There’s an interesting discussion going on over at the Kitchen on Cameron’s recent pronouncement on flexible working. Cameron is a fool and I agree entirely with DK’s post. However, the comments generally took the line that flexible working is bad for business and a burden on employers. Unfortunately that line of thought makes the same mistake that Cameron makes; the one-size-fits-all thinking. It was with that thought in mind that I entered the conversation. My point being a simple one; don’t rule out the principle merely because it has been hijacked by some tit of a politician.
Not all employers are the same. They have different needs from their employees and as such will seek some flexibility in the employment contract depending on those needs. My employment history is somewhat chequered – much of it self-employed. So I run my own business and I expect my one employee (me) to be highly flexible. Well, if I don’t meet my clients’ needs, I don’t earn a crust – and, frankly, the market place isn’t too good at the moment, so I’ll go wherever and whenever my clients want me to.
Take a look at Shotgun’s comments in response to my perfectly reasonable statements that some employers may seek to apply flexible hours or peripatetic working (note; some employers. I did not suggest all by any means and I made it clear that I vigorously oppose state interference in the matter). As their business grows such arrangements may mean that their hours of business can be extended. Those who complain that this is a cost would be right, but so too, is the cost of providing bonuses, cars, health insurance and all the other little incentives that business uses to attract the calibre of employee that they want to employ. It’s a marketplace and a good employee is a valuable asset to the business.
What works for one business will not work for others. Woman on a Raft offers some fine examples of what wouldn’t work and I agree with what she says. Nothing I said contradicts those points.
Shotgun is outraged that I, as a potential employee, would have the temerity to object to his somewhat blunt approach. He asks:
Do you mean to tell me you interview employers?
Damn right I do. That’s what an interview is for. I recently attended an interview (the company will remain nameless for obvious reasons). The interviewing panel were ill-prepared for the interview, they changed the time of the interview twice (once barely an hour before the event) then kept me waiting for the best part of an hour. They had clearly not read my CV and could not even provide a flip chart for the briefing they wanted me to give, despite assuring me that this would be provided. It became apparent and the interview progressed that things were not going well as my dismay at their lack of professionalism was barely disguised. This was particularly so when we got to the the technical knowledge issue. I had asked the agency about this but was assured that they wanted to see me and that they were aware of my skill set. When I asked the panel why they were wasting my time and theirs, the response was that they check people out in case they have not put all of their skills on the CV.
I didn’t expect an offer, but in the unlikely event of one being made, I would have rejected it. My feedback to the agency was somewhat robust.
As a potential employee, I am weighing up the company as much as they are weighing up me. Recruitment is a two-way process. Employees are not just resource for the benefit of the employer. The employer employs people because he has need of their labour, time, expertise and so on. It is a two-way trade and I expect the employer to treat that trade with the same respect and professionalism that he expects from me. I didn’t get it on this occasion. If the employer does not understand that basic courtesy; I walk. I’ve done it before, I would do it again.
I have in the past worked for small businesses and Shotgun’s remarks brought it all flooding back in all it’s horribleness – the arrogant and self-opinionated proprietor (or family) who is oh, so determined to be “the boss” no matter how unsuited for the role, no matter how incompetent, no matter how lacking in people management skills, budgeting, business planning or forecasting.
I have a mutually satisfactory term of employment…
Do as I say or fuck off.
That attitude is why I tend to avoid small businesses – as a potential employee, supplier and as a client. Unfortunately every small to medium business I have become involved with over my twenty-odd years of working has been owned, operated and run by boorish bullies who take the same arrogant and ignorant approach to employee relations as dear Shotgun here. (see exception below).
One such business that I worked with some years ago failed because the “boss” was too stupid and arrogant to listen to better qualified people about how to run his business. He epitomised the catalogue of failings I list above – indeed, he managed pretty much all of them. He was a good driving instructor and presumed that this meant that he was suited to running a driving school. Wrong. So very, very wrong. A fact he discovered the hard way.
If I must be employed (and I prefer on the whole not to be but needs must sometimes) then my choice would be for larger corporates. They are not necessarily operated any more competently (although in my experience, they are), but at least there’s a form of comeback – if the local manager is a complete tit, one can go higher to sort things out. The casual incompetence of the corporate isn’t personal. You don’t get the same arrogance of an employer who treats employees with contempt and then has the effrontery to expect loyalty for no other reason than that they pay the wages. Employers buy my time and expertise. It’s a trade, nothing more. If they want loyalty and respect, that comes as extra and it has to be earned.
Still, do go and read Shotgun’s comments; they make entertaining reading if you enjoy misdirected ad hominems and strawmen. Now I can apologise to Neil Harding. Here is someone who has a strawman farm all of his own. Neil is an amateur in comparison (and a polite one). Indeed, this contributor to Terry Watch almost makes our Tel seem reasonable…
Nah, not really, I’m exaggerating. No one’s that bad.
Update: I really don’t know why I forgot about it, but there is one notable exception to my bad experience with SMEs. This particular one has two full-time employees. They adopt flexible and peripatetic working and have done for the decade or so that I have known them. It follows then that Shotgun’s ignorant comments do not speak for all SMEs, but then, a reasonable person would have figured that one out already. 