So time for me to have another general rant about work and working culture... still building up to the love life one - on the plus side I did receive a rather nice bunch of flowers at work today.....from a secret admirer... should I be pleased or worried... that blog to follow...!

Whoever thought up the blackberry was surely an expert in getting the most out of your employees. If, like me, you are equipped with one of these, you will know that it is simply a corporate hotline designed to enable "access" to your mind during evenings, weekends, holidays, basically any time of relaxation.
Companies know that no one really wants to carry around two mobile phones. So, on receipt of a company mobile/blackberry, most employees ditch their own phone in favour of merging all contact to one single number.

After doing so, you fast realise that if you want to meet your friend tonight for last orders at a location unknown you need to have the hotline switched on until 10.30 ... and they can see you, they know when you've just started to unwind, perhaps the tie has come off, you're imagining that you have a life, you're the master of your own time, and then ... bam! "I'm sorry to disturb you, we were just here in the office, working late, and were wondering if you could help us with a little problem" or the red light starts flashing and you know you have an email that reads..."I'm sorry to disturb you, we were just here in the office, working late, and were wondering if you could help us with a little problem"

They are always very apologetic and it is usually without doubt a "small problem", but still I believe it's wrong, because we all know that as soon as that phone is answered our evening will be spoilt. For even if by chance you happen to be able to solve this problem there will be a small part of your brain wondering what other problems there are, who else is still in the office. This is wrong and these people should be stopped.

Companies have no right to eat into your time like this, it causes additional stress and can make people feel uncomfortable. After years of experiencing these types of scenarios I have a new approach to dealing with the problem. Honesty. I favour: "I'm sorry I am too drunk to talk" for when I am in a bar, and "I can't talk right now, I am ironing while watching the OC" when at home.

The latter is good as it demonstrates that you care both about the way you look and matters of world importance. And what can the person on the other end really say when met with such a demonstration of reality; I mean, of course, I don't care about the profit forecast for 2008 when I have a snoked salmon canape to eat instead.

OK, perhaps this is not the best approach for high flyers, new starters or anyone wishing to be truly successful in their career, but perhaps for those of us stuck in the middle, those who stayed late, but still couldn't find the solution, perhaps it is our way of having a bit of fun. And, after all, there is nothing more rewarding than baffling a young upstart - those keen people who cannot understand why everyone is not craving success for the company at all costs, who are genuinely perplexed by any signs of "slacking off", albeit in your own time.

When you work the hours I do and then adopt flexible working ie working some days at home, some weekends and time off in lieu others presume you are always available, because they never actually see you. It does not occur to them that you might take leave. So when I was phoned several times during my holiday in Morocco last month you can imagine I was quite annoyed. I was busy lying by a pool with a martini in hand and, so, it was not a particularly convenient time to talk to anyone.

I answered and was immediately confronted with a very trying counterpart complaining about a meeting that had been cancelled, to which I was not even scheduled to attend. At which point I responded with an "OK, what would you like me to do? Oh, hold on a minute, I'm about to drink my martini" and put the phone down.

A bit childish perhaps, but hey, whats life without a bit of rebellion!

Cx

ps you'll be pleased to know I am still gainfully employed - though why is anyones guess!