Member-only story
The Office Worker is Dead
And why skilled labor matters more than ever
“Oh, Bert. He only writes things.”
This was the response I got to my question regarding the positioning of the new gate and fencing I’m having fitted. There was some confusion about where it should be, and I was discussing it with the construction crew — the guys that do the work.
So, I tried again.
“I discussed this with Bert yesterday, and he assured me he understood everything.”
“We understand that, but Bert … well, Bert doesn’t always grasp the practical aspects of construction. He’s just … he’s just an office worker. Therefore, whenever we arrive, we usually need to make some adjustments to whatever he agreed.”
“Just an office worker.”
Ouch.
I got the impression this had happened before — many times before. Bert agrees to a plan with the customer — in this case, me — but the plan isn’t the best or most efficient way of doing things and requires adjustment.
I quite enjoyed the conversation — the renegotiations — and it was evident that I was dealing with skilled professionals who could build and create things. The kind of people you don’t interact with frequently in an office environment.
And it made me think about the future of the traditional office worker and their place in our world.
Because what use is a person who “only writes things.”
An Office Career, Anytime!
My grandfather began working at a lightbulb factory in the 1930s, where he demonstrated his expertise in glassblowing. I remember being amazed by how he could puff up his cheeks as I attempted to mimic him in front of the mirror but never came close.
He was like a human blowfish.
He was a true craftsman, and the many exquisitely decorated glass pieces in our home stood as a testament to his carefully honed talent.
He retired at the right time when manual labor started disappearing from industrialized factories due to increased competition from low-labor-cost countries and automation.
