I remember visiting my dad’s company in the 1980s. He had his own office, a private secretary, access to a pool of secretaries downstairs and an office services team looking after printing and postage.
Fast forward thirty years, and here we are doing everything ourselves on top of our real jobs, thanks to the computers and networks which have apparently made those other roles redundant.
The 1980s certainly seemed like a more appealing time in which to work. I imagine that it was mostly comprised of people sitting around drinking tea, while occasional shuffling a piece of paper.
My dad would also be home by about 5.30pm to have dinner (or tea, as we called it) with the family, before sitting down to read the papers.
Our modern working days, meanwhile, slip on into the evening, late night and even weekends, just to stay on top of what in the olden days would have been the work of several people.
I miss the 1980s.
Last modified: 22 September 2024
