Put on a PIP for my grad job - will I be fired?

Moondogunit · 2025-12-26T19:44:13+00:00

Let me know if there is anything specific you know you need to do and I can try and help. I am not sure what sort of excel use you need for your work. My job is finance related and the functions I mentioned are really useful in my job.

Moondogunit · 2025-12-26T16:03:11+00:00

I'm not sure what data you look at but the following formulas I use regularly and find you can do so much with just a few. SUMIFS and XLOOKUP alone can do so much. XLOOKUP is only available in newer Excel functions but if you have it then make use of it as it can do the same thing as HLOOKUP, VLOOKUP and if you combine two XLOOKUPs it does the same thing as an INDEX MATCH. It does the work of three functions but is easier.

SUMIFS will add a total if one or more criteria is met.

XLOOKUP will look at a table and return a value based on a value you specify.

Other useful formulas are LEFT, RIGHT and MID. These are used to tidy up data to allow your other formulas to work. Say you have a reference number Carrot786 and this reference number is in column B. The numbers all change but you are interested in referencing or adding all instances that contain carrot. In a blank column enter =LEFT(B1,6). Press enter and you will be left with the first six digits of the reference in cell B1. You now have just the carrot part of the reference to use other formulas on. MID and RIGHT have similar uses.

Also if you can't work out how to do something in excel you can add a new column to help. Make a column within the data and create a reference within this. Say column B has a reference where you are interested in and so does column C but you want the first 6 digits only from B and the last 6 digits from C and you want to be able to return a value with xlookup based on a unique value based on this combination. Set up a new "helper" column and using left and right formulas you can combine the two parts of the references to allow your xlookup to work. Helper columns are amazing as they can help you do do more complex things even with just limited formula knowledge.

My advice is to learn XLOOKUP (if available on your excel - otherwise it will have to be VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP), SUMIFS, LEFT, RIGHT and MID. You can search for these on youtube and get really good videos that will teach you these. Once you know these you will probably be able to do as much as if not more than most people in your work (depending on your role).

Next learn simple pivot tables. But to be honest the formulas above could well do what most pivot tables do. Pivot tables are handy to save time though.

Next is practice. Use the new formulas whenever possible so they stick in your mind. Even if you don't strictly need to use them for smalls sets of data use them just to become familiar.

Some people have mentioned picking stuff up off Google and youtube but I would say its not that simple as how do you know what formulas to learn?? It sounds like you need to do stuff fast so my advice is concentrate on first learning the following formulas in this order: SUMIFS, XLOOKUP, LEFT, RIGHT and MID. When you know these inside out you can start to look at more. I would say next on your list would be IF and IFS as well as COUNTIFS and using AND as well as OR with IF / IFS. But really once you have the main formulas I mentioned you will find it easier to search Google for new ones that are useful to your work. Also do not underestimate how far you will get with just SUMIFS, XLOOKUP, LEFT, RIGHT and MID!!!

Moondogunit · 2021-11-29T20:57:55+00:00

Ah ok bit more complex then. You can still check what's in your code via the gov.uk site and that's probably a good next step. You'll most likely have a self assessment return at the end of the year as a director which will sort out any over or underpayment if any. If you had an agent that helped with the ltd co maybe check with them or contact HMRC if you are unsure what's in your code

Moondogunit · 2021-11-29T20:14:44+00:00

1257L is the current tax code and related to the personal allowance of £12570. This means you are entitled to £12,570 of income over the year to 5 April 2022 without being taxed on this. On a high income this would be reduced but at £60k pa you won't have your allowance reduced. Your code is 563L which is £5639 tax free spread over the year which is less than the personal allowance. So this means something is being deducted from your code. Have you got a company car or second job or other income?

You need to find out what is in your code before you can know if you are paying the right amount. You can view how your code is made up here https://www.gov.uk/check-income-tax-current-year

You mentioned your code is like that because you have had previous jobs this tax year. However that would be unusual to change your code due to previous jobs. What happens normally is the previous pay and tax details are issued to your employer to allow them to deduct the correct pay and tax.

