Things that don't deserve their own thread

[inactionman]

I see the tories and their press are continuing its campaign against the terrible modern woke scourge of working from home - last week it was causing hosepipe bans, this week it's adding to benefit bills because people have joint pain from sitting at uncomfortable desks.

No mention of course that the claims of reduced productivity from WFH have been debunked.

I've not much to comment on the broader WFH arguments, but I would say I've had a load more back pain and eyesight issues since working at home became more or less permanent.

That's more a problem of hosting multiple, consecutive meetings via zoom than of physical locale or environment. There are days where I won't get up from my desk for three hours, or look further than my monitor - at least in an office I'd have had to get my lazy arse up to walk to the meeting room.

I think it's worth considering that working from home may not actually be that good for your health.

Micro-Breaks !

You probably used to get them naturally in office, by someone dropping by & asking a question, or getting up to get a cuppa or whatever. At home you need to introduce them yourself, like one an hour, so you aren't just stuck in the same position.

I get up & put on the washing, or hang it out, or do some prep for the next meal etc.

I wasn't sold on the 50 min meeting, but its a good idea when you have that 3hr block of them with the US, or where ever.

Exactly this. I make sure I get up and move, however on many days some sods will in-fill my diary and I literally cannot leave my screen for 3 hours (happily not all the time, as otherwise I'd ever post to NPR). It's a culture thing, encouraged and enabled by zoom, and I think it's damaging. Just because I have 30 minutes unaccounted for in my diary doesn't mean I really have time to talk to you about something of no direct relevance to me.

On this note, I used to be on-site at Rolls-Royce a lot in a previous role, and they published a meeting etiquette guide as even face-to-face meets were getting silly.
It went something like this:
All scheduled one hour meets start at least 5 mins past and must finish by ten mins to the hour latest. (people need to get to and form rooms, and will have small tasks to do in between meets)
agenda must be published and a note-taker designated (i.e. if there's no real point to the meet, don't hold the meet, and if you do hold the emet, have everyone contributing and not face-down ion a computer/notebook.

[SaintK]

I see the tories and their press are continuing its campaign against the terrible modern woke scourge of working from home - last week it was causing hosepipe bans, this week it's adding to benefit bills because people have joint pain from sitting at uncomfortable desks.

No mention of course that the claims of reduced productivity from WFH have been debunked.

I've not much to comment on the broader WFH arguments, but I would say I've had a load more back pain and eyesight issues since working at home became more or less permanent.

That's more a problem of hosting multiple, consecutive meetings via zoom than of physical locale or environment. There are days where I won't get up from my desk for three hours, or look further than my monitor - at least in an office I'd have had to get my lazy arse up to walk to the meeting room.

I think it's worth considering that working from home may not actually be that good for your health.

I worked from home for over 40 years though in a customer facing, field based role.Far better work/life balance despite the occassional stiff neck and sciatica twinge froim sitting in front of a PC. Got the same from averaging 35,000 miles per year in a car!

[inactionman]

I see the tories and their press are continuing its campaign against the terrible modern woke scourge of working from home - last week it was causing hosepipe bans, this week it's adding to benefit bills because people have joint pain from sitting at uncomfortable desks.

No mention of course that the claims of reduced productivity from WFH have been debunked.

I've not much to comment on the broader WFH arguments, but I would say I've had a load more back pain and eyesight issues since working at home became more or less permanent.

That's more a problem of hosting multiple, consecutive meetings via zoom than of physical locale or environment. There are days where I won't get up from my desk for three hours, or look further than my monitor - at least in an office I'd have had to get my lazy arse up to walk to the meeting room.

I think it's worth considering that working from home may not actually be that good for your health.

Counter - time sat down in a car or on a train on the way in plus at a desk in the office is just as great as time sat down when working from home, only in the latter scenario I get a couple of hours back from not having to commute that can be put into doing exercise to mitigate how sedentary far too many 'office' workers are (regardless of where their work station is).

Unless a company is very good at co-ordinating when in office days are, a lot of the time people end up doing meetings sat at their desk on Teams rather than moving to a meeting room anyway, which makes it functionally no different to being at home.

It's just where I am in life, but my kids are of the age where I don't get 5 minutes for exercise when at home, and it's only on the days I get into the office that I can easily get to the gym.

