The Work Thread 2 - Get back to work!

[That's not a growth]

On a call taking about having too many 'in-between' people in a conversation, and wanting to keep things direct so things don't get lost in transit the people we were talking to described that situation as the 'telephone game' as they're from Canada, and I think it's common to do that over there - but this prompted my manager to pipe up and just go "yeah, like Chinese whispers, yeah"

[poshrule_uk]

I did the second most offers last month in my department and I only started in January

[Jenuall]

I don't think I've ever needed to use the term "Chinese wall" in any conversation at all, didn't think it was a particularly common phrase to throw in?

[Memento Mori]

I don't think I've ever needed to use the term "Chinese wall" in any conversation at all, didn't think it was a particularly common phrase to throw in?

It's used a lot in the financial sector.

[Jenuall]

I don't think I've ever needed to use the term "Chinese wall" in any conversation at all, didn't think it was a particularly common phrase to throw in?

It's used a lot in business.

Is it? What business?

Like I say I've never heard it in that kind of context

EDIT: just seen the financial sector edit. Fair enough I guess!

[Memento Mori]

I don't think I've ever needed to use the term "Chinese wall" in any conversation at all, didn't think it was a particularly common phrase to throw in?

It's used a lot in business.

Is it? What business?

Like I say I've never heard it in that kind of context

Financial sector mostly. It's to help prevent insider trading by restricting what information people know.

[Tomous]

I don't think I've ever needed to use the term "Chinese wall" in any conversation at all, didn't think it was a particularly common phrase to throw in?

It's used a lot in business.

Is it? What business?

Like I say I've never heard it in that kind of context

Businesses where you need information barriers within to protect from conflict of interests occurring. Very common in finance.

[Jenuall]

Interesting, but then you'd think if it was common parlance in the sector then they wouldn't have a problem with it?

[Memento Mori]

Interesting, but then you'd think if it was common parlance in the sector then they wouldn't have a problem with it?

A lot of things happen regularly in the financial sector which shouldn't. I looked on Wikipedia after the meeting and some people have indeed argued it's offensive and should be dropped.

[Jenuall]

Interesting, but then you'd think if it was common parlance in the sector then they wouldn't have a problem with it?

A lot of things happen regularly in the financial sector which shouldn't. I looked on Wikipedia after the meeting and some people have indeed argued it's offensive and should be dropped.

I mean I would probably agree with that view - I can think of plenty of analogous scenarios in my own field where you need to restrict or limit information between groups or individuals and I don't think anyone has ever felt the need to brand it as a Chinese wall.

Terminology is always evolving to try and phase out more archaic and potentially offensive/harmful words used in professional circles to be fair. In IT we're currently seeing lots of push to drop stuff like "master and slave" to describe situations where one process controls another, or "blacklists" used to describe things which are not allowed etc.

[<]:^D]

my colleague was mentioning their Huawei phone today and i said it in an enthusiastic way - "huawei!" - as id never heard it said out loud before which came across as a comedy Chinese accdent and he said "bit racist"
im getting sacked arent i?

[Green Gecko]

Fortunately I work for myself, and I can't say it, so I say "hooahwaywaywaywaywayway" until I get bored.

And yes I own one of their phones. It's actually a really good device.

[Rocsteady]

Just got stood up for a job interview, nailing it

[Green Gecko]

How do people in sales feel about free samples/gifts to well vetted clients?

Does it devalue your service offering or is it simply a cost effective way to increase the likelihood of securing medium to large orders further down the line, by eliminating the "what am I going to get" pain?

Got a CEO on the line who wrote 30 September when they wanted it by 30 August in a pinch, but might send them something anyway just to apologise for... reading their email correctly and not being able to help them this time. Between us I have literally nothing else on the books at present, so not so much a waste of time.

Direct costs are about £15 inc. labour, average order value £150-250. Putting the risk at a 10% loss if the result is No Deal.

My sample fee is normally £7 + VAT and shipping, so a loss somewhere around half that if I managed to justify bothering with a sale barely worth the time documenting it.

It's obviously not an account I'd want to spend hundreds on, but having moved to a new city I'm trying to think of ways to acquire clients from a couple of competitors and generally re-establish myself. There's literally hundreds of businesses here, shops and SMEs and corporates etc.

Of course, the same time could be spent finding new leads but I find sales incredibly dull and would literally rather make stuff and let the product do the work. But I have to start from somewhere, which means following up on a few requests I couldn't do while I was relocating thanks to strawberry floating landlords (anywhere between £500-1000 loss in income). They've all come back no (and quickly, which was a nice change), which is no surprise.

[Rocsteady]

Had a rescheduled interview and nailed it. Although they seem to keep firing people before the probation period is up which isn't a great sign. Otherwise it seems good..

[Zilnad]

One of the national managers at my place was singing my praises today. Feels good to get unprompted, good recognition.

[Lagamorph]

Work seem to be pushing to go all in on "Hybrid Working", which basically means "Minimum of 2 days per week in the office"

They keep talking about how it's "the best of both worlds" when it absolutely isn't, and keep mentioning the benefits of being in the office, without any indication of what those benefits actually are.
Also, apparently being in the office is "better for your personal and professional development" (Spoiler, it isn't and forcing people unwillingly back to the office will achieve the opposite effect)

I'm still trying to argue for one day per month in the office, which is all that's really necessary. The rest of my team also feel one day per month for a team meeting and team lunch is all that's needed.

[poshrule_uk]

My work are saying it's personal choice and once we have an office it's literally do what you want.

I'm also aware if we get new management, owner etc that this can all change pretty quickly.

[Errkal]

My work are saying it's personal choice and once we have an office it's literally do what you want.

I'm also aware if we get new management, owner etc that this can all change pretty quickly.

We are the same. They want people to want to come back as it helps with the culture of the company and would make days a little less "just work stuff". But it is up to directorates to find what works for them and their teams.

Personally I totally get the culture thing, we are a pretty social company so all being at home does massively hurt that, and it sucks having all day being just meetings about work with no social natter in there. I'm planning on 1 day a week maybe 2 I think, but yeah so far work seems to be very good about it.

Hell they are replacing all PCs with laptops so people don't need to share devices any more and we are moving offices to a bigger place to allow people to be more spaced out which is cool too.

[Clarkman]

I currently work in a three person team, and my boss has sadly had her mother die out in Spain last night. She's taken at least the rest of the week off to fly out and make arrangements.

My colleague and I agreed we'd reach out to her husband and get details so we could send some flowers for the funeral. But without consulting me, he's gone ahead and spent £75 on flowers from a UK business that offers international shipping.

Am I right to feel a little annoyed by being lumped with a £37.50 hit on flowers? Buying a wreath was my idea and I know they're pricey, but I'd have tried to find somewhere more local in Spain. Maybe a max £40 total spend?