Perhaps only civil service staff think that, but “communication” is the things made of life from | VIV Groskop
IIn these broken times, it is not easy to avoid thinking about the ordeal of the modest civilian employee. But carry with me and open your heart. Last week, it appeared that the Cabinet Office brought new rules for civil service staff on the types of meetings they could hold. Anything that constitutes a “network meeting” must now be held outside working hours. If it is a “event”, it must be signed by a senior civilian employee.
Alex Thomas, director of a program at the Government Institute, said that the new rules “are reasonably fit as most meetings are held after work or at lunch times anyway”, and that “reminding civilian employees that they are in the first place to carry out their basic jobs is not bad.”
In the big scheme of things, this is not the most terrifying thing ever. But I sympathize with the reverse reaction, which was silent and secret like Sir Humphrey Abbby from a minister who is famous for himself. A source of a union of civil services – one loves to think about Soto Foot – this step, “The employees have risked the attack at a time when they are asked again to do more.” Can you photograph the narrow Sir Humphrey smile at the end of these words?
Of course, this is a storm in a plastic cup issued by the office that is hidden in a meeting of hybrid teams that reschedule. And yes, you can understand – especially that Partygate and wine are still new – that anyone near the government needs clarity about what is professionalism and what should happen around the clock. However, this seems to be another pretext to make practical life more impartial, strict and related to the rules than it is already.
It hurts me to speak in favor of “communication” – a horrific word that simply means “talking to others.” But it seems to me that if there is anything, we need regulations that force us all to get to know each other with greater depth, not less. When things are difficult and feel nervous because of work, who are you resorting to? Your colleagues. Why do people meet to the network? They do this because they have no chance to talk about things that are really concerned within the approved meetings. They do this because no part of us can suit the limits of working day, not to mention the screen -based limits that are now framing on most people’s working days. They do this because they are human.
The regulations that discourage people who get to know each other also ignore the great, unannounced fact of practical life: Most official meetings are ineffective unless people know each other well, perfectly well. The real work is completed outside the official meetings: chaotic, slow and invisible works to persuade people of individual things, support, confidence -building, forgery of alliances, exchange stories, and all the confrontations that are not useless and ultimately created and sometimes somewhat of meaning or progress. Of course, people have to conduct these meetings in a way that has borders in place. But it seems offensive to the civil service they need with these rules, just as someone must explain to them that they should not be completely lost, talking about garbage and photographing donkeys. (But I thought he was in a job description?))
It is a feeling of care and lack of confidence and took an overwhelming matter from it is that the attack. Quietly, the indispensable source talks about many, including outside the civil service. After all, this is definitely what most workers feel now: tired of “again asks for more effort to do with less.” The report of the Director of Health and Safety in 2024 found that 79 % of UK workers The experience of stress regularly, and that 17.1 million working days are lost annually for stress, depression and anxiety. I am sure that those days are not all due to the civil service, although it will make a good documentary on reality TV if they are. Forget Ferris Boeller. I want to see the day of Sir Humphrey vacation.
On the other hand, this step may be exactly the “network meetings” of the brand. Everyone hates the idea of communication and most people will do anything to avoid it. But if the networks are banned. ” – Even, even?
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