Queen’s aid

Barack Obama’s former Chief of Protocol has revealed the extreme lengths Queen’s staff go to in order to protect her privacy. Capricia Penavic Marshall worked for former President Obama from 2009 to 2013 and her role meant she advised him on all matters of national and international diplomatic protocol. She also recalled to <a rel="noopener" href="https://people.com/politics/capricia-penavic-marshall-new-book-remembers-trying-take-queen-elizabeth-purse/" target="_blank">People</a> the embarrassing moment she was scolded for trying to help the royal with her purse during an official visit to Buckingham Palace in 2011. After stepping forward to assist the Queen with her bag so that she could greet the Obamas without it, Marshall, 56, says her British counterpart quickly pushed her back and told her simply: “We do not touch the bag.” <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7836673/queen.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/79d44520f5384eb18817bb6ddbc449b6" /> Michelle Obama, Barack Obama, Queen Elizabeth. “As Her Majesty walked out, I made a comment to my counterpart. I said, ‘Oh, my goodness, Her Majesty has her bag.’ And I made an ever so slight move with my left foot,” she recalled. “He, with both of his hands, pushed me back against the wall and said, ‘Do not touch the bag,’ and I said, ‘Oh, my goodness. I'm so sorry.’” The unnamed royal staffer reiterated his point again, saying no one was to ever touch the Queen’s bag. “He goes, ‘We do not touch the bag.’ And I said, ‘Okay, I apologize. I would never. But do we know what's in the bag?’ And he said, ‘We don't know what's in the bag. But we never touch the bag,'” she revealed. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7836672/queen-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/fb25d221d26e4870a22bd919086447da" /> Capricia Penavic Marshall In Marshall’s new book, Protocol: The Power of Diplomacy and How to Make It Work for You, she said she actually learned Her Majesty actually uses her bag as a means of signalling to her staff. “If it's on one part of her arm, it means the meeting is going fine, leave me alone. But if she lowers it, it means, ‘End this now. I want to go,'” Marshall explained. Despite the awkward moment that could have gone terrible wrong, Marshall says the visit was a huge success and noted that the former President Obama and his wife Michelle were “so, so very fond” of the royal.

International Travel

Buckingham Palace staff member tests positive for Coronavirus

A staffer employed at Buckingham Palace has been tested positive with the coronavirus as the Queen fled her home to be in isolation at presumably Windsor Castle. The aide who will remain unidentified fell ill and tested positive with COVID-19 earlier last week, before Her 93-year-old Majesty was moved from the palace in a bid to protect herself. “The worker tested positive before the Queen left for Windsor [Castle],” a royal insider told UK paper, The Sun. “The Palace has 500 members of staff so, like any workplace, it’s not inconceivable it would be affected in some stage,” the source went on to say. Royal Household staff who may have been in contact with the infected royal aide has been ordered to go into self-isolation. It is unknown as to just how close the worker got to the Queen while they were indeed infected by the virus. The palace told the UK publication they could not comment “on individual members of staff.” “In line with the appropriate guidance and our own processes, we have taken the necessary actions to protect all employees and people involved,” a palace spokeswoman said. The news follows closely behind reports that Her Majesty is planning to address her nation amid nationwide panic about escalating deaths and infections.

Travel Trouble

Restaurant shock as diner leaves $16,000 tip to help pay staff

A customer at a restaurant in Texas has made the restaurant owner’s day by leaving a very generous tip. It was left by a regular customer who had been dining at Houston’s Irma’s Southwest restaurant for the last 15 years and left a $9,400 tip on an order of shrimp tacos earlier this week. The tip equates to $16,700 NZD and was left with an instruction to the restaurant owner to “pay your guys over the next few weeks”. "Basically we are going to split that among the staff members, not management. So, about 30 people will split the $9,400 evenly," restaurant owner Louis Galvan <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.foxnews.com/food-drink/texas-restaurant-receives-9400-tip-coronavirus-outbreak" target="_blank">told</a> Fox News. Galvan says the tip "reinvigorated" the restaurant. <img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7835221/tips.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/d8cb6aac8aaf45ec8cb34a21a8903e5a" /> <div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text "> "Honestly, we were going to close, but now we're going to try and make the best out of this deal," he said. "We're going to make this thing work." "I think he came here just to [give that tip]. He came down here specifically to do that and wish us the best of luck. Everyone was amazed." The customer’s act of kindness inspired others to visit the restaurant. "Another regular customer came in and left a $100 tip on a $90 ticket after he saw the report," Galvan said. "He came in just to purchase lunch and leave another gratuity." </div> </div> </div>

