Bord Gais increase bills by 12% whilst spending 100k on chairs!!

skelliser

Just spotted this on broadsheet.ie
http://www.broadsheet.ie/2011/08/30/this-will-make-you-very-upset/

Outside the new Bord Gais offices at 1 Warrington Place. Workers unbox hundreds of new Herman Miller Aeron chairs (list price: $970 – $1250) and wheel them into the lobby.

2 weeks after increasing electricity prices by 12%.

The pile of boxes in the first pic are *all* empty Aeron boxes. The second pic is of the lobby, with about €100,000 of chairs waiting to be taken upstairs. Taken literally 70 mins ago.

http://www.broadsheet.ie/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/chairs11.jpg?f22064
http://www.broadsheet.ie/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/photo-3.jpg?f22064


:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

chin_grin

Rabble rabble rabble rabble rabble rabble.

Wow a new low of rabbling. Chairs. What have we come to!?

"I'm shocked Joe", etc.

ronaneire

When did we move to the dollar? It's gas though the things we read

-Kenny-

HA thats gas !

chin_grin

-Kenny- wrote: »

HA thats gas !

(v_v)

Yakult

Who thought a new office would need chairs and lots of them.. :rolleyes:

My name is URL

Yakult wrote: »

Who thought a new office would need chairs and lots of them.. :rolleyes:

How much did your office chair cost?

skelliser

chin_grin wrote: »

Rabble rabble rabble rabble rabble rabble.

Wow a new low of rabbling. Chairs. What have we come to!?

"I'm shocked Joe", etc.

900 dollars/euros will go along way to get some poor peoples heating come this winter.
oh and least you forget some of your taxes went towards this extravagant waste as Bord Gais is a semi-state company.

MugMugs

Wont somebody think of the Ch............... Chairs ?

scooby2791

Don't like it? Move to Flogas.

skelliser

Yakult wrote: »

Who thought a new office would need chairs and lots of them.. :rolleyes:

at 900euros a piece?

My name is URL

scooby2791 wrote: »

Don't like it? Move to Flogas.

Or stop paying taxes

Wossack

if its any consolation, their ivory towers are very drafty this time of year

chin_grin

skelliser wrote: »

at 900euros a piece?

Won't somebody think of the ergonomics!

ilovesleep

Not on bordgas but for fcuk sake

jimmmy

typical semi-state / government mentality.

no wonder the country is f***ed.


I saw the postie labouring under the weight of some junk mail booklets he had to deliver from some government body too - turns out half the pages / writing was duplicated as it was done in the bl**dy Irish language. Waste of money.

Pity government companies were not run more efficiently. Its costing us many billions a year in extra borrowing.

You would'nt see Ryanair wasting 980,000 printing something in to a language nobody reads, or spending 100k on chairs.

Yakult

skelliser wrote: »

at 900euros a piece?

That's the retail price for everyday consumers. I doubt that a company will be paying full whack for these chairs considering their a business (excl-vat) and the fact they bought in bulk which again would drive the average price of the chair down.

4leto

I don't see anything wrong with this, what is wrong with a company spending money on making their workers more comfortable in the work environment.

Should they turn the heating off as well I am sure they spend more then a Hundred grand on that.

My name is URL

4leto wrote: »

I don't see anything wrong with this, what is wrong with a company spending money on making their workers more comfortable in the work environment.

Are you taking the piss? It's a semi-state body, in massive debt right now and being propped up by the tax-payer.

NTMK

4leto wrote: »

I don't see anything wrong with this, what is wrong with a company spending money on making their workers more comfortable in the work environment.

Should they turn the heating off as well I am sure they spend more then a Hundred grand on that.

infairness you'd probably get a more comfortable chair for cheaper.
at €900 a pop id want the chair to do my work for me and make the tea

skelliser

btw the workers moving into the new offices are looking for "disturbance" money!!
you couldnt make this sh/t up!!

HUNDREDS of Bord Gais workers are seeking payment for an imminent move to new offices less then 3km away.

They have made a claim for disturbance money to compensate them for the change.

Unions have made a claim for compensation for additional travel time. The talks are ongoing.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/workers-seek-pay-for-3km-move-2857157.html

4leto

My name is URL wrote: »

Are you taking the piss? It's a semi-state body, in massive debt right now and being propped up by the tax-payer.

They are not in massive debt, they are profitable and making huge inroads into the electricity market and no I am not taking the piss what is wrong with a company investing in their workforce should they have bought then stools instead??

If there was a need for new office furniture why not buy quality, I find relative quality is always the cheaper option.

skelliser

4leto wrote: »

If there was a need for new office furniture why not buy quality, I find relative quality is always the cheaper option.

but at almost 1k a chair!!

lastlaugh

If your going to sit on your ass all day, you might aswell do it in luxury I suppose...

4leto

NTMK wrote: »

infairness you'd probably get a more comfortable chair for cheaper.
at €900 a pop id want the chair to do my work for me and make the tea

I really wouldn't know, but if anyone has ever worked in an office there is nothing worse then a bad chair. It is definitely bad for production.