I note that, if I'm selective about what day I head into office, the traffic, parking etc is a load easier than in years past - but on certain days it does seem back to the bad old days. Having the option of working at home to avoid traffic is definitely a real quality-of-life improver.

[tabascoboy]

[Tichtheid]

That's cool.

I liked the high five from her fellow athlete.

[Uncle fester]

Pet hates with meetings.
1. The disorganized guy who leaves a meeting request till the last minute and puts it at lunchtime on the same day because "that's the only slot that was available in people's calendars".
2. Setting up annual leave on outlook-good. Marking the entire distribution list as also on leave-not so good.
3. Customer audits, booking a meeting room but not bothering to check for availability or getting an acceptance response from the meeting room. We had one audit that we had to hold in a broom closet because this dope didn't understand how outlook worked.

All 3 above are the same person.

[Uncle fester]

Can't imagine they are in good condition.

BBC News - Human remains thought to be found in Titan sub debris
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-66049789

[Grandpa]

Pet hates with meetings.
1. The disorganized guy who leaves a meeting request till the last minute and puts it at lunchtime on the same day because "that's the only slot that was available in people's calendars".
2. Setting up annual leave on outlook-good. Marking the entire distribution list as also on leave-not so good.
3. Customer audits, booking a meeting room but not bothering to check for availability or getting an acceptance response from the meeting room. We had one audit that we had to hold in a broom closet because this dope didn't understand how outlook worked.

All 3 above are the same person.

It's ok if it was you... we're all friends here...

[Grandpa]

I love that... also makes you appreciate the speed of the other athletes!

[Sandstorm]

I love that... also makes you appreciate the speed of the other athletes!

Ika would hit that.

[Jim Lahey]

The French rioting again and Macron making a cock of himself.

[Guy Smiley]

Ika would hit that.

I'd forgotten about Ika. Another of those posters where you're....



I had a flashback the other day about some of the old days on PR... posters like Mad Suppet and Chins. Genuinely funny fuckers.

[mat the expat]

I've not much to comment on the broader WFH arguments, but I would say I've had a load more back pain and eyesight issues since working at home became more or less permanent.

That's more a problem of hosting multiple, consecutive meetings via zoom than of physical locale or environment. There are days where I won't get up from my desk for three hours, or look further than my monitor - at least in an office I'd have had to get my lazy arse up to walk to the meeting room.

I think it's worth considering that working from home may not actually be that good for your health.

This all sounds like things that could have easily been avoided by you though, and not everyone in an office has meetings etc to get them up.

If I could ban all my zooms meetings, I would. In the blink of an eye.


There's a book to be written about changes to office working during and after covid. My biggest issue with zoom is that it encourages people to book 30 minute slots for something that would have been a 5-minute desk-side chat, and the old truism that work expands to fill the available time is best demonstrated in zoom meets. It doesn't take to many of those to block-book out a diary.

Again, a You problem.

Also, we're over 3 years in from Covid - if you're office didn't make sure your home setup was good......

Them and You problem

[inactionman]

This all sounds like things that could have easily been avoided by you though, and not everyone in an office has meetings etc to get them up.

If I could ban all my zooms meetings, I would. In the blink of an eye.


There's a book to be written about changes to office working during and after covid. My biggest issue with zoom is that it encourages people to book 30 minute slots for something that would have been a 5-minute desk-side chat, and the old truism that work expands to fill the available time is best demonstrated in zoom meets. It doesn't take to many of those to block-book out a diary.

Again, a You problem.

Also, we're over 3 years in from Covid - if you're office didn't make sure your home setup was good......

Them and You problem

I see. Just not attend meets called by various programme and function directors, it's an interesting idea. Not one that's likely to keep me in a job for long, but at least I'll be free to get up from my desk whenever I want.

I'm fascinated as to how zoom/teams has impacted working and culture now that it - in many organisations - has almost completely replaced physical meets. My current employer has always had an 'interruptible' culture where people are encouraged to contact those who can help and for those who can help to respond. This has the unfortunate side effect of random zoom meets being dropped into diaries, to the point that many now have to actually block a meeting over their lunchtime - previously where co-located you'd stop by desk and if they're free you'd talk, if they weren't free you'd come back later. The issue with the zoom invite is that an empty slot in a diary does not mean free or not busy, or that it's convenient. On top of this, most diaries work in 30 minute chunks, so my day rapidly becomes a set of 30 minute meets back-to-back.

