DVLA Adding To HGV Shortages

[JamesWales]

Part of the trade off for the Patent Office allowing me to become a working from home “Guinea Pig” back in 2000 was that my annual target of cases was increased by, I seem to remember, fifteen per cent - there were better, more efficient, Trade Mark Examiners working there than me, but I was able to achieve that target for nine years before I took up an offer of early retirement.

In those pre Covid days, I’d say home working was not for everyone, but it was fine for me because I went into work for one and a half days a week and would not have liked the idea of permanent home working, so I can understand the desire to cut back on it somewhat to a small degree.

However, as so often these days with the what’s in it for me party in power, money seems to be behind efforts to reduce home working - it certainly was this time last year when pressure from places like sandwich bars and other food outlets prompted a short lived change of policy where civil servants especially were told they had to reduce home working and this, along with Sunak’s barmy “eat out to help out” scheme played a part in creating the autumn second wave which eventually led to another lockdown.

The OP’s motives for starting this thread became clear from the first sentence of his first message , while James Wales, who tries to come over as all reasonable and even handed and yet, without fail in my experience, comes down on the what’s in it for me party side of the argument. Frankly, the arguments against home working in this thread would have been more convincing if they had come from people with less of an agenda than the OP and James Wales.

That's an extremely unfair thing to say, and you saying the "what's in it for me party" does somewhat undermine your position to be even handed on it. I've not mentioned party politics whatsoever other than to say that I don't see other parties as being any better and perhaps worse on WFH issues from my perspective. (And I only mentioned that cos TLG decided the conversation couldn't continue without some sectarian element coming in..."I hear what your saying but are you saying it with the right colour rosette on!?"

WFH disproportionately impacts upon those with difficult home lives. There has been some very dark moments in the last 18 months and I can think of at least a dozen people who have felt really very low as a result. If it suits you, fine, but you're lucky. Howerver, when you isolate people you can isolate their problems too.

It's a serious topic. We spend 40 hours a week surrounded by other humans and then suddenly sat on your own for the rest of your career? The changes are stark and I don't think you help by politicising it tbh

[the other bob wilson]

That's an extremely unfair thing to say, and you saying the "what's in it for me party" does somewhat undermine your position to be even handed on it. I've not mentioned party politics whatsoever other than to say that I don't see other parties as being any better and perhaps worse on WFH issues from my perspective. (And I only mentioned that cos TLG decided the conversation couldn't continue without some sectarian element coming in..."I hear what your saying but are you saying it with the right colour rosette on!?"

WFH disproportionately impacts upon those with difficult home lives. There has been some very dark moments in the last 18 months and I can think of at least a dozen people who have felt really very low as a result. If it suits you, fine, but you're lucky. Howerver, when you isolate people you can isolate their problems too.

It's a serious topic. We spend 40 hours a week surrounded by other humans and then suddenly sat on your own for the rest of your career? The changes are stark and I don't think you help by politicising it tbh

No, although I haven’t been entirely critical of this Government, I freely admit I’m not even handed in my judgement of them. You’re not even handed though either because, despite attempting to make out that you are, you always end up arriving at the same conclusion and come down on the side of the UK Government.

When I read the OP, I thought of two or three posters who could well reply broadly agreeing with it, you were one of them and here you are. Why did I do that I wonder?

[JamesWales]

No, although I haven’t been entirely critical of this Government, I freely admit I’m not even handed in my judgement of them. You’re not even handed though either because, despite attempting to make out that you are, you always end up coming to t(e same conclusion and come down on the side of the UK Government.

When I read the OP, I thought of two or three posters who could well reply broadly agreeing with it and you were one of them. Why did I do that I wonder?

This thread is almost nothing to do with the government. I certainly didn't bring it up, and I certainly am critical of them when needs be. It only got brought up when the debate takes it's usual downward trajectory when the political insults start flowing.

I've voted for Labour far more times than I have Tory. I've voted to the left of Labour too. On this, my interest was initially a personal experience from the DVLA (and I hope the dispute is sorted soon) and my personal experience on WFH, which when called 'ignorant' I managed to back up with some data.

I'm more than happy to criticise the UK government or the Welsh government and orthodox left or right wing positions - in fact, it's critical we all do, but I'm not interest in partisan political battles, personal insults or mistruths.

And if you want a grown up message board you should be able to accept different opinions without resorting to insults IMO.

[the other bob wilson]

This thread is almost nothing to do with the government. I certainly didn't bring it up, and I certainly am critical of them when needs be. It only got brought up when the debate takes it's usual downward trajectory when the political insults start flowing.

I've voted for Labour far more times than I have Tory. I've voted to the left of Labour too. On this, my interest was initially a personal experience from the DVLA (and I hope the dispute is sorted soon) and my personal experience on WFH, which when called 'ignorant' I managed to back up with some data.

I'm more than happy to criticise the UK government or the Welsh government and orthodox left or right wing positions - in fact, it's critical we all do, but I'm not interest in partisan political battles, personal insults or mistruths.

And if you want a grown up message board you should be able to accept different opinions without resorting to insults IMO.

I’ve not insulted you.

[JamesWales]

I’ve not insulted you.

I was less referring to you. Should have said 'one' instead of 'you' there. Although you did claim I have an agenda, which I don't.

[Henry Hill]

On this, my interest was initially a personal experience from the DVLA (and I hope the dispute is sorted soon)

I hope its a blue badge youve applied for as youre going to need a wheelchair after they way youve been taken apart by TLG on this thread.