|
Post by pete on Jan 7, 2024 11:13:39 GMT
I think you miss the point that pretty much the only permitted reason for school absence is illness. Otherwise you get fined for your kids absence. No one is going to check if you say your kid is ill for a day. So do you think parents are going to voulnteer for a fine or say their kids are ill? Danny - I've wondered that before about the school absence figures, it feels like there must be *some* structural increase in the sickness rates since declaring fake sickness suddenly became the only free option for parents taking kids out a few days early to get half-price holiday flights. At the same time, if the increase in school sickness were largely down to tactical decisions by parents then there'd be no corresponding impact on employee sick leave rates. Whereas this chart is pretty striking! www.statista.com/statistics/290196/uk-sickness-absence-rate/It's actually worse than it looks, because given the rapid increase in flexibility, WFH options etc post-pandemic you'd expect the sickness rate to be lower than before, because more people with short-term illnesses have the option of logging on, dealing with a few crucial things, communicating that other things will be delayed a day or two and then going back to bed with their boss's blessing for what will then count as a day worked, rather than having to make a binary decision of going to the office or calling in sick. And likewise more parents of school-age children now have the ability to juggle caring for a sick child at home with doing a minimal or even sufficient amount of work, when previously they'd have to had take the day off to do this, and many would have called in sick themselves rather than risk a demeaning argument about their priorities and their commitment (especially as the parent who can't work due to a sick child will usually be a woman). So this should be pushing the employee sickness rate down too. And yet, it seems to have soared. Hard to escape the conclusion that this is because there's suddenly rather more sickness than there was before? I think there's a lot of naivete in your post tbh. You'd be mad telling your boss you're ill but could manage a few hours. They'd have you on a zero hour contract within the day...there will be no sickness allowed in the UK.
|
|
|
Post by crossbat11 on Jan 7, 2024 11:15:34 GMT
Behind the Curve - As Usual! 1. So funny to see our regulars suddenly so exercised about the Horizon scandal -- & of course equally suddenly becoming profound "experts" on the subject -- now that it's all over the press & on't telly. The story, one of the most distressing in recent years, has been running for ever: see, for example, the excellent article by Martina Hyde in the Guardian 8 months ago. www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/may/02/post-office-horizon-scandal-inquiry. She followed this up with a more individual-focused piece some months later: www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jul/18/post-office-scandal-cover-up-justice Most regrettable is that some posters are using it for political advantage. 2. Everyone is now following the right-wing press in blaming Vennells or Davey, etc. Who cares about a petition to strip the former of her CBE, as if this got the victims immediate relief. Like More-Money-Mone these people focus public anger rather than the system itself. As Hyde wrote in her first piece: "I appreciate it is far, far more difficult to “cancel” the iniquitous systems that led to the Post Office horror than it is to “cancel” someone in public life who you think has said something unacceptable – but it does very much need doing. The fault of systems is far, far more important than the fault of individuals, however much easier to yank down a single person it might be."
3. In the politically motivated blame-game the victims get lost. The focus should be on getting the victims compensated as quickly as possible. The trials of the guilty can wait. Hyde cited the case of one victim which can stand for them all. www.positive.news/society/life-after-wrongful-conviction-seema-misra/ Read that, wipe yr eyes, & stop worrying for a moment about Vennells's bloody MBE (CBE). I saw Jimmy Dimly Cleverly being interviewed on the subject the other day. With regard to compensation he showed no more sense of urgency than a well-fed sloth. I often like your posts, and I do this one particularly. That said, they often leave me with a slightly uncomfortable feeling. "I wonder if the old curmudgeon has got me in his sights with this one too?", I often ask myself. By the way, you may be fully justified in doing so too!!
|
|
Danny
Member
Posts: 9,812
|
Post by Danny on Jan 7, 2024 11:24:26 GMT
At the same time, if the increase in school sickness were largely down to tactical decisions by parents then there'd be no corresponding impact on employee sick leave rates. Whereas this chart is pretty striking! www.statista.com/statistics/290196/uk-sickness-absence-rate/It's actually worse than it looks, because given the rapid increase in flexibility, WFH options etc post-pandemic you'd expect the sickness rate to be lower than before, because more people with short-term illnesses have the option of logging on, dealing with a few crucial things, communicating that other things will be delayed a day or two and then going back to bed with their boss's blessing for what will then count as a day worked, rather than having to make a binary decision of going to the office or calling in sick. I would indeed expect more fake sicknss once people got into the haboit of being at home and liked it. Its not obvious to me that would all be done by workign twice as hard one day to have the next off. if you declare a sick day then no work is expected from you. And if you arent going to to work anyway, no one is going to be able to check you seem absolutely healthy the day after. of course it could all be down to covid, but its equally credible its down to people just getting used to more days at home, or out somewhere with their kids.