TheZohanS

NTMK wrote: »

infairness you'd probably get a more comfortable chair for cheaper.
at €900 a pop id want the chair to do my work for me and make the tea

You probably wouldn't tbf. Those chairs are great, nearly bulletproof too. They'll last a long long time.

Also they're not €900 over here, you'd pick them up for around €660 (+ VAT which they can claim back). If they were buying in bulk I have to agree with Yakult, they'd get a better price on them.

ilovesleep

100,000k for office chairs (900 euro a chair is it) is far too much. If a private company spent that kind of money on chairs alone they would be more than likely very much fail as a company. They just wouldn't survive. And in this current climate with many companies closing, they could have sourced chairs secondhand. Sickening.

NTMK

TheZohan wrote: »

You probably wouldn't tbf. Those chairs are great, nearly bulletproof too. They'll last a long long time.

Also they're not €900 over here, you'd pick them up for around €660 (+ VAT which they can claim back). If they were buying in bulk I have to agree with Yakult, they'd get a better price on them.

If they're very comfortable and durable at the 500-600 price point then fair enough
900 is over the top though for any office chair

Nothing worse than a crap office chair

_feedback_

TheZohan wrote: »

You probably wouldn't tbf. Those chairs are great, nearly bulletproof too. They'll last a long long time.

Also they're not €900 over here, you'd pick them up for around €660 (+ VAT which they can claim back). If they were buying in bulk I have to agree with Yakult, they'd get a better price on them.

Agree with this.

Half the 100k figure for starters and you might be close.

50k is probably less than the average salary in there. So, for less than one persons wages, they furnish the place with very good quality chairs that will last a long time and be good for the workers (and their backs).

Could find something better to moan about tbh..

Wossack

LTI through improper seating would cost more then 100k, though I'll eat my hat if these chairs cost 900e a pop. They may even be leasing them.

what would really raise peoples eyebrows, would have been the cost of the consultancy process, the tendering, the various health and safety reviews that would have finally resulted in these chairs being bought..

TheZohanS

ilovesleep wrote: »

100,000k for office chairs (900 euro a chair is it) is far too much. If a private company spent that kind of money on chairs alone they would be more than likely very much fail as a company. They just wouldn't survive. And in this current climate with many companies closing, they could have sourced chairs secondhand. Sickening.

The journalist plucked the €100k figure out of his bottom, he has no idea of the cost.

Standard Toaster

Oh I'm sitting on one of them right now.....very comfortable

4leto

Standard Toaster wrote: »

Oh I'm sitting on one of them right now.....very comfortable

Glad to hear,

But Matt Talbot wouldn't have approved.

Elohim

jimmmy wrote: »

typical semi-state / government mentality.
You would'nt see Ryanair wasting 980,000 printing something in to a language nobody reads, or spending 100k on chairs.

I'd say ryanair have spent a lot more on seats, they've a decent amount of them in them planes that they own.

My name is URL

380 of them were purchased by BG according to thejournal.ie

Looking at this the chairs weren't even designed for 8 hour work days.

The basic Aeron, by Herman Miller, costs around $700, and many office workers swear by them. There are also researchers who doubt them. "The Aeron is far too low," says Dr. A.C. Mandal, a Danish doctor who was among the first to raise flags about sitting 50 years ago. "I visited Herman Miller a few years ago, and they did understand. It should have much more height adjustment, and you should be able to move more. But as long as they sell enormous numbers, they don't want to change it." Don Chadwick, the co-designer of the Aeron, says he wasn't hired to design the ideal product for an eight-hour-workday; he was hired to update Herman Miller's previous best-seller.

Mike 1972

TheZohan wrote: »

Also they're not €900 over here, you'd pick them up for around €660 (+ VAT which they can claim back). If they were buying in bulk I have to agree with Yakult, they'd get a better price on them.

This is a semi state company we are talking about.

One can probably buy the exact same chairs in Ikea for €90

WalterMitty

I heard they didnt get the neck suport extra that would cost 200eur a chair as semi state workers all have hardest necks in the country.

woodoo

chin_grin wrote: »

Rabble rabble rabble rabble rabble rabble.

Wow a new low of rabbling. Chairs. What have we come to!?

"I'm shocked Joe", etc.

And this is why it will continue. Because so many people don't give a damn. We tolerate it. Even belittle those that object.

These chairs are about €800. Its madness.

7sr2z3fely84g5

woodoo wrote: »

Because so many people don't give a damn. We tolerate it. Even belittle those that object.

Agree,long list of stuff taxpayer coughs up for freely,this was in papers during the week,why are taxpayers still looking after this former minister expenses?-
http://www.herald.ie/news/sure-hes-laughing-on-euro264k-expenses-sham-2860387.html

TAXPAYERS have been forced to fork out nearly €270,000 to cover Bertie Ahern's expenses since he stepped down as Taoiseach.
Mr Ahern, whose government fuelled the property bubble, is entitled to two secretarial assistants, free mobile phone use and VIP services at airports.
He is also allowed the use of a State car for official engagements.
Mr Ahern has claimed far more money than other retired taoisigh, according to a report by the Department of the Taoiseach.
He has been paid just over €264,000 in expenses since he stepped down in May 2008, including €7,500 on mobile phone bills. The money is separate from his pension, which stands at €150,000 a year.
His secretarial expenses amounted to €106,838 last year and €114,369 in 2009.
He claimed €42,890 for secretarial expenses in the first six months of this year. This compared to €24,731 for Albert Reynolds and €13,562 for John Bruton.
Brian Cowen claimed €15,260 for secretarial assistance until the end of June. Under the current regime, former taoisigh can employ two secretarial assistants -- with a maximum annual salary of €55,415 -- for up to five years after leaving office.
They are entitled to keep on one assistant indefinitely after the initial five-year period ends.

