I know we've had a few interesting discussions on productivity before but I have been having a think about it.
In one of my old jobs there was a point where I was doing the work of almost three people and it was awful. I wasn't rewarded for this and I remained underpaid, which is when it truly dawned on me that employers generally try and see how much work they can get away with piling on people for as little cost as possible; if you work hard the reward is that you'll be given more work to do. Ever since then I have mastered the art of looking busy; I'm trusted to be left to my own devices and even when I'm coasting I'm still one of the most efficient members of the team.
Is one of the main reasons that productivity is relatively low in this country because workers know that their employers will treat them like shit and take them for granted? There's little incentive to work harder if you know that you'll be rewarded for it with exactly the same cost of living pay rise as Tracey at the end of the year, even though she spends half the day talking about her kids and the other half shit-stirring.
I've read quite a few things that suggest businesses in this country are far too short-termist and value a quick profit over longer term sustainability.
It sounds like you're doing it right. Unless you're more directly involved or senior, your extra efforts are likely wasted beyond a point. As in, the first 10% extra you do is worth more than the next 10% extra that you do. Just arriving on time, meeting deadlines and exceeding them a little pays dividends.
>I've read quite a few things that suggest businesses in this country are far too short-termist and value a quick profit over longer term sustainability.
Well, you have to remember too that decision makers are bound by their own interests. We often have inefficient systems that could be easily improved, but not many managers would want to stand up and rock the boat, let alone risk ruin. Making a decision today that would significantly improve the company over a 20 year timeframe would probably look terrible on your record in the short term.
I've read and heard stuff about the short-term approach that is common here too. There seems to be a tendency to look at the figures at the end of the year and judge things by that. For example, minimum wage has gone up quite sharply in recent years. This has leant itself to companies cutting benefits and reducing staff numbers. For supermarkets I think this worked well, but for shops where innovations (self-checkouts) are harder, it's just stretched out a workforce.
While we may seem phlegmatic, it takes different forms elsewhere. In Italy it's incredibly hard to fire someone, so as soon as you get your contract you can do the bare minimum. If I remember, the Manx get priority for any job over others, meaning that they can be equally unproductive.
>I've read quite a few things that suggest businesses in this country are far too short-termist and value a quick profit over longer term sustainability.
I mean isn't this just the broader over arching ideology that we all toil under? Late stage/neo-liberlal/however you want to define it capitalism.
Well yeah then we're pretty bad. Maybe not quite as bad as the yanks but that's not saying much.
Also for the record I agree with your perspective on productivity.
>Is one of the main reasons that productivity is relatively low in this country because workers know that their employers will treat them like shit and take them for granted?
Yep, of course. Because this;
>employers generally try and see how much work they can get away with piling on people for as little cost as possible
is evident to anyone with half a clue.
But then you have to ask why that's the case. Is there something particular to British culture that means it's worse here than other comparable countries. Probably yeah, there are probably all sorts of things that contribute to it. The states being the global hegemon and our unique relationship to them and their culture is I'd imagine a large factor.
That could all be changing though. Sage for late night fraff chat.
>>89531 On the one hand, yes. But on the other it's a recurring theme in British history. It's not uncommon that when the pound goes down in value British businesses just increase their prices abroad and suck up the extra profits rather than taking advantage of the fact their products are now cheaper abroad and expanding into new markets.
