Back to Work

  Politicians in the UK have been groin g on asb out 'growth' for some time now.  All major political parties  have 'growth on their agenda and claim that they are the pretty that can deliver this growth.

Now you and I know that growth - in this context - is really a shorthand for productivity' since any growth must be via productivity gains if it is to be sustainable - especially if, as in the UK the population (and especially the working age population) is declining. Worse still, an increasing portion of the working age population is on benefits wityha rapid growth in those claiming benefit - and not working - due to mental health problems

I believe that this is due to societal change which increasingly medicalises natural parts of the human condition such and anxiety and  worry, People who are worrying about just about anything now 'cannot cope' and must be taken out of to work situations.  

The blame is often laid at the door of the COVID pandemic as if this changed the mental condition off millions of people.  

My own theory ids that we should 'blame' the practice of 'working from home' (WFH).  Many people got used to WFH during the pandemic,.  This. changed working routines completely and gave people lots of little chances for mini-breaks and  distractions  - meaning that those people got used to diverting their attention sway from the actual work often and occasionally for long periods while they did some other non-work related task.  When they returned to work - or sometimes only thought about returning to work - they realised they were returning to a disciplined, supervised situation where they would not have the ability for these distractions and diversions.

The UK government has announced a plan to get young people back to work by creating training opportunities and apprenticeships.  I approve.  This means that those young people that DO want to work may get an opportunity to do so,  Any action that provides opportunities for otherwise excluded individuals is a positive move. However the government has to address the growing welfare bill alongside this.  The productivity problem is a large one and needs tacking from all angles.