Letter: Sad end to a once-industrious nation

TWO or three weeks ago in conversation with an acquaintance he happily told me he has “worked” from home since Covid arrived and will continue to do so, even though his place of business is up and running.

Why aren’t his bosses telling him to get up off his backside and return to the office and do a productive day’s work?

Similarly, just a few days ago I had to contact a New Milton business re a financial problem which could have been very costly for me if I hadn’t double-checked.

Talking to my contact, he apologised by saying he didn’t have all the relevant paperwork before him when giving his advice, which I thought rather strange.

However, when our discussion was interrupted by the screaming of a little darling having a tantrum he explained that he works from home – in Christchurch!

As a result of these experiences I offer the following: A Fairy Tale – When the UK Went To Work

Once upon a time people of a working age started the day by having a session in the bathroom, putting on some decent clean clothes, making a hurried breakfast and toddling off to their place of employment – often involving a strap-hanging commute.

They met up and interacted with colleagues, used their expertise and experience to perform a job of work, perhaps chatted over a pub lunch, kept a wary eye on the boss and returned home at the end of the day feeling that they’d earned their crust!

Like all fairy tales, however, the ‘real world’ intruded thanks to Covid providing the ideal opportunity to drop that healthy, satisfying routine and replace it by ‘working’ at home.

What a great excuse to stagger out of bed at any time, think twice about having a shower, slouch around in whatever, and open up the laptop as and when. No travelling, no schedules to meet, no level of commitment or responsibility. And still getting paid! What a wonderful world.

And now we have empty, unproductive office blocks along with the once-busy nearby sandwich bars, pubs and restaurants which relied on the commuters/workers and are now out of business. An extremely reduced collaborative, competitive workforce and no thought of doing ‘an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay’ as in times gone by.

What a sad end to a fairy tale and our once-upon-a-time industrious, hardworking nation.

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