My job was more related to human beings not machines and was one where personality and human interaction was key. I started work in 1972 and retired in 2021. I have found retirement hard as I miss the interaction with people and the intellectual challenge of what I did. It’s probably a boomer thing, whereas younger generations seem to avoid contact with other humans wherever possible. Misspent youth on online gaming channel rather than playing real life pool in a pub I suppose.
I know my view is outdated, but it astonishes me that something bought in as a temporary expedient in a certain set of circumstance has become seen as a fundamental right. I do feel strongly that those paid LWA who never work in London should no longer receive it. Like Elton John and the WFA, they don’t actually need it and, surely, aren’t technically eligible for it.
PS your avatar is quite scary on close examination
The avatar is from Severance on AppleTV which, given the current topic, I would definitely recommend watching.
I think one key difference is how technology has changed many jobs. When I started my job, depending on the size company I was working for, I would either spend my days physically going from desk to desk, or site to site, to deal with actual human beings. Have a chat, fix their issue, it was great. But as technology advanced those in charge realised it was much more efficient to have you sat in an office somewhere doing everything remotely. There was years where there was a weird limbo state of being able to do things remotely but occasional site visits which were more 'to be seen' than out of necessity but post lockdown even that has been knocked on the head.
So the reality is I spend hours in the car to drive to a freezing cold office to sit at a small desk staring at a screen surrounded by noise and distraction. Or I work from home in the warm, with a comfortable setup that allows me to work much more efficiently. And I save several hours a day not having to commute.
Not lost of me that as that has happened the job has become far less enjoyable and far more stressful. But we're not going back to that so if I could work 3 or 4 days a week at home I'd jump at the chance.
Agree on the LWA. TBH I’ve never socialised at work, don’t see the point. I see my mates more now I’m always in. The real problem is most people would rather stay in than go out for entertainment. Netflix over the movies, game night or a few beers in the garden pub with mates rather than the pub.
We keep destroying real life meeting places (church, clubs, pubs) and replacing them with the internet or fuck all.
Part of the problem is that going out is largely a shit experience. Is going to the cinema a better night than watching the movie at home? We've all got massive HD screens now so the idea of going out and paying for expensive food and drink and having the movie ruined by people chatting and fucking around on their phones isn't really appealing. The number of drinkers is declining generation after generation and the cost of going to the pub against having a few at home is mad.
Spot on saying the meeting places are going and nothing is coming to take their place. We've often spoken about cafe culture in this country but we're shit at it. Go to European countries and you'll see people head out straight after work for affordable meals and a couple of drinks. Just doesn't happen here.