|
|
|
Post by graham on Jan 7, 2024 11:30:02 GMT
I'm not a great fan of bringing chunks of journalism to this forum, and much prefer to produce my own ill informed drivel, but I think this from Rawnsley in today's Observer is well worth a read because it's an important contribution to a debate that so many of us have had, and continue to have, on UKPR. About Starmer, Labour electoral tactics, past Labour victories and defeats, personalities etc etc. For those who take the trouble to read my ramblings, you won't be surprised to hear that I very much agree with what is being said here:- www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/jan/07/keir-starmer-not-just-battling-tories-this-year-but-the-absence-of-hopeIt is a good article despite Rawnsley repeating the false statement that 2019 was labour's 'most catastrophic result since 1935.' That remains untrue in terms of vote share across GB - and Labour's performance across England & Wales compared with earlier elections. He also made no mention of Attlee's landslide win in 1945 and the hope generated at the time despite the circumstances inherited.
|
|
steve
Member
Posts: 12,262
Member is Online
|
Post by steve on Jan 7, 2024 11:30:42 GMT
I suppose it makes a change to blame a junior minister in the coalition government in post for 20 months for the two and a half decade long scandal of fraud and deception instigated by the post office against its employees.
A change from blaming the liberal democrats from the disaster of Brexit which you of course voted for and of which you are still a member of a rapidly shrinking group of the self delusional who think it was a good idea.
Maybe find something else to talk about? This must be immensely tedious for anyone who just happens on the site.
|
|
Danny
Member
Posts: 9,812
|
Post by Danny on Jan 7, 2024 11:33:43 GMT
eor - "Hard to escape the conclusion that this is because there's suddenly rather more sickness than there was before?" That makes me feel strangely relieved, as it sometimes feels like the world has gone completely mad when I discuss such obvious data. Yes, it's abundantly clear that actual sickness is causing people to take more time off work and school While there isnt really any data analysing what is really happening whne people claim to be sick, it is certainly true we have an aging population, and while most of that is expressed as people over retirement age needing more medical and social care, its also true the working population is also aging and therefore likely to be more sick from all sorts of diseases. The benefits of safer working conditions and most people stopping smoking smoking have long since worked through the system, now its likely the biggest impact is the obesity crisis, probably caused beacause we are no longer doing many manual jobs..which cut down on industrial accidents but is long term making us fatter. Not sure about that, certainly european nations have very similar problems to us including failing schools, budget deficits, inflation, low growth, worker shortages (or at least, cheap labour shortages), housing shortages, disaffected voters looking for change, people living longer, on average being older, and therefore needing more care. Yep, very prevalent fridays and mondays.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2024 11:40:18 GMT
I voted for Layla so I would naturally tend to agree. Gray posts lots of these who would be best leader , what's the most important issue posts. As he actually lived in northern Ireland and won't have any liberal democrats standing locally it wouldn't seem to be a matter of personal concern. Of course the results of his polls rather relate to who sees them there's nothing objective. For example he's just posted one asking who you would support at the next general election 45% of respondents said the Green party! Whatever you thought about Mr Wells moderation of the old site, and some of us weren't fully paid up members of his fan club, he did at least draw the line on the use of voodoo polls, links to disreputable and fake news sites and, most importantly in my view, the personal and relentless abuse of other posters. Senile, geriatric etc etc It would appear that we have the Wild West on here now where all three of these once expulsion meriting offences just sail on by and have now become, sadly, normalised. But the “poll” that jibby quoted had received FOURTY TWO votes Batty. How many more do you need for authenticity?
|
|
Danny
Member
Posts: 9,812
|
Post by Danny on Jan 7, 2024 11:40:20 GMT
Davey replied that December, confirming that officials were following up Bates’s concerns with the Post Office, in the case of Misra and the other two sub-postmasters, Davey said “as I made clear at the meeting” neither he nor the department could intervene in cases currently before the courts or where a legal judgment had been reached. This lie is used so often by just about everyone in any issue which is controversial. Of course ministers can intervene. Of course management can intervene. What it always means is they dont want to. People need to call out these lies every time this excuse is used.
Its almost a red flag that injustice is happening whenever anyone hides behind this excuse.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2024 11:40:27 GMT
He certainly does. But he is not the only one. Sunday Times today has details of all Alan Bates' correspondence with ministers. Remember that it was a Blair administration which finally approved Fujitsu's Horizon software in 1999. Extracts from the ST reporting :- Private Eye has been covering this story for literally years.
One can't help but wonder why the Sunday Times all of a sudden now thinks it's a story worthy of extensive coverage, having ignored it for the past 14 years.