I could, of course just decline meets, but all the meets are to at least some degree relevant. All that's really needed is an etiquette to check with people before booking them into meets, which is simply basic courtesy but frequently gets missed.

In terms of physical environment, my office set-up is pretty decent, I've been a contractor for a decade so I've always bought my own kit and - given tax breaks - I generally buy decent stuff. I got a Herman Millar chair from an office outlet (which I'd heartily recommend) and have the 32" 4k screen and all the gubbins. Despite all this, the fact remains that sitting at a workstation and staring at a screen for extended periods is simply not good for you. At all.

[Sandstorm]

Setting a Zoom Meeting in a diary "for a quick chat with someone about something...." is stupid. Just call that person direct.

[inactionman]

Setting a Zoom Meeting in a diary "for a quick chat with someone about something...." is stupid. Just call that person direct.

zoom and similar has replaced landlines in many places, and I'm not issued a work phone or obliged to provide my personal mobile (which I'm glad about as don't fancy out of hours hassle).

There is the option of skype or other instant messaging, but that implies effort to precis the actual ask - it seems it's easier just to drop a meet into diary.

[Sandstorm]

Setting a Zoom Meeting in a diary "for a quick chat with someone about something...." is stupid. Just call that person direct.

zoom and similar has replaced landlines in many places, and I'm not issued a work phone or obliged to provide my personal mobile (which I'm glad about as don't fancy out of hours hassle).

There is the option of skype or other instant messaging, but that implies effort to precis the actual ask - it seems it's easier just to drop a meet into diary.

I'm not a regular Zoom user, but surely you can make a person to person Voicecall using the App??

[inactionman]

Setting a Zoom Meeting in a diary "for a quick chat with someone about something...." is stupid. Just call that person direct.

zoom and similar has replaced landlines in many places, and I'm not issued a work phone or obliged to provide my personal mobile (which I'm glad about as don't fancy out of hours hassle).

There is the option of skype or other instant messaging, but that implies effort to precis the actual ask - it seems it's easier just to drop a meet into diary.

I'm not a regular Zoom user, but surely you can make a person to person Voicecall using the App??

Yep, you can dial them, and although they won't receive call if the ap isn't open, most people have it running in the background.

To be honest, I'm a bit surprised that there isn't more made of the ad-hoc calls, rather than seizing half an hour of someone's time - it's such a weird cultural thing.

[Sandstorm]

To be honest, I'm a bit surprised that there isn't more made of the ad-hoc calls, rather than seizing half an hour of someone's time - it's such a weird cultural thing.

It comes from people working at home pre-Covid and wanting to ensure the bosses know they're actually working. Send pointless emails at 17:30 to everyone in the group, etc ......your lot are making tons of Zoom appointments to prove how busy they are!!

[sockwithaticket]

If I need to quickly ask someone something and it's more time sensitive than waiting for an email response, I'll just drop an IM 'have you got 5 minutes?' Occasionally you'll be ignored or end up just missing each other's availability, but the vast majority of the time it works. A lot of the time the query can be dealt with just via Teams chat and we'll escalate to a call if something's not being.

I'll only schedule an actual Zoom meeting with people if I'm pretty certain we'll need more than 20 minutes to go over whatever it is.

The tools are definitely there if people want to use them properly, but it can be difficult to try and set boundaries with superiors who don't like or want to engage with said tools or to go against a workplace culture of meeting setting. All you can do is push back via your immediate managers. I found it helps to frame it as being better for the business by improving efficiency or some such waffle - they could have me in a meeting paying attention or have me doing useful work and most of the time the latter is a better use of my time and their money.

[Sandstorm]

If I need to quickly ask someone something and it's more time sensitive than waiting for an email response, I'll just drop an IM 'have you got 5 minutes?' Occasionally you'll be ignored or end up just missing each other's availability, but the vast majority of the time it works. A lot of the time the query can be dealt with just via Teams chat and we'll escalate to a call if something's not being.

I'll only schedule an actual Zoom meeting with people if I'm pretty certain we'll need more than 20 minutes to go over whatever it is.

The tools are definitely there if people want to use them properly, but it can be difficult to try and set boundaries with superiors who don't like or want to engage with said tools or to go against a workplace culture of meeting setting. All you can do is push back via your immediate managers. I found it helps to frame it as being better for the business by improving efficiency or some such waffle - they could have me in a meeting paying attention or have me doing useful work and most of the time the latter is a better use of my time and their money.

