All posts for the month December, 2023

Office Fretification

There is a viral condition called “Office Fretification” (otherwise known as as OfficeFret) that is sweeping the corporate world globally. I’m sure many of you have seen it and are aware of the severe negative influence it can have on others, but didn’t know it had a name, or indeed a cure.

It’s frequently observed in employees who have a psychological intolerance that flares up as soon as they’re asked to leave the comfort of their snug home abode and return to the office to work. 

The origin of this devastating malady was COVID-19 when some employees gleefully packed up their desks and became accustomed to a blissful life of working from home for long periods of time. Gone were the days of actually conversing to a real person, or having to be transparent as to their work activities. At home they could hide behind their video conferencing avatar, be busy doing their own personal machinations, like cooking, walking the dog, or having a quiet snooze. 

But alas, all that changed once the COVID-19 vaccinations started to negate the reason for their newly cherished home lifestyle and they were requested to return to the office. Upon hearing this instruction, this is when the condition of OfficeFret starts to become most evident.

The OfficeFret symptoms are easily identified:

  1. “I don’t feel well, – I need to take sick leave”. It’s remarkable how easily a medical certificate materialises to validate the claim?
  2. “It’s too noisy in the office – I need quiet to think”. Funny that with so many empty desks in the office, not one of them could be used?
  3. “I have to get my car serviced, or a fridge needs to be delivered – so I need to work from home all day”. 

As the name suggests, the employee starts to fret and begins to implement a diversionary tactic to maintain their working from home bliss.

So how does an one treat an employee suffering with OfficeFret you may ask?

No medical script is required; rather it comes in the form of a termination letter. The sufferer of this malady then has a choice, they can come into the office, or stay out permanently where they can continue with the lifestyle they have become accustomed to, but minus the salary. 

Enough is enough.

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by Steven Cramer on December 22, 2023  •  Permalink
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Posted by Steven Cramer on December 22, 2023

https://thinkingfuturethoughts.com/2023/12/22/office-fretification/

Sorry, “Operational Issues”

Those of you who fly Virgin Australia would all be aware of the frequency of flight cancellations where your departure has been delayed due to “operational issues”.

When you think Virgin Australia, what are the first two words that come immediately to mind? Yep, those dreaded words are “operational issues” that are received via an impersonal SMS letting you know your flight has been cancelled. And no, it’s not a random event, it happens regularly and is now an expected occurrence that you need to build into your travel plans.

Virgin travellers of Australia, it’s time for a flying revolt!

Unfortunately, the Star Trek technology where that famous quote of “Beam me up Scotty” does not yet exist, maybe one day, but alas, not yet. So what other options are there?

Referencing that 1972 political slogan of Gough Whitlam, yes, “It’s Time”, and that time is the fast bullet train that links the major capital cities of Australia. According to one study, it would just over 2 hours to travel from Melbourne to Sydney. Well, let’s get on with it!

“It’s Time” that Australian airlines realise that customer service is not just about moving paying passengers on a timetable that suits them, but one that actually meets the time needs of the buyer. Gosh, now wouldn’t that be nice!

What if a restaurant decided it didn’t suit them to deliver the meal that you ordered within say 30 minutes, rather it would be better owing to “operational issues” to cook and then serve up the plate 4 hours later, or even the following day? Would it be tolerated? Nope, because we have options to dine in a variety of restaurants. But this isn’t the case with Virgin or Qantas.

So let’s compare a bullet train with a Virgin flight from Melbourne to Sydney.

The Bullet TrainVirgin Australia
Leaves from the Melbourne CBD, arrives in the Sydney CBD. Is linked via public transport. Simple.Takes an hour to drive to the airport either by taxi or car (which you leave in an expensive carpark). You go through security (where you need to remove many of your clothes and other items). You wait for your plane to depart, which is never on time, or might be cancelled owing to “operational issues”
You can walk around the train, buy a drink, have some food.You are strapped into a chair, feeling like a sardine. Food (forget it).
Happy factor = highHappy factor = ask another question
“It’s Time”Say no more.

So, should anyone from the Australian Government be reading this post, don’t ignore it, but do heed the message as enough is enough. Something needs to be done, the preferred solution of “Beam me up Scotty” may occur one day, but in the interim, just focus on getting that bullet train going sooner rather than later!

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by Steven Cramer on December 7, 2023  •  Permalink
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Posted by Steven Cramer on December 7, 2023

https://thinkingfuturethoughts.com/2023/12/07/sorry-operational-issues/