4leto

Alisa Chilly Mainframe wrote: »

Agree,long list of stuff taxpayer coughs up for freely,this was in papers during the week,why are taxpayers still looking after this former minister expenses?-
http://www.herald.ie/news/sure-hes-laughing-on-euro264k-expenses-sham-2860387.html

Mother mother of god

This just has to simply stop'

Have the retrhobate borrow off his daughters

If he was competent my opinion would have differed................

randylonghorn

Under the current regime, former taoisigh can employ two secretarial assistants -- with a maximum annual salary of €55,415 -- for up to five years after leaving office.
They are entitled to keep on one assistant indefinitely after the initial five-year period ends.

I'm not sure why this is necessary in any case (leaving aside the fact that I have no time for Ahern).

One secretary for say one year after leaving office, perhaps.

Two for five years, one indefinitely?

Why?

ShadowHearth

Jesus.... My pc chair coated 90 quid... Still same as 5 years ago...

1k per chair? Holy ****, you can buy a whole leather couch set for that money...

listermint

So they bought 380, Multiply that by em 900 Euro We come to 340,000

Lets give them a 20% discount for bulk order (very generous discount)

Thats now a figure of 271600 Euro


270 K on poxy office Chairs!!!


Can anyone tell me what the hell is wrong with the ones they have?? I mean theyre existing office is not exactly a slum as it is.....

And 'disturbance money' for moving across the road and up a few streets...

Are these people for bloody real! Central Purchasing is what is required for all these idiots. Its because theyve been getting away with this crap for years that it makes it okay. This shower of tools are increasing theyre prices on all of us saddos for the winter and they can justify this type of expenditure. Anyone who agrees with this or throws in an apathy post clearly hasnt a clue.

Christ we moved offices recently and were were tough to get a budget of 60K for the move all in. Oh but wait were private employees we watch were the money goes because heads roll where i work :rolleyes:

Freddie59

Yakult wrote: »

Who thought a new office would need chairs and lots of them.. :rolleyes:

Yeah. But most normal people would buy them fromViking Direct at a knock-down price. Again, Looney Ireland at its worst.

Freddie59

Yakult wrote: »

That's the retail price for everyday consumers. I doubt that a company will be paying full whack for these chairs considering their a business (excl-vat) and the fact they bought in bulk which again would drive the average price of the chair down.

Even if they got 30% knocked off it's bloody ridiculous.

BlaasForRafa

ShadowHearth wrote: »

Jesus.... My pc chair coated 90 quid... Still same as 5 years ago...

1k per chair? Holy ****, you can buy a whole leather couch set for that money...

Don't start giving them semi-state/ps types ideas, the unions will be demanding leather couch sets next.

Freddie59

listermint wrote: »

Its because theyve been getting away with this crap for years

They key to all that is wrong in this country. No-one to answer to. No accountability. Even though we're heading for debt of €250bn.:rolleyes: It will never, ever change. And the laughable thing is that, if 'competition' had not been introduced in the energy sector, prices would more than likely be lower than they are today.

listermint

Freddie59 wrote: »

They key to all that is wrong in this country. No-one to answer to. No accountability. Even though we're heading for debt of €250bn.:rolleyes: It will never, ever change. And the laughable thing is that, if 'competition' had not been introduced in the energy sector, prices would more than likely be lower than they are today.

Love to know what Pat Rabbite has to say about this!, Plank that he is. Same tool who comes into the nest fishing for votes from the 'normal people'.

jester77

ilovesleep wrote: »

100,000k for office chairs (900 euro a chair is it) is far too much. If a private company spent that kind of money on chairs alone they would be more than likely very much fail as a company. They just wouldn't survive. And in this current climate with many companies closing, they could have sourced chairs secondhand. Sickening.

I work for a private company and we have over 300 of these chairs and we are doing very well. Fantastic chairs & well worth the money, you can sit the whole day at your desk and never once feel uncomfortable or suffer from any back problems. Cheap chairs and you will have lots of staff out with posture problems which will cost more in the long run.

FetchTheGin

BlaasForRafa wrote: »

the unions will be demanding leather couch sets next.

As I said before, I think these Union bosses should be hired by the Guards to talk people down from tall buildings, or help the American government with terrorists.

They are the masters of negotiation.

seamus

The chairs are €600 ex VAT and you get significant discounts when you buy them in large numbers.

But don't let the facts get in the way of a good rant lads.

Imagine the amount of sick leave and compensation claims that would be put in if they installed 380 argos specials @ €50 a pop.