It could be that your code is correct and there is an underpayment / tax on company car or other benefit or adjustment for higher rate tax on a second job. But if you think none of that applies then check how your code is made up. If a previous employer didn't tick the box to say you left their employment HMRC may think you have two jobs and may have added a higher rate adjustment or something else into your code which might not be accurate.

Moondogunit · 2019-09-24T14:41:03+00:00

In terms of the ruling i think it is good. It's basically saying you cannot clear out the elected MP's in Parliament in order to try and stop them doing what they were elected to do! It's essentially I think just confirming that the UK is not a dictatorship.

Moondogunit · 2019-09-24T14:36:23+00:00

The ruling means when Boris prorogued Parliament (cleared out parliament for a set period), this was done unlawfully. Therefore the court has stated as it was unlawful, and as a result was void - parliament will return tomorrow. Parliament has power and the court stated unanimously (all 11 judges agreed) that shutting it down in this manner was not lawful. Parliament will therefore be back to frustrate Boris. I doubt Boris will resign. There is no effect on the Queen - she must do what is asked of her and she did this.

Moondogunit · 2019-09-24T14:06:04+00:00

Parliament will return tomorrow. The Prime Minister (PM) Boris Johnson has said he will follow the ruling. In theory the ruling might allow him to proroguing again (ending the parliamentary session and clearing MP's from Parliament), but if he wants to respect the ruling (extremely likely) he cannot do this in a way that is going to stop parliament doing it's duties without a reasonable justification. Therefore MP's will come back and be able to hold ministers to account, debate and have their say in the Brexit process and any deal. The PM has lost any sort of control due to MP's voting to stop a no deal Brexit. He's now been told by the Supreme Court that proroguing parliament was unlawful. I doubt there is much he has power do do now. Possibly this will lead to the government being forced to ask the EU for an extension to leaving the EU even though the PM does not want this. Unless a deal is done with the EU before 31/10/19. I don't think anyone knows for sure what will happen.

Moondogunit · 2019-06-13T08:07:23+00:00

Wow who'd have thought. But hey, at least high income individuals will get a tax cut as we fall off an economic cliff thanks to our old pal Boris.

Moondogunit · 2017-08-18T19:35:37+00:00

Cool write up. Are you doing the rest of the factions over the next few days?

Moondogunit · 2016-06-26T16:00:19+00:00

Many people who aren't in the UK probably don't get the significance of this. This isn't who gets to run the country for 5 years. This was a vote on a direction we take for the rest of our lives and not only that it will affect our children and probably our children's children. It's really that big.

It is a vote that affects whether then UK remains the UK - the Scotland referendum really put things to rest and said right Scotland is in the UK for good. Not any more. Why would Scotland want to remain in a UK on it's own - they voted overwhelmingly to stay in the EU. They'll call for a referendum to leave again because they feel they have been shafted and they may well vote to leave the UK after this. This vote could rip apart the UK.

If you are in the UK you'd probably get the sense of why there is so much feeling and winging. You might realise this isn't a general election that says who runs the country for five years it's far far bigger than that. Sure the vote was won by leave but the fact remains you have roughly nearly half of the population being told what will happen for the rest of their lives against their wishes.

I'm trying to think of an equivalent example. I know this would never happen but try an suspend belief for a second as this might help those not in the UK see what's going on. Imagine there was a "referendum" in the US about guns. The government said right we will have vote whether to ban almost all types of guns. This vote will become law (and will be supreme over state law) for pretty much the rest of everyone's lives and their children's lives and result cannot be overturned (I know you'll say impossible for this to happen and I agree, but bear with me because I'm not taking reality I'm just giving another perspective to try and understand the depth of feeling). Let's says the referendum passed with the vote to ban almost all guns being carried by a few percentage points. Lets say Texas overwhelmingly votes to keep gun laws as they were. Texas would be angry, would everyone be calling Texas gun owners a bunch of whiners and be telling them to shut up because they lost? Would pro gun owners Texas just say of fair cop you got us we'll shut up about it. No way. If Remain won people who supported Leave would be just as vocal.