Food & Wine

Restaurant sign asking customers to “not presume the gender of our staff” goes viral

A restaurant has urged customers to “please not presume the gender of our staff” and instead use gender-neutral terms, such as “they” or “them” until “you know the person’s pronouns”. A photo posted to social media shows a sign in the restaurant’s window to avoid saying “she is already helping me” as well as avoiding saying “thanks miss” or “hey man”. “Please use neutral terms, so you aren’t mistakenly referring to someone as a gender they are not,” the sign says. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> When snowflakes run a restaurant and get triggered by customers. Yeah, no thanks. <a href="https://t.co/QwE4v9bLcN">pic.twitter.com/QwE4v9bLcN</a> — Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) <a href="https://twitter.com/stillgray/status/1191266779810545664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">4 November 2019</a></blockquote> “Folks, pals, buds, champ, friend are all great ways to address others without presuming their gender. Greetings and goodbyes can be as simple as saying ‘hello everyone’ or ‘thanks buddy’.” The sign concludes by reminding customers that “it’s okay to ask people which pronouns they use” and that “it is always helpful when you share yours, in an Instagram bio, or when asking someone else”. “Little things like this can go a long way to make people feel seen and safe to be themselves. Thank you for helping us build a positive environment for our staff and our patrons alike!” Many were quick to slam the sign, even though it’s not clear where the photo of the sign was taken. One person replied, “I remember an old phrase from my days working in retail, ‘The customer is always right.’ Apparently, in 2019, that is no longer the case. Wonder how this is gonna work out for this place.” Another asked, “Is being misgendered really worse than being called ‘champ’ or ‘buddy’ by another adult?” “Life isn’t safe, reality is always a shock, from the moment we exit the womb. Inner security comes through going out there and knowing the real word,” they wrote. However, others were more than happy to go by the new rules, saying that they don’t see a problem with the sign. “Just one more example of why right-wingers don’t give a f**k about the wellbeing of workers,” one person wrote. Another said that the initial response to the tweet was “legitimately disgusting”. “The fact that people actually think like this hurt me. Respect other people, please,” they wrote.

Travel Trouble

Over 60

News

Shop

Catalogues

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Entertainment

Property

Information

Keep up to date

Search

Royal staff face uncertain future amid palace shake-up

Junior staff are finding better contracts, senior staff are burning out: the arts are losing the war for talent

Cabin staff reveal what it’s really like to work on a cruise ship

Prince Harry admits to "significant tensions" with Palace staff

Boss threatens to sue employees over wage talk

Hotel staff walk out leaving guests in the lurch

“We can’t leave”: Russians accused of holding hospital staff and patients “hostage”

What not to ask hotel staff when checking in

Queen stays at Balmoral despite staff member testing positive

Hospital staff host heartwarming ceremony for pregnant couple

Restaurant staff blown away by enormous tip left by generous customer

Rare opportunity: Queen Elizabeth is hiring a new staff member

Ellen DeGeneres pens open letter to staff

Ellen DeGeneres show staff overjoyed at recent bad press

“Don’t touch the bag”: Former Obama staff member reprimanded by Queen’s aid

Buckingham Palace staff member tests positive for Coronavirus

Restaurant shock as diner leaves $16,000 tip to help pay staff

Restaurant sign asking customers to “not presume the gender of our staff” goes viral

News

Shop

Catalogues

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Entertainment

Property

Information

Keep up to date

Search

Royal staff face uncertain future amid palace shake-up

Junior staff are finding better contracts, senior staff are burning out: the arts are losing the war for talent

Cabin staff reveal what it’s really like to work on a cruise ship

Prince Harry admits to "significant tensions" with Palace staff

Boss threatens to sue employees over wage talk

Hotel staff walk out leaving guests in the lurch

“We can’t leave”: Russians accused of holding hospital staff and patients “hostage”

What not to ask hotel staff when checking in

Queen stays at Balmoral despite staff member testing positive

Hospital staff host heartwarming ceremony for pregnant couple

Restaurant staff blown away by enormous tip left by generous customer

Rare opportunity: Queen Elizabeth is hiring a new staff member

Ellen DeGeneres pens open letter to staff

Ellen DeGeneres show staff overjoyed at recent bad press

“Don’t touch the bag”: Former Obama staff member reprimanded by Queen’s aid

Buckingham Palace staff member tests positive for Coronavirus

Restaurant shock as diner leaves $16,000 tip to help pay staff

Restaurant sign asking customers to “not presume the gender of our staff” goes viral

Join Over60