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I remember typing pools...

Steve Bridger

I remember my first day at work. The summer of 1981. County Hall. The smell of polished corridors and trolleys laden three-feet high with leaver arch files and buff folders. I opened a door and there it was: The Typing Pool. Page 3 of The Sun were always plastered on the walls of the printing unit whenever I was asked to make errands. We still had a few discussion threads on that topic in the early days here - in 2004!


And I've seen Made in Dagenham, the movie!


I only mention this as the CIPD published a report called Work Audit today, a fascinating look at how the world of work has changed
in Britain since 1952.


I thought we could share our own compelling vignettes of social history comparing changes in the way we work.


What do you reckon?


Steve

Parents

  • Annie - you made me laugh!

    I remember posting press releases out to journalists, with only some of them willing to accept faxes.  And that was only 16 years ago.  I remember journalists shouting at us for emailing them (from the one computer in the office that had a communal email address).  And journalists used to attend press conferences in those days.  Oh and the lunches were very boozy if you went out with older journos, but the younger ones were always grateful if you just went for the mineral water - cos they still had an afternoon's work to do.

    Now if I posted a press release to a journalist they'd think I was odd.  If I faxed it to them, the cleaners would put it in the bin a few days later.  Even when I started at the CIPD (8 years ago today) we still faxed all our press releases - and carted a fax machine up to Harrogate for the purpose.

    But I've never worked in a smoking office.  Or had to do work on a manual typewriter.  (Although I have a colleague who shall remain nameless who hammers his keyboard like it was one - can't break the habit ... you can hear him on other floors!).

    Loving the thread. And do read John's report that kicked it off.

    Rob

Reply

  • Annie - you made me laugh!

    I remember posting press releases out to journalists, with only some of them willing to accept faxes.  And that was only 16 years ago.  I remember journalists shouting at us for emailing them (from the one computer in the office that had a communal email address).  And journalists used to attend press conferences in those days.  Oh and the lunches were very boozy if you went out with older journos, but the younger ones were always grateful if you just went for the mineral water - cos they still had an afternoon's work to do.

    Now if I posted a press release to a journalist they'd think I was odd.  If I faxed it to them, the cleaners would put it in the bin a few days later.  Even when I started at the CIPD (8 years ago today) we still faxed all our press releases - and carted a fax machine up to Harrogate for the purpose.

    But I've never worked in a smoking office.  Or had to do work on a manual typewriter.  (Although I have a colleague who shall remain nameless who hammers his keyboard like it was one - can't break the habit ... you can hear him on other floors!).

    Loving the thread. And do read John's report that kicked it off.

    Rob

Children
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