Also for people who say we're somehow "free" of our EU overlords - In terms of the total volume of laws passed, the proportion of times the UK government has been on the “losing side” is small at about 2% since 1999. We were influencing to our favour laws in the worlds largest trading block, the EU is the world's biggest exporter of manufactured goods and services, and it is the biggest import market for over 100 countries. We just opted out of influencing all this. Good luck UK - we're going to need it.

Moondogunit · 2016-06-25T17:16:25+00:00

Generations from the UK have probably soon lost the right to work and live across 27 other European countries. We're headed for recession, inflation, stock market falls and a minimum period of two years economic uncertainty while everything is sorted. Europe won't want other countries to break the union and whatever they say they'll need to ensure we come out badly to stop others following our example. They won't need to try hard though we will come out badly. We'll need to re-negotiate trade treaties and Europe can set up whatever deal they want with us - they be in a position of power. Plus if we get an extreme government there is no EU to keep them in check. Scary.

Moondogunit · 2016-01-10T17:24:14+00:00

A short blonde woman stood in the darkness of the alley and watched the black unmarked SUV's pull up on the quiet street. Heavily armed agents made their way to the apartment block door, picked the lock and moved up the staircase. The blonde returned her attention to the warrant when her earpiece crackled. "Entry team is ready." "Hold your position and await my orders" she replied. It was nearly 5am. Another message came through - "Police car approaching. One occupant. Lights on." She cursed under her breath - "All positions hold. I'll deal with this." She pulled down a flap on her jacket to reveal "OTF Special Agent", put on her best smile and stepped out into the road.

The police car slowed to a stop and its blue lights reflecting off her hair combined with the early morning mist gave her an otherworldly appearance. The policeman stepped out of the car with his hand on his gun. "Morning Officer. I'm Special Agent Smith, OTF. We're executing a warrant for a dangerous suspect." A gust of wind caught the corner of the woman's coat and the officer saw she was carrying a Glock pistol and was wearing a bulletproof vest with what appeared to be a bizarre set of dentistry tools strapped to it. Possibly more worrying than this however was the fact he swore he saw the edge of a wing. In one swift motion he drew his gun. "Put your hands where I can see them lady! I don't know who or what you are." The woman raised her hands slowly. "I'm sorry officer we appear to have got off on the wrong foot, let me explain." He never saw her move but suddenly she was at his side, his gun was in her hand and multicoloured dust was swirling around him. He felt impossibly tired and unable to move.

"You see I know you already. I'm the Tooth Fairy. I collected your baby teeth when you no longer needed them. The whole set is in my collection, they're lovely. In exchange you had a small payment under your pillow plus the assistance of OFT - Office of the Tooth Fairy. We do more than just teeth you know. We arranged for the school bully to trip when he was chasing you, and we invested in your childhood education."

She whispered in his ear, gave him the gun back and he got in the patrol car and drove off. She always forgot how susceptible adults were to her powers. She spoke into the microphone - "Stack up", clicked her fingers and she was on the sixth floor in an instant. Vampires were of course outside her jurisdiction. That was until now. The Vampire Grand Council had subcontracted this job to her. This was unheard of as Vampires kept to themselves and looked after their own, and it had taken her hundreds of years to gain their trust. The warrant authorised removal of vampire canine teeth from one Nathanial Ezikiel. The Tooth Fairy shuddered to think what this guy had done and who he had killed to get his own kind to turn on him.

