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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

  • In 1981, as a graduate entrant civil servant, I had to resign my post before getting married and then apply for reinstatement in my new capacity as a married woman. It was simply a paper shuffling exercise by that time, but that first year at work was also the one where my boss gave me a lift home from the Christmas lunch and then asked me where his Christmas kiss was - and I decided that it was easier to comply than fight and be regarded as a 'difficult' member of staff. 

    As Crown employees at that time we were not within the scope of employment legislation and even when I left and went into the accountancy profession in the mid-'80s I remember a partner there telling me that in his view 'Employment law applies to people working in factories not professions like ours'. 

    I am so thankful not to have been born sooner - with age and gender discrimination outlawed, even if not removed, and smoking banned - it must be the best time yet to be a woman in her 50s in employment.

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  • In 1981, as a graduate entrant civil servant, I had to resign my post before getting married and then apply for reinstatement in my new capacity as a married woman. It was simply a paper shuffling exercise by that time, but that first year at work was also the one where my boss gave me a lift home from the Christmas lunch and then asked me where his Christmas kiss was - and I decided that it was easier to comply than fight and be regarded as a 'difficult' member of staff. 

    As Crown employees at that time we were not within the scope of employment legislation and even when I left and went into the accountancy profession in the mid-'80s I remember a partner there telling me that in his view 'Employment law applies to people working in factories not professions like ours'. 

    I am so thankful not to have been born sooner - with age and gender discrimination outlawed, even if not removed, and smoking banned - it must be the best time yet to be a woman in her 50s in employment.

Children
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