PM Boris Johnson - monster thread for a monster twat

[kabbes]

Our worry with WFH from the perspective of the company is the exact opposite — staff are too productive. In order to maintain culture and knowledge, we really need people to be spending more time in casual, unproductive interactions.

 

[two sheds]

Our worry with WFH from the perspective of the company is the exact opposite — staff are too productive. In order to maintain culture and knowledge, we really need people to be spending more time in casual, unproductive interactions.

They're my speciality

 

[tommers]

I can't decide whether this is cos they want people to buy more sandwiches or cos they don't trust their employees and treat them like children.

Probably both.

 

[pbsmooth]

Every time I go in the office I do see the value in being in the same place as colleagues (and people in other teams). Yes we can be 'efficient' wfh but making our jobs actually enjoyable, cultivating relationships with people that are actually worthwhile and just talking shit about work that often proves productive in one way or another, does happen when you're in the same place the way it doesn't virtually. No time for Mogg or for forcing people but I definitely see the benefit. 2/3 days per week in an office is the way forward imho.

 

[Pickman's model]

Every time I go in the office I do see the value in being in the same place as colleagues (and people in other teams). Yes we can be 'efficient' wfh but making our jobs actually enjoyable, cultivating relationships with people that are actually worthwhile and just talking shit about work that often proves productive in one way or another, does happen when you're in the same place the way it doesn't virtually. No time for Mogg or for forcing people but I definitely see the benefit. 2/3 days per week in an office is the way forward imho.

It's harder to play practical jokes on colleagues when they're WFH, at least the sort of ones I enjoy

 

[tommers]

Every time I go in the office I do see the value in being in the same place as colleagues (and people in other teams). Yes we can be 'efficient' wfh but making our jobs actually enjoyable, cultivating relationships with people that are actually worthwhile and just talking shit about work that often proves productive in one way or another, does happen when you're in the same place the way it doesn't virtually. No time for Mogg or for forcing people but I definitely see the benefit. 2/3 days per week in an office is the way forward imho.

Sure, but people are able to make that decision. You don't need that gangly twat leaving passive aggressive notes on your hotdesk. Explain the benefits, rather than infer they're too busy getting cheese to do any work.

 

[tommers]

Like this is the biggest change to working patterns in the last thirty years and we're getting "you need to come into the office cos you're all workshy fops" rather than an actual debate about the advantages and disadvantages of each method.

I sat in a Google presentation the other day and they said how great they were cos one of their team could take his daughter to school for the first time in his working life. What? Shouldn't have needed a global pandemic for that to happen.

Anyway, Boris Johnson is a twat. Let's get back to him.

 

[Sue]

I sat in a Google presentation the other day and they said how great they were cos one of their team could take his daughter to school for the first time in his working life. What? Shouldn't have needed a global pandemic for that to happen.

A friend was saying exactly this the other day. He reckons this has done way more to make the domestic/childcare split between him and his partner equal than anything else could've.

(He's now working from home so not doing a long commute, his partner's a teacher so is onsite. He now typically does the drop offs/pick ups and is the parent who's called if there's an issue.)

 

[teuchter]

So who's going to try and argue that the UK's massive Eurovision success is anything other than a comprehensive vindication of Boris Johnson and his leadership?

 

[two sheds]

A friend was saying exactly this the other day. He reckons this has done way more to make the domestic/childcare split between him and his partner equal than anything else could've.

(He's now working from home so not doing a long commute, his partner's a teacher so is onsite. He now typically does the drop offs/pick ups and is the parent who's called if there's an issue.)

Yeh just imagine how Johnson would hate that

 

[Artaxerxes]

A friend was saying exactly this the other day. He reckons this has done way more to make the domestic/childcare split between him and his partner equal than anything else could've.

(He's now working from home so not doing a long commute, his partner's a teacher so is onsite. He now typically does the drop offs/pick ups and is the parent who's called if there's an issue.)

My brother in law used to commute three odd hours a day, his kids are now teenagers and this is probably the most time hes been able to spend with them during the week in their entire lives.

It's mad.

 

[tommers]

A friend was saying exactly this the other day. He reckons this has done way more to make the domestic/childcare split between him and his partner equal than anything else could've.

(He's now working from home so not doing a long commute, his partner's a teacher so is onsite. He now typically does the drop offs/pick ups and is the parent who's called if there's an issue.)

Exactly. It's an absolutely golden opportunity for large parts of the workforce to actually get closer to this fabled work life balance. For companies to have happy(er) workers, for families to have healthier relationships, for businesses to save money on offices, to give people choice over how their lives actually are structured. But it requires that bosses trust their teams. This idea from Sugar et al that people don't work unless a manager is stood behind them is fucking stupid. It's coming at it from the wrong direction. If you need to micro manage the intelligent and motivated people that you hired then maybe that's your fault?

There are advantages and disadvantages to wfh. Building effective relationships, replicating communication structures, letting people feel belonging - all of these things are more difficult but making your default that people are adults who know how they work best and want to do a good job is a decent start. It's typical that twats like these two instantly jump the other way.

 

[Elpenor]

I’ve not had any cheese

 

[Smokeandsteam]

Like this is the biggest change to working patterns in the last thirty years and we're getting "you need to come into the office cos you're all workshy fops" rather than an actual debate about the advantages and disadvantages of each method.

I sat in a Google presentation the other day and they said how great they were cos one of their team could take his daughter to school for the first time in his working life. What? Shouldn't have needed a global pandemic for that to happen.