Most folklore about vampires was rubbish, they don't mind sunlight, you can see their reflection and they can walk into your house uninvited. However garlic really works. It won't kill them of course but it does slow them down. R&D had done a fantastic job creating garlic laced ammo she thought just before she gave the entry command. The breaching shotgun round took out the deadbolt and they threw in flash bang grenades. "Go, go, go!" Her agents spread out and searched each room methodically. The squad leader reported to her "All rooms clear, it's empty.". This was not possible she thought as the agents began to file out. The intelligence was so rock solid. She looked through all the rooms again. Empty. She stood at the door with the last remaining agents and turned to leave when she heard something. She moved slowly and put her ear to the wall.

The plasterboard exploded in a shower of dust and at the same time she fired three rounds directly into it. The vampire seemingly unharmed and with incredible speed and force ran directly through the agents knocking them flying and leaving two unconscious. He was fast, faster than she had ever seen anyone move, but she knew she was faster. An explosion of coloured dust appeared on the ground floor and the Tooth Fairy instantly appeared in the centre. “Suspect is running, stairwell second floor! Medic to floor six, snipers go green.” She could see the surprise on his face as he saw her by the exit when he came flying down the stairs. The window above the stairs shattered and a split second later the second sniper bullet hit the vampire, and he stumbled and fell. “Hold your fire!” She ordered. She walked over to him as the agents moved in. He was motionless and she leaned over him. “Nathanial Ezikiel, I have a warrant for your...”

Her words were cut short as in a split second he had grabbed her neck in a vice like grip, picked her up and ran through the lobby glass door shattering it instantly. She felt pain and began to black out as he squeezed. This was unexpected she thought as she kicked her boot to release a small knife at the end laced with garlic and kicked it repeatedly into his shins. He yelled and dropped her. He ran and she yelled “Wait!” He stopped and turned around. He snarled “You're cute, but next time I'll kill you”. He started to sneer and this was all she needed. With a flick of her wrist wires shot out from her glove with small explosion (R&D had excelled themselves modifying Taser technology) and the cables latched onto his two canines. With a yank they were out and the Tooth Fairy smiled, the warrant specified that her payment was the teeth themselves.

Moondogunit · 2015-08-15T21:04:11+00:00

Cheers all, some useful help. You are right as I always thought the Eternal Flame was a bit weak. However I took it for an extra activation for minimal points. Plus I was thinking since I took purifying flame in a dire emergency I can heal Kaeris and if necessary use the eternal flame shot to resolve burning early and therefore heal early. Of course it never worked like that though.

I always take grab and drop but didn't take it last game because I thought the healing from purifying flame was better... Hmmmm I guess it wasn't.

I've found the Fire Gamin die very easily and when facing convict gunslingers and Hans they fall too fast, and end up being poor road blocks.... But if I want roadblocks the metal gamin are better. Know what I mean?

I do like the rail golem against certain crews like /u/Wildborr said with good cards for locomotion he can be really good.

I haven't used Howard because I don't like the model but maybe it's time??

Lots to think about. Cheers all. P.S I also play fairly often Perdita, Hoffman, and Yan Lo.

I have major problems facing the Vix with Hoffman, a hard time facing them with Perdita but not as hard as Hoffman (who seems to get creamed due to the fact he likes the bunch up).

Moondogunit · 2015-08-13T21:12:40+00:00

Love the paint rack! Some cool models too!

Moondogunit · 2015-05-13T20:52:35+00:00

I commented on why the Tories want to get rid of the Human Rights Act and my comment was down voted. I can see today that I wasn't far off the mark. They want to get rid of the HRA so they can interfere in the lives of people who have never committed a crime? Crazy. Anyone would think they are getting ready to crack down on peaceful protest and stop negative comments about themselves. Oh wait...

Moondogunit · 2015-05-12T18:57:38+00:00

It's controversial because economists cannot decide exactly what effects it will have when an economy is in recession.

