I heard two stories yesterday which disturbed me:
A group of civil servants (mainly junior and middle grade) recently attended a Christmas Party Night at a city centre hotel. As always, the night out was funded totally by themselves, no taxpayers money was involved. During the meal, the compere announced and greeted all of the companies attending by name. When he announed the name of the Government Department, all of the other tables (private companies) booed them loudly, completely ruining their night and causing terrible upset. A lot of these civil servants were clerical workers and this was the only night out they were having over the Christmas period.
A friend's sister works for one of the banks. A gang of her colleagues (junior and middle grade) were going for a few Christmas drinks after work one evening (at their own expense.) They were warned by their managers not to say they worked in the bank, because of the reaction from the media if they saw a gang of bank workers enjoying a few drinks together at Christmas. Apparently other bank staff have also received this message and some have been told not to drink in local pubs where they might be recognised by customers.
Is there not something vindictive about this kind of behaviour, and are the wrong people not getting blamed?
A group of civil servants (mainly junior and middle grade) recently attended a Christmas Party Night at a city centre hotel. As always, the night out was funded totally by themselves, no taxpayers money was involved. During the meal, the compere announced and greeted all of the companies attending by name. When he announed the name of the Government Department, all of the other tables (private companies) booed them loudly, completely ruining their night and causing terrible upset. A lot of these civil servants were clerical workers and this was the only night out they were having over the Christmas period.
A friend's sister works for one of the banks. A gang of her colleagues (junior and middle grade) were going for a few Christmas drinks after work one evening (at their own expense.) They were warned by their managers not to say they worked in the bank, because of the reaction from the media if they saw a gang of bank workers enjoying a few drinks together at Christmas. Apparently other bank staff have also received this message and some have been told not to drink in local pubs where they might be recognised by customers.
Is there not something vindictive about this kind of behaviour, and are the wrong people not getting blamed?