Anyway, Boris Johnson is a twat. Let's get back to him.

Good post. As I said earlier there needs to be a wider debate on our side about the organisation of work in the 21st century, how unions organise, what are the demands for workers engaged in the ‘bullshit jobs’ in post industrial, late capitalist economies and how we navigate against new digital surveillance techniques.

Johnson and the ludicrous Rees Mogg are hopelessly behind the curve of how capital thinks about and understands the benefits of greater flexibility and hybrid working. As you suggest there are clear benefits from our perspective - workers who’ve never had it before get some control over when hours are worked, less travel on shit public transport or congested roads, less spending on travel and work clothes etc - but there are also obvious questions too about worker atomisation, increased productivity targets, lower wages, ending of London weighting and an increase in ‘flexible hours’ meaning workers are always on call

 

[Sue]

Exactly. It's an absolutely golden opportunity for large parts of the workforce to actually get closer to this fabled work life balance. For companies to have happy(er) workers, for families to have healthier relationships, for businesses to save money on offices, to give people choice over how their lives actually are structured. But it requires that bosses trust their teams. This idea from Sugar et al that people don't work unless a manager is stood behind them is fucking stupid. It's coming at it from the wrong direction. If you need to micro manage the intelligent and motivated people that you hired then maybe that's your fault?

There are advantages and disadvantages to wfh. Building effective relationships, replicating communication structures, letting people feel belonging - all of these things are more difficult but making your default that people are adults who know how they work best and want to do a good job is a decent start. It's typical that twats like these two instantly jump the other way.

Yeah, this friend used to work for a company where he asked if he could start/finish work a bit later a couple of days a week so he could do the nursery drop off (his partner's timetable meant she couldn't). They refused, he left. Whole new world now.

 

[LeytonCatLady]

Exactly. It's an absolutely golden opportunity for large parts of the workforce to actually get closer to this fabled work life balance. For companies to have happy(er) workers, for families to have healthier relationships, for businesses to save money on offices, to give people choice over how their lives actually are structured. But it requires that bosses trust their teams. This idea from Sugar et al that people don't work unless a manager is stood behind them is fucking stupid. It's coming at it from the wrong direction. If you need to micro manage the intelligent and motivated people that you hired then maybe that's your fault?

There are advantages and disadvantages to wfh. Building effective relationships, replicating communication structures, letting people feel belonging - all of these things are more difficult but making your default that people are adults who know how they work best and want to do a good job is a decent start. It's typical that twats like these two instantly jump the other way.

Because micromanagers usually do fuck all so they assume everyone's like that.

 

[Elpenor]

Because micromanagers usually do fuck all so they assume everyone's like that.

The key thing is trust isn’t it. They’re untrustworthy themselves so don’t trust their staff

 

[gosub]

The tories say we should shop more cheaply for food. They suggest everyone should only buy those " mysterious " meat products and supermarket own brands. "What do you mean you already only buy those?".

British government is one step ahead of you....

Britain lifting post-Fukushima restrictions on Japan food imports

In its assessment of the possible health risks from Japanese food imports, Britain has concluded that removing the import restrictions would not affect consumers in the country.

www.japantimes.co.jp

Now with 50% extra mystery.
Going to be some interesting fake news about if and when the EU starts Geiger countering trucks crossing into Eire

 

[gosub]

I’ve not had any cheese

consider yourself reported to Liz Truss

 

[pbsmooth]

The childcare thing is mad. The olden days of one parent basically never seeing their kid during the week just seems bonkers.

 

[two sheds]

The key thing is trust isn’t it. They’re untrustworthy themselves so don’t trust their staff

which brings us neatly back to Johnson

 

[ruffneck23]

Yeh just imagine how Johnson would hate that

To be fair with all those children he wouldn't be able to afford the fuel for the school run.

Although he would probably expense it

 

[MrSki]

Well there is a surprise.

 

[Pickman's model]

Well there is a surprise.

Conservative and UNionist Trustfund party. Or cunts for short

 

[cupid_stunt]

I read about that the other day, it was a donation from the former party treasurer, who is a millionaire art dealer, which may or may not be linked to money his wife received from her father.

Oh, here's the link.

Major Boris Johnson donor 'suspected of funnelling Russian cash to Tory coffers'

A donation of £450,000 from former party treasurer Ehud Sheleg was reportedly flagged to the National Crime Agency by Barclays, who say the cash originated in the Russian account of his father-in-law Sergei Kopytov

www.mirror.co.uk

 

[AnnO'Neemus]

Yeh just imagine how Johnson would hate that

So many children, so many schools, so little time.

 

[AnnO'Neemus]

My brother in law used to commute three odd hours a day, his kids are now teenagers and this is probably the most time hes been able to spend with them during the week in their entire lives.

It's mad.

And sad.

 

[MickiQ]

My brother in law used to commute three odd hours a day, his kids are now teenagers and this is probably the most time hes been able to spend with them during the week in their entire lives.

It's mad.

My son-in-law and my eldest daughter walk to school with Grandson 1 now, my grandson rides his bike and his Dad carries it home for him while Eldest pushs Grandson 2 in his stroller.
SiL then starts work when he gets home and is adamant there is no way he is going back to commuting an hour each way every day, he goes in about once every three weeks at the moment.

 

[LeytonCatLady]

So many children, so many schools, so little time.

Just as well most of them are adults!

 

[AnnO'Neemus]

Just as well most of them are adults!

I know, I was trying to be funny. Although I think at least three of them are school age and below, aren't they?