Teams and Zoom? You guys are wasting money.

[inactionman]

If I need to quickly ask someone something and it's more time sensitive than waiting for an email response, I'll just drop an IM 'have you got 5 minutes?' Occasionally you'll be ignored or end up just missing each other's availability, but the vast majority of the time it works. A lot of the time the query can be dealt with just via Teams chat and we'll escalate to a call if something's not being.

I'll only schedule an actual Zoom meeting with people if I'm pretty certain we'll need more than 20 minutes to go over whatever it is.

The tools are definitely there if people want to use them properly, but it can be difficult to try and set boundaries with superiors who don't like or want to engage with said tools or to go against a workplace culture of meeting setting. All you can do is push back via your immediate managers. I found it helps to frame it as being better for the business by improving efficiency or some such waffle - they could have me in a meeting paying attention or have me doing useful work and most of the time the latter is a better use of my time and their money.

Pretty much it. The setting of relentless zoom meets is simply a norm that';s got out of hand.

In my more cynical moments it occurs to me that it's some people's way of avoiding work whilst being seen to do work.

'What a mad morning of back-to-back meets' - that they had scheduled and during which they just played solitaire. Maybe I should just start doing that instead.

[sockwithaticket]

If I need to quickly ask someone something and it's more time sensitive than waiting for an email response, I'll just drop an IM 'have you got 5 minutes?' Occasionally you'll be ignored or end up just missing each other's availability, but the vast majority of the time it works. A lot of the time the query can be dealt with just via Teams chat and we'll escalate to a call if something's not being.

I'll only schedule an actual Zoom meeting with people if I'm pretty certain we'll need more than 20 minutes to go over whatever it is.

The tools are definitely there if people want to use them properly, but it can be difficult to try and set boundaries with superiors who don't like or want to engage with said tools or to go against a workplace culture of meeting setting. All you can do is push back via your immediate managers. I found it helps to frame it as being better for the business by improving efficiency or some such waffle - they could have me in a meeting paying attention or have me doing useful work and most of the time the latter is a better use of my time and their money.

Teams and Zoom? You guys are wasting money.

I meant Teams, although we do actually still have Zoome and Teams, which really doesn't help stop me mixing them up. It is actually necessary, at exam boards a lot of senior examiners and content writers are retired and so don't have access to Teams via a centre as active teachers might. They're also quite tech resistant and we just about managed to get them all using Zoom during the pandemic and before the shift to Teams, trying to coax them onto the latter has proven more effort than continuing to let them use Zoom as far as some of our decision makes are concerned.

[sockwithaticket]

If I need to quickly ask someone something and it's more time sensitive than waiting for an email response, I'll just drop an IM 'have you got 5 minutes?' Occasionally you'll be ignored or end up just missing each other's availability, but the vast majority of the time it works. A lot of the time the query can be dealt with just via Teams chat and we'll escalate to a call if something's not being.

I'll only schedule an actual Zoom meeting with people if I'm pretty certain we'll need more than 20 minutes to go over whatever it is.

The tools are definitely there if people want to use them properly, but it can be difficult to try and set boundaries with superiors who don't like or want to engage with said tools or to go against a workplace culture of meeting setting. All you can do is push back via your immediate managers. I found it helps to frame it as being better for the business by improving efficiency or some such waffle - they could have me in a meeting paying attention or have me doing useful work and most of the time the latter is a better use of my time and their money.

Pretty much it. The setting of relentless zoom meets is simply a norm that';s got out of hand.

In my more cynical moments it occurs to me that it's some people's way of avoiding work whilst being seen to do work.

'What a mad morning of back-to-back meets' - that they had scheduled and during which they just played solitaire. Maybe I should just start doing that instead.

I suspect most of us have had those thoughts and tbf my line manager has been quite open with me about booking in a full hour for fortnightly 1:1 check ins, even though we'll rarely go above 15 minutes, as it means she actually gets some concerted time when no one will bother her.

[Raggs]

Maybe invest into a sit/stand desk? They're getting more reasonably priced, even the electric motor ones.

[mat the expat]

I see. Just not attend meets called by various programme and function directors, it's an interesting idea. Not one that's likely to keep me in a job for long, but at least I'll be free to get up from my desk whenever I want.

