What changes would you make ?

onepjg replied on 12/01/2018 23:46

Posted on 12/01/2018 23:46

If you could, what five changes would you make to the clubs rules, procedures, systems etc.

Mine would be

1) book 12 months ahead on a rolling basis

2) be able to book late checkout

3) pitch anyway on your pitch, nose in, sideways etc

4) never have all toilet blocks closed at same time for cleaning

5) more full service pitches

no moaning about rules are rules, you signed up etc, I just wondered if there were any common

threads.

DavidKlyne replied on 18/01/2018 16:41

Posted on 18/01/2018 16:41

mbee

I am not sure your suggestions re staffing on Club sites would actually change a great deal and could, possibly have the opposite effect. By the time you add up the hours of the "outsiders" to clean toilets and ground maintenance I can't imagine there would be any savings in wage costs, in fact they could be greater. How are these people going to be employed? Are they individuals or will they be local firms. If they happen to be  individuals who is going to employ and train them? Is that a central function or would be it be expected that the site manager has to take on HR responsibilities? If they were the case I suspect the Club would have to pay them more. Also the seasonal nature of many sites would not lend itself to the employment of temporary staff unless the manager had to be on site for weeks before the site opened. Even more money.

As to "customer focus" what does this mean? I don't particularly want wardens to do more than they are doing already. I stay on a site to visit what is near that site. To me it's not a holiday destination in its own right. For that to be the case I would want a restaurant/cafe/bar/swimming pool/bike hire/ car hire on site. All I want from wardens is to be welcoming when I arrive, be able to answer any questions I have during my stay and for them to manage the onsite facilities to the standard we have become accustomed to.

David

JVB66 replied on 18/01/2018 17:01

Posted on 18/01/2018 12:40 by mbee1

"I don't think some folks have fully thought out the staffing of sites to be honest. Anyone employed has to be recruited, safety checked, trained, retrained on a regular basis, covered in times of ill health, emergencies etc......"

 

But so do wardens now and new recruits as wardens.  Why does a warden (or assistant warden) have to clean the toilets?  I suspect most toilet blocks are closed for an hour a day.  So, depending upon whether both male and female are closed for the same hour or consecutive hours, and how many toilet blocks are on site, you employ a local cleaner for those hours. I still and never have been able to see why toilets close anyway!  How often have you seen a warden in the toilet block outside of the cleaning hour replenishing something - I never have in all my years as a member.  Likewise why does a warden have the cut the grass or empty the bins?  You employ a "handyperson" on a lower rate of pay who might only need to work 9-5 but at least you're putting back something into the local economy.  The warden(s) or managers can then get on with managing the site (and local staff) as necessary.  Yes I imagine they would live on site and would potentially be available out of hours for emergencies.

Yes I would also like to see wardens be more customer focused. The majority of wardens are really great but there's a small nucleus who are miserable b*****s and, no disrepect to anyone, but they tend to be the older wardens. We use a site a few miles away quite often where there are three sets of wardens.  The two sets of assistant wardens are really great, friendly, helpful, cheerful wave if they pass you but I can't say the same for the wardens. In fact if the male warden smiled I'm sure his face would crack!  This shouldn't be the face of a customer oriented club, even more so on sites that attract foreign tourists.

 

Posted on 18/01/2018 17:01

How much of a "lower rate of pay"when most wardens and assistants are already only just above the min wage     also I have only on very rare occasions been on a site that did not have alternative toilet facilities when the,main facilities have been cleaned,and as noted on a couple of sites where contract cleaners are used , the regular staff doing "catch up" later, and also if contract grass cutting was employed,what about the pitches that want cutting and hedges to trim as and when not at set hours,then of course who pays for the add staff,

Ps a little known bit of info is that site staff couples are actually separate employees 

A

brue replied on 18/01/2018 17:04

Posted on 18/01/2018 17:04

Ground workers and cleaners would expect equally good rates of pay, so possibly not very cost effective.

