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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

  • @ Tony, I also worked for the local authority and had to use a gestetner!!!


    I started on a YTS scheme in 1985 and one of my first worries was that I had to use the telephone, we didn't have one at home!!! I worked in the post room which was run the the most scariest of women (I still shudder when I think of her!), we used to have a tea break every morning and afternoon and woe betide anyone who interupted us, all sat round the big sorting desk.  All the bosses were called Mr & Mrs, we wern't allowed to use paper clips, the opening of the envelope had to be on the right hand side as you looked at the address, all letters had to go through the typing pool and people smoked at their desks. Even though it now seems archaic it did give me a good grounding.

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  • @ Tony, I also worked for the local authority and had to use a gestetner!!!


    I started on a YTS scheme in 1985 and one of my first worries was that I had to use the telephone, we didn't have one at home!!! I worked in the post room which was run the the most scariest of women (I still shudder when I think of her!), we used to have a tea break every morning and afternoon and woe betide anyone who interupted us, all sat round the big sorting desk.  All the bosses were called Mr & Mrs, we wern't allowed to use paper clips, the opening of the envelope had to be on the right hand side as you looked at the address, all letters had to go through the typing pool and people smoked at their desks. Even though it now seems archaic it did give me a good grounding.

Children
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