Sitting To Attention

Yesterday, I started work in an old job, which is to say I continued to work in a new job. If that doesn't make sense, let me explain; a couple of months ago, the company I work for as a typist was suddenly, and unexpectedly, bought by its major Australian competitor. This major competitor was in fact our only major competitor; and as such had been referred to by our sales people, rather melodramatically, as 'The Enemy'. In the blink of an eye - or, in this case, within the end of a financial year - we had become our own enemy. Such is the schizophrenic world of modern finance; and hence my confusion as to my actual position.

As I left that afternoon, I had cause to reflect on the various office personalities. Our manager, for instance; although he was, technically speaking, a he, he would waft around the place with all the officiousness of an prima donna, saying "Hey," in three different notes, as if he were starting an operatic aria. Or the oddly hestitant manner of my own fellow typists. Or where I stood with J., who was my supervisor in my old position. Or, for that matter, what I was supposed to be doing. Most of the work seemed to be sitting to attention and gazing at the computer screen waiting for work to come in. The atmosphere, if it existed, seemed to be one of cheerful inefficiency: the complacency of a major Australian player in the specialist media industry, whatever that means.

And of course, I didn't see any real reason too be complacent; I'd seen several of my fellow workers - better than me at the job in many ways - laid off. I remember C. coming up the stairs a month ago, unable to stop from crying. The reason she was laid off? Because she was working part-time; it was, in the end, because I was on a full-time contract that I was able to start work - in my old job. Or continue working - in my new position; put it however you want. Only two days ago, when J. had come into our old offices, I asked her whether there was any indication, yet, of the plan the management had. Her reply was pretty simple: "I haven't seen anybody so unable to decide what they're going to do two days in advance, much less plan weeks and months ahead."

Well, as I've already said, such is the schizophrenic world of modern finance. As Buzz Lightyear never said, "To productivity - and beyond!". And as Martin Luther could have said, but didn't, "Here I sit: I can do no other."