Fun in the sun
When the country sweats in tropical temperatures, not everyone is happy, especially office workers lacking the civilising influence of decent air conditioning. If you are off work during the heatwave you can enjoy the weather in the garden or on a beach, but spare a thought for the majority who have to work when the […]
Bad boss, part 1
A boss from Sydney, Australia, has apologised for sending an angry all-staff email that has gone viral. In his now-famous email, Marcus Wood, said that his workers were, ‘getting on my tits’, and that unless performance improved, he would, ‘fire their sorry arses.’ He accused his staff of playing, ‘endless ping pong’ and likened […]
TFI Friday
Friday afternoon is probably the worst time to get anything done. Shoulders droop, spirits rise, thoughts drift towards a sunny beer garden. Suddenly, nothing seems so urgent that it couldn’t probably wait. Wise employers have long learned not to fight the Friday feeling. Even in the workaholic 1980s, Fridays used to be dress-down days, the […]
Robots vs humans
For years, people have been predicting that robots would steal jobs from humans. Deloitte and the University of Oxford predicted that 10 million unskilled jobs could be taken over by robots in the UK, with researchers estimating that 47% of total jobs could be automated and taken over by computers by 2033. Some say not […]
Would I lie to you?
I used to have an imaginary twin. It seems that Britain’s biggest companies and government departments are now using deep psychological profiling, to sift through applicants and weed out risky or unsuitable candidates. A team of graduates from Cambridge University has developed an in-depth psychometric screening test which uncovers the ‘subconscious latent potential’ of employees […]
The wellness scam
The student mental health crisis shows no sign of abating: in the year to July 2017, 95 students killed themselves, and many report impossibly threadbare services and overworked staff unable to help. One recent study also found that the UK student suicide rate had risen by 56% in 10 years; a clear sign that something […]
The rise of pointless jobs
Bill Hicks had a bit in his act, which went a bit like this:Boss: ‘How come you’re not working?’ Employee: ‘There’s nothing to do.’ Boss: ‘Well, you’re supposed to pretend like you’re working.’ Employee: ‘Hey, I got a better idea. Why don’t you pretend like I’m working. You get paid more than me.’ This features […]
How to cheat in business
How do you get ahead in business, how do you climb to the top of its greasy pole and reign supreme? There a few tried and tested models and then there’s cheating. You may choose to join a company or a sector, stay loyal to it, learn your trade and progress to the pinnacle. Well […]
Recruitipedia: United Kingdom
Welcome to Recruitipedia: ExecutiveSurf’s occasional review of the talent landscape around the world featuring this month, the UK. The United Kingdom is the oldest staffing market in Europe and the largest in terms of revenue. It is highly fragmented with some 15,000 firms in active operation. Many of the most recognisable global brands such as […]
15 ways to get sacked
It is rare for someone to get fired for a one-off misdemeanour. Even non-Americans tend to subscribe more to the ‘three strikes and you’re out’ rule. Usually, it is the cumulative effect of small offences that is more likely to get you shown the door or hinder your career progress. We all have bad habits […]
