Speed Up
I often find myself writing that I often find myself writing something that I’ve already written.
Well, here’s something I’ve written about a few times, but this time it’s backed up by some proper analysis by some actual clever people (who don’t just pretend their stuff is all true just because they’ve written it on a blog, like what I do).
Anyway, here’s an article about Speed Up.
It’s the concept of companies making huge amounts of money by laying off lots of employees then making the people who are left work much harder to cover the shortfall. So they take loads of cash off the wage bill but still get the same output.
Ever worked very long hours?
Ever worked weekends?
Ever wondered if you could stop doing that if only your boss employed some more staff?
That is Speed Up, my friends, and it’s killing people.
And now I wonder if that’s another reason for the ‘ageism’ of advertising (and other jobs): perhaps it’s just the industry compressing a 40-year career into 30 years. Perhaps people end up so burnt out by what they’re asked to do that they’re too shite/disillusioned/resentful to carry on.
Or perhaps we’re all big jessies and if we had to go down t’pit for 18 hours a day for 2 and 6 we’d know what real work was.
One of the two.
Sounds familiar…
Very true Ben it happens in all work situations but even more so since the digital revolution. Got an iPad, laptop smart phone, digital camera? Then you can work all the time.
I have find that what is forgotten in my career is that the time consumming part is the lighting and the creating of the set. The actual digital part only takes 1/60th of a second, but because I am a digital photographer I ‘can’ take more pictures in a day.
People forget that we may all have the technology but it is only as fast as the person operating it. If you are meticulous and have high standards, what ever you are doing still takes time. If you are prepared to let these go then of course you can speed up but for all the time saved the pay off is less creativity and less quality.
perhaps we need to start adopting “soft sleep”
it’s what japanese businessmen do – apparently in the company of colleagues. and it is very respected, as it shows dedication to your work.
how’s that for a brilliant piece of post rationalised thinking.
anyway, there’s photos of it here
http://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/daniel-gebhart-de-koekkoek-inemuri
Too busy working out how to pay t’pit ownder for privilege of working in t’pit to care…
I work weekends and late nights.
But I like it.
As my old boss used to say, it’s not about them, it’s about you.
I do it for me. It’s not just about the money. It’s about the game.
Living it at the mo.
The bosses expect quantity and quality.
I expect to be paid better and to see my family.
Neither of us are winners
great post! good article! i totally agree with it.
someone who is very dear to me (not in adland) is working 70 hour weeks, plus the odd extra on weekends. which ends up as 75 to 80 hours a week. on a regular basis. thats without any extra projects and meeting crap. did i mention how they expect you to move places within the blink of an eye? preferably without causing any costs.
the bosses have the nerve to send out info shit about breathing techniques for stress reduction. but dont think they paid for that themselves. no no. its promo crap they got somewhere for free. is this ridiculous or what. well, it would be if it wouldnt be real.
I remember the days when I used to make things (ads and that). Now I just churn out “routes.” Nothing ever gets made but the more “routes” the merrier. I am quite well paid to do this though I actually produce, nothing.
anonymouse, good that you like it and dont feel exploited and fucked over. but there are people who feel like this and rightly so.
in all seriousness, i hope you wont feel like being fucked over one day, realising that you wasted your time for someone or something that wasnt worth it.
Feaces.
lol @ hat.
i was thinking that the other day. i work fucking hard and with real integrity. but i make fuck all.
Ah yes ‘routes’.
We need more routes.
Have we got enough routes?
Do we need a route that is exactly the fucking same as this route but with a different font? Yes? Oh ok then.
Cunts.