Takethedogalong replied on 18/01/2018 19:35

Posted on 18/01/2018 19:35

I do think sometimes workers who do essential, horrible work are given a rough deal. Proper grounds maintenance requires a degree of skill, ability, and logical thinking, far above that some folks consider a just reward. Proper cleaning duties require more than the slapping around of home chemicals as well. It's easy, but rather unfair to undervalue work that we would all miss if it wasn't done properly. 

Sites do require someone responsible around 24/7, even if they are "off duty" at times. Some visitors require a great deal of supervision to keep them from being an annoyance to others as well. Covert mainly, but still needed.

JVB66 replied on 18/01/2018 20:04

Posted on 18/01/2018 20:04

 I think the information,I have gleaned over the years from wardens,  and some we can now class as good friends,as will be the case when they descend here at the end of the month to help me celebrate another birthday milestone, and for the few who consider a warden/wardeness job as "not a proper job"then they should try doing it,  under today's "Want everything for nothing,  and I expect you to be there when I need you as I pay your wages society" hence the very high turnover of people who find it is not a job for the faint heartedsurprised

brue replied on 18/01/2018 20:08

Posted on 18/01/2018 20:08

Working with the general public never is easy but thankfully some like it and do their best. smile

replied on 18/01/2018 20:13

Posted on 18/01/2018 19:35 by Takethedogalong

I do think sometimes workers who do essential, horrible work are given a rough deal. Proper grounds maintenance requires a degree of skill, ability, and logical thinking, far above that some folks consider a just reward. Proper cleaning duties require more than the slapping around of home chemicals as well. It's easy, but rather unfair to undervalue work that we would all miss if it wasn't done properly. 

Sites do require someone responsible around 24/7, even if they are "off duty" at times. Some visitors require a great deal of supervision to keep them from being an annoyance to others as well. Covert mainly, but still needed.

Posted on 18/01/2018 20:13

The user and all related content has been Deleted User

JVB66 replied on 18/01/2018 20:35

Posted on 18/01/2018 20:13 by

I spend 120 nights a year on a variety of  commercial sites and have done for the last 20 years and I dont meet these people who need  "a great deal of supervision" I think I would look for another hobby if I regularly did . In that time I have moved on  twice because of the neighbors. Does this really happen on club sites?

Posted on 18/01/2018 20:35

That is twice more than I have "needed" to move because of the neighbours, but then most cc site staff we have come into contact with, have their "eye on the ball"wink

moulesy replied on 18/01/2018 20:52

Posted on 18/01/2018 20:13 by

I spend 120 nights a year on a variety of  commercial sites and have done for the last 20 years and I dont meet these people who need  "a great deal of supervision" I think I would look for another hobby if I regularly did . In that time I have moved on  twice because of the neighbors. Does this really happen on club sites?

Posted on 18/01/2018 20:52

In short - no - we've never once even considered moving on because of the neighbours. Does that really happened on sites "over there"? wink

Wherenext replied on 18/01/2018 21:15

Posted on 18/01/2018 21:15

Does that really happened on sites "over there"? wink

Only once to me Moulesy. Perps were British, gathering in a bunch to get plastered and let every know about it. 

The Hungarian Guitarist who wanted to play the guitar at 2 o'clock in the morning kindly shut up after a request to can it, as did the Spanish couple who arrived on site late one night and wanted to carry on talking at 3 o'clock.

Latest episode occurred 18 months ago when 4 male Brits carried on drinking in their tent and laughing etc. well into the morning. We moved pitch but let them know why.

So yes, it does happen but it hasn't on the hundreds of other occasions and every pre-conception has been proved wrong at some point. Tis caravanning life abroad.

near Malvern Hills Club Campsite Member photo by Andrew Cole

Book a late escape

There's still availability at many popular UK Club campsites - find your perfect pitch today for a last minute trip!

Book now
Woman sitting in camping chair by Wastwater in the Lake District with her two dogs and picnic blanket

Follow us on Facebook

Follow the Caravan and Motorhome Club via our official Facebook page for latest news, holiday ideas, events, activities and special offers.

Photo of Wast Water, Lake District by Sue Peace
Visit Facebook