What’s on your mind?

[Scepticalscribe]

Ran into an old manager from where I used to work in private enterprise IT.

Funnily enough they enforced RTO and he was gloating how everyone was happy to be back in the office and face to face for collaboration and culture. However, I’m still friends with two of the systems analysts there and they both found new work, and will be submitting their two weeks shortly 🤣🤣🤣

Management will never understand. Glad I left when I did.

That’s the funny thing isn’t it. Our firm sees a lot of people move on. Yet management don’t understand the reasons why. I’ve told them and get ignored. So I just don’t bother any more.

Sometimes I think it’s intentional. They know how much people hate the in office days. I just can’t tell if it’s more about control, or if it’s a quiet attrition strategy. Either way, it feels deliberate.

I suspect that it is a matter of attempting to assert control rather than a policy of brutal bleak and attrition, but yes, I must say that I do find the deliberate (and deliberately cultivated) ignorance of management (and owners) - and refusal to acknowledge (let alone accept) the widespread unhappiness of their workforce with conditions in the modern office work environment, to be rather telling.

I get the whole return-to-office thing, and I understand all the issues with it and why people don't want to. But at the same time, I also don't. I think part of the reason why I don't get people's frustration is that I'm surrounded by people whose jobs can only be done in-person, and who like working in-person, and who like the people they work with.

That is all well and good, but - to be quite candid - these are not the conditions under which most people endure the experience of their work lives, and a great many people have neither the luxury of liking what they do, nor enjoying the company (and professional expertise) of those with whom they work.

Yes, some jobs work better face to face, and some, obviously, require face to face interaction.

However, not all do, and management has been reluctant to acknowledge that potential for transformational change of tech in people's lives, and, above all, in people's work lives, with the single, striking, exception of where it can be used to ensure that staff are on call 24/7 - and have been reluctant to accept that developments in tech, and the changes enforced by the pandemic, mean that many people realised that they did not need to be in the office all of the time, and that advances in tech meant that they could work perfectly well from home, at least for a couple of days each week.

On the other hand, I know very few people (in real life) who work in tech, or corporations, or any other sort of job where returning to the office is seen negatively.

Well, in my case, I know of very few people who wished to return to the office, and I must say that I know hardly anyone who wished to return to the office full time.

 

[Apple fanboy]

I suspect that it is a matter of attempting to assert control rather than a policy of brutal bleak and attrition, but yes, I must say that I do find the deliberate (and deliberately cultivated) ignorance of management (and owners) - and refusal to acknowledge (let alone accept) the widespread unhappiness of their workforce with conditions in the modern office work environment, to be rather telling.

That is all well and good, but - to be quite candid - these are not the conditions under which most people endure the experience of their work lives, and a great many people have neither the luxury of liking what they do, nor enjoying the company (and professional expertise) of those with whom they work.

Yes, some jobs work better face to face, and some, obviously, require face to face interaction.

However, not all do, and management has been reluctant to acknowledge that potential for transformational change of tech in people's lives, and, above all, in people's work lives, with the single, striking, exception of where it can be used to ensure that staff are on call 24/7 - and have been reluctant to accept that developments in tech, and the changes enforced by the pandemic, mean that many people realised that they did not need to be in the office all of the time, and that advances in tech meant that they could work perfectly well from home, at least for a couple of days each week.


Well, in my case, I know of very few people who wished to return to the office, and I must say that I know hardly anyone who wished to return to the office full time.

Especially open plan offices!

A colleague who recently handed in their notice (has worked for about 8 years with us), doesn’t even have a job to go to. Is just looking for a change of direction.

I have to say that’s a very brave thing to do, especially given the current climate.

I actually enjoyed my job today. Directing product videos with one of my favourite presenters.
Now sat in a very nice restaurant having eaten a Salmon salad starter, steak main and contemplating a desert.

Tastes better when you are not paying!

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Especially open plan offices!

A passionate and profound amen to that.

Open plan offices are the spawn of Satan.

A colleague who recently handed in their notice (has worked for about 8 years with us), doesn’t even have a job to go to. Is just looking for a change of direction.

Ouch.

I always marvel that management rarely ask (or, rarely listen to an answer) why people leave, or give thought to reasons for employees handing in their notice.

I have to say that’s a very brave thing to do, especially given the current climate.

Indeed.

But, sometimes, for the sake of one's health and sanity, it may be the only possible step that one feels one can take.

I actually enjoyed my job today. Directing product videos with one of my favourite presenters.

Excellent.

Now sat in a very nice restaurant having eaten a Salmon salad starter, steak main and contemplating a desert.

That sounds lovely.

Perhaps a beer after?

Tastes better when you are not paying!

Agree completely.

 

[Apple fanboy]

A passionate and profound amen to that.

Open plan offices are the spawn of Satan.

Ouch.

I always marvel that management rarely ask (or, rarely listen to an answer) why people leave, or give thought to reasons for employees handing in their notice.

Indeed.

But, sometimes, for the sake of one's health and sanity, it may be the only possible step that one feels one can take.

Excellent.

That sounds lovely.

Perhaps a beer after?

Agree completely.

