Hzrds in th wrkplce
All workplaces in New Zealand must, according to Occupational Health and Safety regulations, conduct 'risk assessment' of the workplace. Some of this seems sensible enough, such as noting where cables from computers might be running across the floor, and could trip someone up. Other aspects of assessment can seem frankly ridiculous, as staff are taught like little children to avoid having a messy desk. The nature of 'risk management' was brilliantly parodied in the BBC's TV series 'The Office', in which a new staff memeber had to repeatly pick up and put down an empty cardboard box in 'the correct way' while being coached by an earnest manager.
I've discovered one or two other hazards that could impact on the mental health of workers, or at least, this worker. One is that spending so much time at a computer all day makes it hard for me to face using one after hours to write my weblog. I may have to re-name it 'The weekly musings of a lady and her cat'. This loss of time to write naturally impacts on me, as the comfort afforded in expressing oneself creatively is lost.
The other impact on my mental health this week came in the form of an email. Having just joined a customer services team, I find myself on the receiving end of group emails to all staff in the department. One I received this week was written like this: "We rmnd all stf 2 chk avlblty of allctn b4 bkng spc 4 yr cstmr" I felt like I was reading an email written in a foreign language. I can read text, I use text and I do abbreviate words. But this email was sent in the workplace. Does the writer honestly believe it is OK to send an email about business practice using a 'language' that belongs in social interactions? Do they send a text if they can't make a meeting? "Cnt atnd mtng @ 2 cn we rschdle 2 4pm thurs?"
As I have had problems with prospective employers thinking I am old (which I don't think I am) just because I am not 21 anymore, I have started to use my age to my advantage. I point out, for example, that I know how to write a business letter. I can spell, and I type with appropriate use of capital letters. As I compete against bright young things happy to work for peanuts, I am singularly involved in a mission to maintain standards of business practice, especially in regard to written language. It is a battle I fear I will lose, as language and its use changes all the time, but for the moment, I for one, wl nt be wrtng emls in txt at wrk.