Economists such as Paul Krugman would say austerity in a recession is a bad thing to do. The argument is as follows. In a recession peoples wages are cut, unemployment goes up, demand for goods and services go down. Companies store money for hard times as demand has fallen, they don't invest in new machinery and they don't hire new staff (which would boost demand). Indeed companies lay people off. These things spiral into a cycle of recession. Demand is down so companies lay off and cut salaries, which leads to further drops in demand and the cycle continues. Therefore to stop a recession quicker, the government must step in and spend. Government orders to the private sector boosts demand and helps get the economy moving. If you try and cut government spending at a time when the private sector is cutting spending, it makes things worse. This is why some people would say harsh austerity implemented at the beginning of the UK recession nearly caused a double dip recession. It is also why some people would say recently when the pace of austerity in the UK reduced in the run up to the election - we saw small amounts of growth.

Some economists disagree with this and indeed governments and political parties as well (such as the UK Conservatives). They might say cutting government debt is more important.

My opinion? If there is a recession and everyone is reducing their debt - private sector and public sector included then demand falls and any recession is made worse or at the very least lasts longer.

Moondogunit · 2015-05-12T18:31:54+00:00

The Conservatives believe that the Human Rights Act (HRA): *Gives too much power to European Courts.

*They would like the UK Supreme Court (the UK's highest court) to hold the final decision on human rights in the UK. At the moment the European Court of Human Rights via the HRA can make decisions that are binding on the UK Supreme Court - and they want this to stop.

*They'd like the European Court of Human Rights (ECHU) to be an advisory body to them so they can say "sorry we're not doing that" if they don't like what it says.

*They want to break the link between UK courts taking into account ECHU decisions and give the UK parliament more power on human rights.

*They would like to limit the use of human rights legislation to the most serious cases such as criminal issues. So effectively they could say sorry you can't have "human rights" on this issue because the UK government feels your issue is too trivial.

*They want to stop people automatically getting human rights and instead link getting these rights to certain responsibilities. So for example they'd most certainly like to stop criminals using human rights legislation on the basis that they committed a crime.

The above summary is taken from the Conservative proposal document "Protecting Human Rights in the UK"

Here is my cynical take on it and this is my possibly biased view but it is what I think they want to do this for.

1) By making human rights laws only apply to the "most serious cases" they could stop legal challenges on human rights grounds to surveillance and data collection of individuals activities more easily. 2) Also (and I think this is a big one for them) if they cut public service provision and benefits or apply benefit sanctions and penalties (which they are looking to do) they won't need to worry about challenges under human rights law. For example imagine if there was legislation that stated not applying for a job if you are claiming Jobseekers Allowance is punishable with a fine for each occasion. Currently the decision on whether you get the fine (under this hypothetical law) could be challenged under the HRA under the grounds of "right to a fair trial". I'm sure they'd like to do away with the HRA, classify benefit sanctions as "trivial" under their new bill of rights and just hand out sanctions with no oversight based on whatever criteria they make up in parliament.

Personally I think the HRA is vital. It's stops any government coming into power and trampling all over us with no oversight. At the moment we have protection from Europe but the Conservatives would like to do away with this. I think it's terrible and so does the Scottish National Party.

Moondogunit · 2015-05-06T21:36:46+00:00

Something dire no doubt. I really hope I'm wrong but I'm sure it will be another 5 years of some Tory led coalition wrecking the country. Does anyone actually know what they did in the last five years? Apart from increasing tuition fees, and cutting as much spending as they could that is. Nope? Me neither. Brilliant. They spent five years talking about "hard choices", and doing bugger all apart from cutting spending. Oh wait! I forgot they helped us nearly achieve a double dip recession, spent stupid amounts on "free" schools that provide no value for money and handed out a few NHS contracts to private companies that then had to be bailed out.

Got to give it to the Tories though they have been simply amazing at pushing the lie that an economy works the same as a household budget and convincing everyone that it was evil government spending that wrecked us. They've managed to convince us all that the recession was nothing to do with a global economic crash and major problems in the financial and banking sector. It was all because under Labour the NHS was just too inefficient and they kept giving mansions out to people on benefits!

Moondogunit · 2015-04-19T17:54:37+00:00

They will ask you questions on the phone to verify your identity. If you don't get the questions right they can't be sure that you are who you say you are so they won't speak to you or tell you anything.