There was a beer with and possibly one after. But I’m at work in the morning so should probably leave it there!

 

[Scepticalscribe]

There was a beer with and possibly one after.

Excellent.

Hope that you enjoyed both beers.

But I’m at work in the morning so should probably leave it there!

Indeed.

Moderation in all things......

 

[Apple fanboy]

Excellent.

Hope that you enjoyed both beers.

Indeed.

Moderation in all things......

Agreed. Sadly. The days when I could manage 5-10 pints and function the next day are long since gone. The joys of getting older. Oh well. A cup of tea it is!

 

[The Clark]

Agreed. Sadly. The days when I could manage 5-10 pints and function the next day are long since gone. The joys of getting older. Oh well. A cup of tea it is!

Tea is better anyway

 

[Apple fanboy]

Tea is better anyway

Agreed. But my younger self disagrees!

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Agreed. Sadly. The days when I could manage 5-10 pints and function the next day are long since gone. The joys of getting older. Oh well. A cup of tea it is!

Oh, gosh, yes.

Amen to that.

Five (pints) was merely a very good night out when I was a student, and sometimes, I managed seven or eight (nights when male friends would easily exceed ten), on what would have been an amazing night out.

These days, two is the max for easy, relaxed drinking.

While I may still love it, I find that I feel the effects of that third beer the following day; now, not in either my head or my stomach (not least, because these days, I hydrate punctiliously - by consuming a large glass of water per beer, or glass of wine), but just in a vague, general feeling of extraordinary tiredness the following day.

Agreed. But my younger self disagrees!

As does mine.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Tea is better anyway

In the evenings, yes.

For mornings, I prefer coffee.

 

[Apple fanboy]

In the evenings, yes.

For mornings, I prefer coffee.

Well in this hotel they serve very nice coffee. So that’s probably going to accompany my breakfast.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Well in this hotel they serve very nice coffee. So that’s probably going to accompany my breakfast.

Excellent.

While I have come to appreciate a mug of tea in the evening, nothing, but nothing, beats that first cup of coffee in the morning, especially if it is good coffee.

And, in recent years, the tradesmen (a visit from a plumber was necessary today) - tradeswomen, tradespeople, - who have had to pay a visit have greatly enjoyed, relished, savoured, the really good coffee I offer; today's chap confessed that he was a "bit of a coffee fiend" when I offered him tea or coffee, which meant that he was treated to my private stash of Ethiopian coffee and drained the mug.

 

[Hamdullah Retarderson]

I flew to Amsterdam on Wednesday. I ate, drank, and enjoyed myself until Friday morning. Then I took the train to Paris. Paris is no different from Adana; it's still just as hot. Paris is a dirty city, and I saw plenty of rats. You won't even see a rat in the small Aleppo district of Adana. My flight is on Sunday, and I'm tired. I want to go home. By the way, I really liked Amsterdam; I'm amazed. I'm checking out the house prices there. I'll go there in the summer to escape the Adana heat 🥰

 

[AVBeatMan]

Oh, gosh, yes.

Amen to that.

Five (pints) was merely a very good night out when I was a student, and sometimes, I managed seven or eight (nights when male friends would easily exceed ten), on what would have been an amazing night out.

These days, two is the max for easy, relaxed drinking.

While I may still love it, I find that I feel the effects of that third beer the following day; now, not in either my head or my stomach (not least, because these days, I hydrate punctiliously - by consuming a large glass of water per beer, or glass of wine), but just in a vague, general feeling of extraordinary tiredness the following day.

As does mine.

Well, since I became single I've been going out once a week with a friend and we go out at 4PM (16.00!) and have exactly 6 pints and then home for 8. Does the job and avoids a hangover.

On another matter, finished work today and now on annual leave for the next 2 weeks. Going up to Scotland but have no plans and (strangely) not really looking forward to it (prefer to work (and why I'm not looking forward to retirement)) . Not good on my own. Need someone to tell me what to do. Anyway, will travel around and try to enjoy that beautiful country (and have a few pints!).

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Well, since I became single I've been going out once a week with a friend and we go out at 4PM (16.00!) and have exactly 6 pints and then home for 8. Does the job and avoids a hangover.

On another matter, finished work today and now on annual leave for the next 2 weeks. Going up to Scotland but have no plans and (strangely) not really looking forward to it (prefer to work (and why I'm not looking forward to retirement)) . Not good on my own. Need someone to tell me what to do. Anyway, will travel around and try to enjoy that beautiful country (and have a few pints!).

Six pints each, or six pints between the pair of you?

Anyway, sounds as though it is a wonderful (and most enjoyable) way to pass a few hours on a Sunday afternoon.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Well, since I became single I've been going out once a week with a friend and we go out at 4PM (16.00!) and have exactly 6 pints and then home for 8. Does the job and avoids a hangover.

On another matter, finished work today and now on annual leave for the next 2 weeks. Going up to Scotland but have no plans and (strangely) not really looking forward to it (prefer to work (and why I'm not looking forward to retirement)) . Not good on my own. Need someone to tell me what to do. Anyway, will travel around and try to enjoy that beautiful country (and have a few pints!).

