(Per Ardua ad Astra)? Does the moto of the Royal Air Force have advocates in today’s world, or has it become lost to modern society
Are there lessons from the past to help us meet the challenges of todays lifestyle ?
The Great Depression of the 1920’s produced a generation which believed that survival was dependent on education and hard work. In pursuing this goal other aspects of life were to an extent put on hold, but it did revitalise the country in the wake of the Great War and the Great Depression. It changed the culture of the United Kingdom ahead of the Second World War which broke out in 1939 and in the post war years.
The present coronavirus epidemic has opened up for all to see how society has responded to the government’s attempt at creating social distancing at home, in the workplace and meeting in large numbers in public. After seven months of living with Covid-19 it seems that the older generations have followed the Governments’ advice, whilst the younger generation have tried to ignore it and have continued to socialise in an exuberant manner, challenging the present need for disciplined living in pursuit of their obsession with living the good life. The idea of working hard to secure a good life that worked well in meeting the economic problems of the 1930’s seems foreign to them when confronted with today’s need to change our way, yet again, in dealing with the constraints arising from the coronavirus epidemic.
In terms of working hard, the Government have created a changed situation based not on working harder but avoiding work in the interest of overcoming COVID-19. This has led to businesses furloughing staff at considerable cost and supportive government lending and grants to keep companies’ solvent. The end result of which has led to reduced productivity whilst staff have enjoyed, in many instances, a protracted holiday. What conclusions can be drawn from the publics’ response to the government’s initiative, and can we live in the long run with such a significant change in working conditions?
Furloughing has created an extended holiday period for those laid off. As the weeks have gone bye there has been an apparent reluctance on the part of those affected to go back to work. Does this suggest a workshy populace? If this is so what does this change of attitude mean for the Country,.If it leads to a national reduction in productivity will it, in the longer term bring about a realisation on the part of all that success only comes about through hard work? Talking Change is interested to see where the balance will lie eventually between working from home and returning to the office, shop or manufacturing, whichever is the case.
Looking to the future, what lessons can we learn?
It would appear that many businesses have used the pandemic to shrink their workforce, not least since they have enjoyed the financial benefit derived from rate relief, short-term loans and furloughing their staff. Such short-term benefit, much as it has been enjoyed cannot last, as it seems in the longer term that businesses foresee the need to make significant numbers of their staff redundant. If this is the outcome two groups will be affected. First, those laid off will have to survive on redundancy pay and unemployment benefit. What impact will a restructured work/life balance have on those involved? Secondly, those who retain their posts may well be forced to agree reduced pay rate and almost certainly be expected to work harder. There are many issues that may arise in the meantime, all with daily living and economic outcomes.Talking Change believes that to successfully come out from under the coronavirus pandemic the country needs to look carefully at the changes society has had to make over the last three years to create a fulfilling and productive work life balance for all.
Sam Taylor
February 2024