Success at Work

The DTI have today published their long awaited labour market strategy paper, 'Success at Work'.

The TUC have welcomed this as, 'a recognition by government that a significant minority of the UK workforce faces real exploitation at work', and I am really glad to see a few lines in there committing the Government to a review of how union reps can carry out their role - with a view to seeing 'their contribution maximised'.

You can read the whole paper here.

The title of the strategy paper reminded me of my (short and very unsuccessful) tenure as a budding estate agent many years ago. Our manager at that time decided to do a little staff development, which involved 5 of us huddling round a flip-chart in an upstairs office in Chester. I knew the session was doomed when he opened up with the immortal words

'Who here thinks I am a success? Come on, who thinks I am a success?' - glances round room and checks who has been embarrassed into raising their hand, 'Well, today I'm going to show you how you can be as successful as me'...

This was a good 10 years before 'The Office', but the 'Brent-meister' would have been very, very proud!

Any similar examples of excrutiating work-place behaviour from a 'high-flying' boss?