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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

  • A bit like my last full time trip to sea.....

    0400 - 0800 morning watch on the bridge

    0900 - 1100 morning admin, supervise deck crew and ship maintenance

    1100 - 1230 pre-lunch drinks with skipper (top 50% of bottle of rum)

    1330 - 1515  afternoon siesta

    1600 - 2000 evening watch on the bridge

    2015 - 2230 drinks with skipper (bottom 50% of bottle of rum)

    zeds til 0345, and start all over again!

    My 2 years of this daily routine in the Caribbean was great preparation for the next 4 years as an undergraduate mature student at Swansea. Great parties!  And not a social club in sight...... And then I grew up!

  • I was a graduate trainee for a very well known high street retailer in the early 1990s. They sent HR down from HO to tell me that I wasn't allowed to wear a trouser suit, I had to wear a skirt. I was the only woman in a room of 25+ managers and was asked to make the coffee. I dodged the request by saying that I was drinking water but they could feel free to help themselves to the kettle. Happy days indeed.....