Andy Capp by Reg Smythe for March 19, 2024

well well well – if it is not a competition in philosophy that I’ve just witnessed ….

From Not Always Right: Sure Not Putting The “Work” In “Coworker”

We have a new hire. Initially, she was open to working full-time for all shifts, which would mean any hours from 6:00 am starts to 4:00 am finishes. I don’t think she was ever scheduled that early or that late though. She was scheduled for some weekends, which is where the issues began.

She complained about it and soon started booking every weekend off. Then, she started booking random days off every week. [New Hire] was obviously trying to force management to give her very specific shifts. However, that couldn’t always be accommodated due to others needing hours and their scheduling requirements. But she got every day that she asked for off, sometimes more.

One time, I booked three days in a row for a vacation. This was my first request in months, and I was the first one to book them off, making sure to put a #1 beside my name on each day. The next time I saw the calendar, [New Hire] had crossed out my #1, changed it to a #2, and somehow squeezed her name in above mine with a #1 on all three days.

Guess which one of us got them off? I had to trade three shifts away.

To top it all off, she had the audacity to wonder why she wasn’t getting hours. Sweetie, it’s kind of hard to schedule someone who books half of every week off. You did this to yourself.

Not MY story.

Chalkie is a glutton for punishment where Andy is concerned

Here’s an idea, Chalkie: stop letting that worthless bum sponge off you—and maybe you and your equally hard-working wife can take a nice holiday together.

BTW, for those who don’t know—Chalkie has a factory job. Non-union, I’d guess.

I agree.

Come to the dark side, Chalkie.

Sorry. Wrong story.

Who’d you get to slap your back and laugh at all your jokes and tell you that one calls for another round chalkie me old mate?

Andy, have you been banned from other pubs recently? Because I’d suggest to go to another one. Rude Jack.

Chalkie is like Flo. They both work hard only for Andy to sponge off them.

How about you? What’s it all about, Alfie?

Jack nailed Andy for sure. Jack should buy Chalkie a round of cheer skipping Andy.

He goes home to Ruby.

Bar tenders have valid opinions…….!

Score one for Jack!

I had a drinking buddy like that. He was always ready to go, since he wouldn’t work. I’d loan give him some money when we got to the bar & he’d lose the first of it trying to beat me at pool. Never! We finally parted company one night after he bummed some $20 off I girl that was with me. It was her first time to meet him & it just teed me off. I kept 4 or 5 packs of cigs in my car & he tried to bum a pack on the way home. He asked if I had some, while looking straight them. I told him Yes, but he was Not welcome to them & he should really find a job. !974. He got irate & told me to stop the car several miles from his parents house let him out. I did & Never saw him again. I heard he passed in 2015.

Andy’s idea of the “Division of Labour”: Chalkie works, Andy drinks.

Chalkie, like millions of others, goes to work to get the money to buy the food to get the strength to go to work to get the money to buy the food to get the strength to go to work to…the difference with Chalkie is that “to buy Andy a pint” fits in there somewhere.

Careful Andy, he just might consider the brighter side of not seeing you everyday, and what a relief it would be on his hard earned paycheck.

Why would anyone think of Chalkie as a victim?

What does Chalkie do for a living, anyway? Then again, does it really matter?

Chakie your payroll taxes are supporting Andy