I'm fascinated as to how zoom/teams has impacted working and culture now that it - in many organisations - has almost completely replaced physical meets. My current employer has always had an 'interruptible' culture where people are encouraged to contact those who can help and for those who can help to respond. This has the unfortunate side effect of random zoom meets being dropped into diaries, to the point that many now have to actually block a meeting over their lunchtime - previously where co-located you'd stop by desk and if they're free you'd talk, if they weren't free you'd come back later. The issue with the zoom invite is that an empty slot in a diary does not mean free or not busy, or that it's convenient. On top of this, most diaries work in 30 minute chunks, so my day rapidly becomes a set of 30 minute meets back-to-back.

I could, of course just decline meets, but all the meets are to at least some degree relevant. All that's really needed is an etiquette to check with people before booking them into meets, which is simply basic courtesy but frequently gets missed.

In terms of physical environment, my office set-up is pretty decent, I've been a contractor for a decade so I've always bought my own kit and - given tax breaks - I generally buy decent stuff. I got a Herman Millar chair from an office outlet (which I'd heartily recommend) and have the 32" 4k screen and all the gubbins. Despite all this, the fact remains that sitting at a workstation and staring at a screen for extended periods is simply not good for you. At all.

And yet, millions are capable of doing it.

I'm not picking on you but I've managed staff remotely all through covid, and been at the beck and call of C-level people.

They would be mortified to realise that a person is stuck at their desk all day. Loads are down with walking meetings, etc - I personally use a standing desk and move between 3 positions over the day

When working from the office, I would never be sat at the desk all day - it's your choice to do it.

[Guy Smiley]

It's a mistake to assume that working conditions in one workplace will be replicated in others. Different philosophies are one thing but you generally find a weird sort of 'evolution' of early practises or habits by a small group of original staff members will have rendered a working environment unrecognisable to those used to different regimes or even offices within the same company.

[Tichtheid]

I went to the dentist yesterday, I hadn't had an appointment with her before.

She was going through the checks of all my teeth and her assistant was taking notes etc. I have a bridge across one of my front teeth, she asked how long I'd had the bridge, I said, "About thirty years - it was rugby".

"Oh" said she, "What position did you play?"

"Prop", I answered"

She said, "I used to play prop, that's why I have bite mark on my cheek"

[Sandstorm]

I went to the dentist yesterday, I hadn't had an appointment with her before.

She was going through the checks of all my teeth and her assistant was taking notes etc. I have a bridge across one of my front teeth, she asked how long I'd had the bridge, I said, "About thirty years - it was rugby".

"Oh" said she, "What position did you play?"

"Prop", I answered"

She said, "I used to play prop, that's why I have bite mark on my cheek"

Should this be in the Joke thread?

[inactionman]

I see. Just not attend meets called by various programme and function directors, it's an interesting idea. Not one that's likely to keep me in a job for long, but at least I'll be free to get up from my desk whenever I want.

I'm fascinated as to how zoom/teams has impacted working and culture now that it - in many organisations - has almost completely replaced physical meets. My current employer has always had an 'interruptible' culture where people are encouraged to contact those who can help and for those who can help to respond. This has the unfortunate side effect of random zoom meets being dropped into diaries, to the point that many now have to actually block a meeting over their lunchtime - previously where co-located you'd stop by desk and if they're free you'd talk, if they weren't free you'd come back later. The issue with the zoom invite is that an empty slot in a diary does not mean free or not busy, or that it's convenient. On top of this, most diaries work in 30 minute chunks, so my day rapidly becomes a set of 30 minute meets back-to-back.

I could, of course just decline meets, but all the meets are to at least some degree relevant. All that's really needed is an etiquette to check with people before booking them into meets, which is simply basic courtesy but frequently gets missed.

In terms of physical environment, my office set-up is pretty decent, I've been a contractor for a decade so I've always bought my own kit and - given tax breaks - I generally buy decent stuff. I got a Herman Millar chair from an office outlet (which I'd heartily recommend) and have the 32" 4k screen and all the gubbins. Despite all this, the fact remains that sitting at a workstation and staring at a screen for extended periods is simply not good for you. At all.

And yet, millions are capable of doing it.

I'm not picking on you but I've managed staff remotely all through covid, and been at the beck and call of C-level people.