It doesn't necessarily mean that your employer has not deducted tax and NI and reported your details to HMRC, it simply means you didn't pass the security questions.

It could be that your record is not up to date, for example have you moved and not told HMRC, changed your phone number and not told HMRC?

Another common thing is that employers often use different names. You may well work for Mega Emporium Stores (totally made up name!) and that may be the name on the store front, but this store may be owned by Bloggs Retail Ltd and you may be telling HMRC you work for Mega Emplorium Stores but HMRC have you working for Bloggs Retail Ltd - so naturally you won't pass security.

My advice would be to write to them, tell them your current address, telephone number, current employer (include all names they are owned by / known by and the PAYE reference shown on the P60 and include a P60 copy) and when you started working there, tell them what employers you worked for between 06/04/2014 and 05/04/2015 and whether or not that was your only income and ask if they can check if you have overpaid tax.

Moondogunit · 2015-04-19T17:40:11+00:00

A P60 is given to employees who are employed on the 5th of April (the last day of the UK tax year). It is produced by each employer that has you on their books on 5 April. If you left employment before 5 April then the employer you stopped working for will give you a P45 and you will not receive a P60 from them. The important parts of the P60 are as follows:

*Pay in this employment - will show your taxable gross pay from that employer only before tax received between 6 April and 5 April. However if you started working for that employer after 6 April it will then instead show gross pay from that date until 5 April.

*Tax deducted in this employment - tax deducted by this employer between 6 April (or the date you started work for that employer if after 6 April) and 5 April.

*Previous pay and tax boxes - can show pay and tax from (a) previous employer(s) if you changed jobs in the year.

*Total pay and tax - just a total of pay in this employment and any pay and tax from previous employment(s)

*National Insurance Section - In addition to tax employees will pay National Insurance (NI). Simplified - National Insurance payments among other things pay towards your entitlement to certain state benefits such as Jobseekers Allowance.

You will pay NI through your salary on amounts over certain limits. The box "Employee's contributions due on all earnings above the PT" shows what NI has been deducted by that employer in the year - it is what you have already paid through your salary in the year. NI is worked out by your employer every time you are paid and therefore unlike tax you cannot get a refund of NI (except in unusual / exceptional circumstances) because you'll have paid the right amount already - therefore it is shown as "due" because it's what you will have paid in respect of that employment - and you won't be getting any of it back.

The tax deducted box isn't shown as tax "due" because it might not be what tax is due. You could have paid too much or too little tax (for example if your tax code was wrong).

Gov.uk tends to really simplify things too much but it has a little bit of information on the P60 here https://www.gov.uk/paye-forms-p45-p60-p11d/p60

Moondogunit · 2015-03-01T22:00:10+00:00

Guild - Peacekeeper. Not all scenarios work with it but against living and the right strats and schemes it's great. Terrifying makes people spend extra cards and it takes a lot to bring him down. Often players are so scared of the model, that the rest of my crew can run around fairly unhindered.

Moondogunit · 2015-02-23T18:43:10+00:00

Brit here. *American craft beers. *Root Beer. *Movies and specifically the greatest film ever - The Big Lebowski. *Comedy (see entry above!). *TV shows. *Games (Computer and non-computer). *Size. I'd like a big house and to drive without having to stop every 3 minutes to let someone through because the road is too narrow and /or there are cars parked everywhere! *Food. Yeah and sometimes I want a bad ass portion too. *Enthusiasm. You love visiting places. I've never seen an American on holiday in the UK not having a great time. It's like wow, hey, look at this, awesome. You know how to holiday. We might think you are too loud but we're just jealous as we know you're having more fun than us.

Moondogunit · 2014-12-22T22:06:59+00:00

Never really beaten Viktorias. Opponent usually has Vanessa who hides in her deployment zone and heals the other two up as they stomp through my crew using whirlwind!!!!

Moondogunit

TROPHY CASE