Time management

It is usually wise to take surveys with a pinch of salt.  Too often they are thinly disguised efforts by attention seeking consultancies to raise their media profile in the odd belief that this will serve some worthwhile purpose.  But Peninsula, an employment law firm, has made some eyecatching assertions following a poll of 2300.  It reckons that more than one-third of Britons work 48 hours a week or more, and that on average we work one full day more per week than we did ten years ago.

I hope the research was based on something more than individual respondent's memories. After all, do we not all thing we are working harder than ever before?  But apart from wondering about the reliability of the results, I find myself with curiously schizoid views.  I am happy to assume that the productivity of the economy is moving on, and delighted to see that euro-social-chapter-nonsense apparently being given the two-fingered salute. What is wrong with Weber's Protestant work ethic anyway?

But I am also dismayed at finding myself suspect that too many people are still justifying their work life existences by clock watching. The quality of time spent getting good things done is surely more important that the quantity of time whiled away in front of water coolers. Personnel Today had this on presenteeism a while back. I guess it is still true.

Gosh, is that the time? I must get myself another plastic cup of water. Or perhaps I will just sod off home...