6 pints would kill me. I had 5 earlier this year. Drank loads of water. I was a mess the next day. Three is my absolute limit these days, but two is better for the next day.

Enjoy Scotland. Beautiful place.

A two week vacation sounds lovely. I’ve not had one of those since I was a child.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

6 pints would kill me. I had 5 earlier this year. Drank loads of water. I was a mess the next day. Three is my absolute limit these days, but two is better for the next day.

Enjoy Scotland. Beautiful place.

A two week vacation sounds lovely. I’ve not had one of those since I was a child.

These days, six pints would kill me, too.

Yes, these days, three is pretty much my absolute limit - four on a very, very, very rare occasion, and two is better for when I have stuff I need to be able to do the following day.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Brace yourself. Incoming rant.

So just got in from work. It’s 10pm.
My work day started at 7:30 am.

So for that I will get one 8 hour day back in lieu.

Dinner was a crappy KFC because that was all that was open at the services.
As you might imagine because everything else was shut it was rammed. Naturally the stupid point of order screen didn’t take Amex, so I’ll have to try and claim that back.
Oh and the EV chargers their were all out of order, so I had to make a separate stop 15 minutes later.

Apparently at KFC you can’t get a hot drink. No big issue. I’ll pick up a nice coffee at the next charging point.

Get there. Plenty of chargers. But Costs Coffee closed 15 minutes ago! FFS.

So I’ve made myself a hot chocolate as it’s too late for a tea. Mrs AFB was in bed when I got home. Grrrr.

Not happy. Tomorrow (my day off), I get to sort out all the crap in the car.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Brace yourself. Incoming rant.

So just got in from work. It’s 10pm.
My work day started at 7:30 am.

So for that I will get one 8 hour day back in lieu.

Dinner was a crappy KFC because that was all that was open at the services.
As you might imagine because everything else was shut it was rammed. Naturally the stupid point of order screen didn’t take Amex, so I’ll have to try and claim that back.
Oh and the EV chargers their were all out of order, so I had to make a separate stop 15 minutes later.

Apparently at KFC you can’t get a hot drink. No big issue. I’ll pick up a nice coffee at the next charging point.

Get there. Plenty of chargers. But Costs Coffee closed 15 minutes ago! FFS.

So I’ve made myself a hot chocolate as it’s too late for a tea. Mrs AFB was in bed when I got home. Grrrr.

Not happy. Tomorrow (my day off), I get to sort out all the crap in the car.

Commiserations.

Sounds a grim day.

KFC are a horror show, and should be made illegal; - and those order screens are all too often a nightmare to use; the fact that you could not get a hot drink is outrageous. Besides, their food is dire, just dire, dire, dire, utterly awful and brutally bad.

The fact that EV chargers are out of order is just not good enough these days.

 

[rm5]

I remember everyone in elementary school brought either KFC or McDonalds to school for lunch. My second grade teacher actually got pretty upset when she realized that two students were doing it every day. I was NOT one of them! My mom packed my lunch and it was all healthy stuff.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I remember everyone in elementary school brought either KFC or McDonalds to school for lunch. My second grade teacher actually got pretty upset when she realized that two students were doing it every day. I was NOT one of them! My mom packed my lunch and it was all healthy stuff.

Whatever about McDonalds (and, as an occasional, very occasional, treat, I cannot complain, or argue against it), KFC is horrifically bad, so bad, that even (as a student) when inebriated, (when one's judgment was compromised, one's palate over-ruled, and one's stomach simply desiring something gloriously greasy to fill it), one found it indescribably awful, so awful, that while the greasiest kebab was still a source of greedy delight, what KFC offered couldn't be finished despite the fact that one was famished after a night on the town.

 

[rm5]

To be honest, never had KFC so can't say how bad it actually is. McDonald's is pretty bad though.

Possibly the worst restaurant experience (at a sit-down restaurant, mind you) I've ever had was this place called Iron Skillet. I think it was somewhere either in Oklahoma or Kansas. My family and I were on a road trip and it was the one restaurant at the highway exit we stopped at. I was maybe 7 or 8 years old. We went in and they seated us. I remember my mom ordered some pasta dish. I can't remember what anyone else or I ordered, honestly. Then we waited. And waited. And kept waiting—probably for over an hour. My mom got her order, but that was it, nothing else. It was like they forgot about us. When my dad finally went up to the counter to ask what was going on, they just basically rolled their eyes. We walked out at that point.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

To be honest, never had KFC so can't say how bad it actually is. McDonald's is pretty bad though.

Trust me, KFC is an awful lot worse (than is McDonalds), indescribably worse, the kind of worse wherein words almost fail me.

Iron Skillet, thankfully, is something I have never heard of, and have no desire to make the acquaintance of.

 

[WriteNow]

I remembered this old joke as I read some of the commentary above.

Q. Why did the chicken cross the road?

A. To get away from Colonel Sanders.

 

[WriteNow]

Whatever about McDonalds (and, as an occasional, very occasional, treat, I cannot complain, or argue against it),

I'd never have imagined seeing McDonalds and treat in the same sentence!