They would be mortified to realise that a person is stuck at their desk all day. Loads are down with walking meetings, etc - I personally use a standing desk and move between 3 positions over the day

When working from the office, I would never be sat at the desk all day - it's your choice to do it.

And millions aren't. It's almost like everyone's situation is different, and some are in situations that aren't of their making.

In terms of the bolded, you'd hope that would be the case.

The problem isn't generally with C-level as they are - as a pretty much universal rule - very efficient with their time. It's usually with middle-upper management levels, particularly in floundering projects, where concerns over burnout and work/life balance can get a bit lost. Making sure staff get up and exercise and get a decent lunch break aren't usually top of their agenda when deadlines are looming, and it's these types of meet I (and many in my organisation) get dragged into. I could opt to not attend, but you can imagine what gets reported upwards when we don't show up to a meet on a strategic project that is going wrong. Also, I quite like being involved in fixing problems so I don't actually mind the firefighting - it's really just the notable lack of discipline around diaries and calls on people's time I'm flagging.

This current contract is quite an exception, and to be honest many of the challenges are caused by an immaturity in aspects such as enterprise architecture and portfolio management which leads to loads of firefighting - if the projects were more correctly positioned life would be easier. There is no quick fix to this sort of thing, unfortunately. More immediately, there is definitely a culture of last minute diary filling which zoom has made worse - much like email and mobile phone meant many people found themselves 'always on', the fact someone is not physically present is no longer an impediment to booking them in. This is the bit I really think needs challenging, as it should be a relatively quick fix to set guides and standards.

Anyway, it's all an interesting study, and I'd reinforce that this current contract is quite exceptional in this regard.

[Tichtheid]

I went to the dentist yesterday, I hadn't had an appointment with her before.

She was going through the checks of all my teeth and her assistant was taking notes etc. I have a bridge across one of my front teeth, she asked how long I'd had the bridge, I said, "About thirty years - it was rugby".

"Oh" said she, "What position did you play?"

"Prop", I answered"

She said, "I used to play prop, that's why I have bite mark on my cheek"

Should this be in the Joke thread?

Seeing it written down I realised the ambiguity in the word "cheek".

Women's rugby can be rough, my daughter played at Uni and the stories she came back with were way worse than my memory of the student game. I was genuinely shocked at the idea of biting someone, and to do so so hard on the face that it leaves a scar is awful.

In 20 years of playing I was bitten once, and that was during a game in the lower leagues in France which was notorious for violence at that time.

[mat the expat]

And millions aren't. It's almost like everyone's situation is different, and some are in situations that aren't of their making.

In terms of the bolded, you'd hope that would be the case.

The problem isn't generally with C-level as they are - as a pretty much universal rule - very efficient with their time. It's usually with middle-upper management levels, particularly in floundering projects, where concerns over burnout and work/life balance can get a bit lost. Making sure staff get up and exercise and get a decent lunch break aren't usually top of their agenda when deadlines are looming, and it's these types of meet I (and many in my organisation) get dragged into. I could opt to not attend, but you can imagine what gets reported upwards when we don't show up to a meet on a strategic project that is going wrong. Also, I quite like being involved in fixing problems so I don't actually mind the firefighting - it's really just the notable lack of discipline around diaries and calls on people's time I'm flagging.

This current contract is quite an exception, and to be honest many of the challenges are caused by an immaturity in aspects such as enterprise architecture and portfolio management which leads to loads of firefighting - if the projects were more correctly positioned life would be easier. There is no quick fix to this sort of thing, unfortunately. More immediately, there is definitely a culture of last minute diary filling which zoom has made worse - much like email and mobile phone meant many people found themselves 'always on', the fact someone is not physically present is no longer an impediment to booking them in. This is the bit I really think needs challenging, as it should be a relatively quick fix to set guides and standards.

Anyway, it's all an interesting study, and I'd reinforce that this current contract is quite exceptional in this regard.

At the end of the day, if you're a contractor, you're your own boss and it's up to you to make changes if you're unhappy

I'm a Program manager on contract - I know exactly how it works.

[tabascoboy]

Orkxit?

Orkney council to look at proposals to become territory of Norway

The Orkney Islands could change their status in the UK or even become a self-governing territory of Norway under new proposals. A motion will go before the council next week to investigate "alternative forms of governance".

Council leader James Stockan said Orkney does not get fair funding with its current relationship within the UK. He wants to look at Crown Dependencies like the Channel Islands and overseas territories like the Falkland Islands.

