Why aren't we all working 3-4 hour days?

[Bella Fortuna]

Gott in Himmel, is there anything more soul-destroying than working for a corporation? Annual performance appraisals, mandatory sensitivity seminars, the dreaded office Holiday Party. Jesus Christ, I'd rather nail my scrotum to a pine board. Work sucks donkey balls, and that's the truth. But don't fret, eventually you get to retire and eat Kitty Kibbles 6 nights a week. Then you die. It's all good, eh?

Try working for a state*-funded University, or something similar.

*Works for both a country, or a US state ...

Tell it, brother!

[klr]

Amen sister.

Talking to my new line manager today, I described our university as a dysfunctional organisation. He's a straight-talking type who came from industry, and is aghast at the politics and general craziness that permeate every aspect of the work environment here.

[JimC]

All I do is encourage dynamic and enquiring young minds to explore the wonders of science and mathematics...

Simples!

[Bella Fortuna]

Amen sister.

Talking to my new line manager today, I described our university as a dysfunctional organisation. He's a straight-talking type who came from industry, and is aghast at the politics and general craziness that permeate every aspect of the work environment here.

I've experienced the same with folks who have come from private industry and never worked in public employment, let alone the quirky beast that is higher ed. They're usually horrified and shocked as hell at the sense of entitlement in a good section of employees, and at how hard and lengthy it is to do anything about poor performers.

[Coito ergo sum]

Gott in Himmel, is there anything more soul-destroying than working for a corporation? Annual performance appraisals, mandatory sensitivity seminars, the dreaded office Holiday Party. Jesus Christ, I'd rather nail my scrotum to a pine board. Work sucks donkey balls, and that's the truth. But don't fret, eventually you get to retire and eat Kitty Kibbles 6 nights a week. Then you die. It's all good, eh?

Yes, being in a union, or working in a state government department, like the Division of Motor Vehicles. I'm not sure which level of Hell they would be, but I'm betting on the Ninth.

[MrJonno]

Worked in the public and private sector and yes the sense of entitlement does exist in the public sector however at least in the public sector you do get the impression that everyone is on the same side (even if occasionally its not the public's)

In the private most employees don't actually care how well the company does, they care how their bit of it does and for this to do well means screwing the rest of the company they will do so. The classic example is technology sales where I've seen many example of sales people selling stuff that doesn't do what the customer wants (often they know this) but they realise the customer won't realise that for a couple of years by which time the salesmen has moved onto another area and the techies are trying to deal with the fake promises.

To be honest most the inefficiencies I've seen in the work place are due to the size of the organisation not whether its public or private through public ones on the whole tend to be bigger

[Coito ergo sum]

All organizations are imperfect, and individuals will act in their own interest sometimes, which may mean a short term gain for them at others' expense. Sure. However, the private sector in a free, competitive market is the best way that I've seen to align the self-interest of the employee with the organization. And, it's the best way I've seen to align the service or product provider with the customer's interest. The competition is the best way to keep the corporations in line, because the consumers respond to bad service or bad products and they move to another competitor who provides better products or better service or a better price. Where things go wrong is when we have too few market competitors. If we only have a few large, immovable entities, then it starts to approach the character of a monopoly (whether private or state imposed).

I have said before that I would much rather deal with a private company than a government entity when I have a complaint about something. I have manipulated private companies to give me refunds and to provide other concessions to make me a happy customer. The Division of Motor Vehicles would never do that. They don't give a fuck. If they make a mistake, they make a mistake. You won't get your registration or license fee waived due to their mistakes. You'll get fucked and you'll be the one to have to wait in lines and go through hell to correct any issues.

I agree that inefficiencies get bigger given the size of an organization. That's because they get more bureaucratic. Again, the best way for things to work is a vibrant, effective, open market with low barriers to entry so that competition is fierce. Fierce competition makes entities hungry for every customer. If companies are hungry for customers, they will kiss your ass to get your business. The government never kisses your ass.