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Idling at work takes a political turn in this week's round up of stories from the office
Witnessing a large number of people turn up outside the Bank of England (instead of at the office) should warm a slacker's heart, but this week's G20 protests have left me feeling despondent. Maybe it's because I'm not keen on kettles unless there is going to be a tea break. Or maybe – whodathunkit? – the erosion of real, everyday civil liberties has made me depressed in a rather engaged and un-slackerish way (don't worry, I've made a note. I'll be over it by next week).
However, I was cheered by a number of things. First of all, the Guardian's blogging/tweeting coverage prevented me achieving anything at all on Wednesday. And second, I've decided that if bringing down capitalism is the aim, then slacking is, in and of itself, a form of protest. (Though only if you hum The Red Flag at the same time.)
Of course the real issue at this time of year is not slacking, but skiving. You know how it is: the birds are singing, the sun is (almost) shining, and the office seems even less appealing than usual. The Lansing State Journal reckons a degree of idleness is usually acceptable: if your boss slacks off, join in; if your co-worker slacks, don't complain; and, so long as "you're productive", Facebook shouldn't be too much of a problem. However, if your company has recently made people redundant the advice is clear. "Focusing on your work can help keep the worries at bay … Volunteering for new tasks not only makes you shine, but lets you master new skills you can take with you in your career." I think we get the message.
Scratch that: not everyone got the message. Damien Whitworth, for one, was asleep. Apparently, napping can prevent burn out, reduce the risk of heart disease and … cure a full range of office-based ills. Honest. The thing that confuses me, though, is where exactly one does the napping. At your desk? Under your desk? A few years ago, I tried sleeping on the job in New York, but that at least was in a sleep pod. I'm happy to report that it was tremendously civilised – but in the current climate, not exactly a must-have office accessory.
Lastly I was delighted to read that we Brits do not, after all, work the longest hours in Europe. That honour belongs to Turkish workers, who clock up a whopping 54 hours a week (compared to the UK's puny 35 hours). Commenters, however, remained unconvinced. Mresta thought that UK averages hid the long hours of London city workers. Tzinti had escaped long hours in the UK for what sounds like paradise abroad (Tzinti, if you're reading – come back and tell us where you escaped to). And Oommph reckoned commuting played a role. Though Jimquadd definitely had the best working conditions: "I worked in the city for an International Lloyds broker and the office was normally empty at 5.15! We also had long lunch breaks." Bankers and slackers … unite? You never know.
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