He suggested another possible future could be like the Faroe Islands - which is a self-governing territory of Denmark.

Councillor Stockan told BBC Radio Scotland there were many areas where Orkney was being "failed dreadfully" by both the UK and Scottish governments.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland- ... d-66066448

[GogLais]

Orkxit?

Orkney council to look at proposals to become territory of Norway

The Orkney Islands could change their status in the UK or even become a self-governing territory of Norway under new proposals. A motion will go before the council next week to investigate "alternative forms of governance".

Council leader James Stockan said Orkney does not get fair funding with its current relationship within the UK. He wants to look at Crown Dependencies like the Channel Islands and overseas territories like the Falkland Islands.

He suggested another possible future could be like the Faroe Islands - which is a self-governing territory of Denmark.

Councillor Stockan told BBC Radio Scotland there were many areas where Orkney was being "failed dreadfully" by both the UK and Scottish governments.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland- ... d-66066448

Can’t be @rsed digging it out atm but I thought there was something about Orkney being the best place to live in the UK?

[Enzedder]

It's a mistake to assume that working conditions in one workplace will be replicated in others. Different philosophies are one thing but you generally find a weird sort of 'evolution' of early practises or habits by a small group of original staff members will have rendered a working environment unrecognisable to those used to different regimes or even offices within the same company.

I wish you buggers would stop swearing all the time. These 4 letter words have to stop.

I mean, "work" is just being totally classless.

[SaintK]

Always thought there would be issues here longer term, as she always came over as a very needy chancer in interviews!
I wonder just how much of the funds rsaised has actually gone to good causes?
The Charity Commission's report should make interesting reading.

It has emerged the Ingram-Moores requested planning permission for a "Captain Tom Foundation Building", which was "for use by occupiers... and Captain Tom Foundation", according to documents submitted to Central Bedfordshire Council in August 2021.
The plans included a spa pool, toilets and a kitchen, which the Design & Access and Heritage Statement said was "for private use".

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england ... 6100178

[Hal Jordan]

Maybe invest into a sit/stand desk? They're getting more reasonably priced, even the electric motor ones.

I've got one at work, and we took delivery of one for the office at home (box room) last week. I have bad knees so can highly recommend, even if you're in good shape.

[PornDog]

Maybe invest into a sit/stand desk? They're getting more reasonably priced, even the electric motor ones.

I've got one at work, and we took delivery of one for the office at home (box room) last week. I have bad knees so can highly recommend, even if you're in good shape.

I have what looks to be this exact model - https://www.gostand.ie/products/desk-to ... n-800-ergo

Great yolk all together.

Always thought there would be issues here longer term, as she always came over as a very needy chancer in interviews!
I wonder just how much of the funds rsaised has actually gone to good causes?
The Charity Commission's report should make interesting reading.

It has emerged the Ingram-Moores requested planning permission for a "Captain Tom Foundation Building", which was "for use by occupiers... and Captain Tom Foundation", according to documents submitted to Central Bedfordshire Council in August 2021.
The plans included a spa pool, toilets and a kitchen, which the Design & Access and Heritage Statement said was "for private use".

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england ... 6100178

Doesn't surprise me in the least - but why oh why are scumbags always so fucking greedy? I mean why didn't she just syphon off a few grand here and a few grand there, hidden away as admin charges or something. But oh no - she needs a fucking swimming pool!!!!

[Blackmac]

I see Elle Edwards murderer has been sentenced to a minimum of 48 years. England's courts certainly know how to sentence when it comes to scumbags like this.

[fishfoodie]

I see Elle Edwards murderer has been sentenced to a minimum of 48 years. England's courts certainly know how to sentence when it comes to scumbags like this.

Things I support about the US system is consecutive sentences, & multiplication of the tariff, where aggravation factors are in plan:

e.g.
- Guns involved 2x the time
- Gangs involved 2x the time
- >3rd Offense, no Parole, no way, no how !

I know there's always a concern that if sentencing becomes, "too harsh", then the scumbag may decide that they're just as well being hung for a sheep as a lamb; but is there any evidence that the worst offenders ever go thru that thought process before this kind of calculated violence ?

It should be said, I do also support reducing the number of offenses people are gaoled for, & where there are factors in mitigation, then a reducing scale should also apply, to encourage 1st offenders, to never become 2nd offenders.