Forgive my cynicism at the crocodile tears of the Tory Press ! The ITV play has I suppose brought it graphically to light. I agree with you. The injustice has been longstanding. But better late than never.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2024 11:44:29 GMT
Colin The Sunday Times article you quote from at length, and thanks by the way for helping us avoid the paywall subscription by doing so, no doubt catalogues some failure in government oversight of the Post Office over many years, particularly when concerns about the Horizon IT accounting system were becoming widely known. I'm a little surprised however that the Sunday Times absolves the Tory led government (2010-15) and the Cameron and May governments from any blame. Wrongful prosecutions of subpostmasters continued until 2014, remember. Cable would no doubt have raised the issue with his Tory Cabinet colleagues and Cameron at the time that Bates contacted him and Davey and Swinson, surely? My other bafflement derives from why you aren't beating up on civil servants here either. Aren't they who you usually blame when "state corruption "happens under the watch of a Tory government. You seem mightily keen to single out politicians when they might be Labour or Lib Dem ones involved. I agree that the culpability for political failure to recognise this injustice runs across all parties. And ultimately every PM. from and including g Blair is responsible.
|
|
Danny
Member
Posts: 9,812
|
Post by Danny on Jan 7, 2024 11:48:05 GMT
Just to address some of the total bollocks spouted recently where Tory enablers seek to blame Ed Davey for not meeting Alan Bates the post masters campaigner in 2010 this has appeared in several right wing news papers and Twitter links together with a letter " refusing the meeting. Surprise surprise Ed Davey just five months after become postal minister held a meeting with Alan Bates , becoming the first postal minister ever to do so since the first requests to meet were received in 2003. The four Conservative Postal Affairs Ministers from 2015-2019 recorded no meetings with Mr Bates or the Justice For Subpostmasters Alliance I had a look at wikipedia, which says at around this time there was ongoing antagonism with post office workers over privatisation of the post office. So bascially it would have been very very embarassing for government to admit the essential software used by this company it was trying to privatise was faulty and people were falsely being convicted of fraud because of it. Who would buy a company like that? This conflict of interest didnt end when he was transferred to a different job. The reason for the move was another lib getting into embaassing situation over speeding fines, but it could of course be Davey was too friendly to the convicted postmasters and so Cameron needed someone tougher in post. Which would explain why no future ministers had meetings.
|
|
|
Post by jib on Jan 7, 2024 11:53:41 GMT
The Sunday Times article you quote from at length, and thanks by the way for helping us avoid the paywall subscription by doing so, no doubt catalogues some failure in government oversight of the Post Office over many years, particularly when concerns about the Horizon IT accounting system were becoming widely known. I agree that the culpability for political failure to recognise this injustice runs across all parties. And ultimately every PM. from and including g Blair is responsible. Sort of agree - but I think the accusation was that that the cover up was linked to maintaining the reputation of the Royal Mail, of which the Post Office was the "shop window", so that another bastardised policy of the coalition - Royal Mail privatisation - wasn't upset. I don't ever recall RM privatisation being a Labour policy.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2024 11:58:10 GMT
I agree that the culpability for political failure to recognise this injustice runs across all parties. And ultimately every PM. from and including g Blair is responsible. Sort of agree - but I think the accusation was that that the cover up was linked to maintaining the reputation of the Royal Mail, of which the Post Office was the "shop window", so that another bastardised policy of the coalition - Royal Mail privatisation - wasn't upset. I don't ever recall RM privatisation being a Labour policy. Yes I agree. The Coalition was the main user of the Nelsonian Eye. I think ITV deserve plaudits for bringing it all into clearer view. Let's hope MPs get moving now.
|
|
|
Post by Rafwan on Jan 7, 2024 11:58:42 GMT
I'm not a great fan of bringing chunks of journalism to this forum, and much prefer to produce my own ill informed drivel, but I think this from Rawnsley in today's Observer is well worth a read because it's an important contribution to a debate that so many of us have had, and continue to have, on UKPR. About Starmer, Labour electoral tactics, past Labour victories and defeats, personalities etc etc. For those who take the trouble to read my ramblings, you won't be surprised to hear that I very much agree with what is being said here:- www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/jan/07/keir-starmer-not-just-battling-tories-this-year-but-the-absence-of-hopeI got very fed up with Rawnsley’s relentless, ill-founded and generally pernicious attacks on the last Labour administration (see, e.g. graham’s later post above), along with other senior journalists who should have known better, and who undoubtedly contributed to the precipitation of the current (truly) catastrophic government. Here, however, he does take a much more measured and helpful view of Tony Blair’s 1997 victory, which is too often too glorified. His column here amounts to an appeal to Starmer to push left. And that is a good thing.
|
|
|
Post by isa on Jan 7, 2024 12:03:31 GMT
It's a shame to see anyone leave the forum however when it's an individual who has posted just five times in over 2 years, four of which were to say how crap the forum is and insult those posting here, it's not that great a loss. I caught the post briefly just before it disappeared into the ether. I had never seen the name of the poster before, although from what this valedictory post said, it was from a long term lurker on this site and UKPR1. It bemoaned how UKPR2 had become an impatient, ill-tempered plaything of a small number of obsessive, endlessly repetitive posters, constantly regurgitating the same old tired 'arguments' without a hope in Hell of ever changing any minds. Not that they expect to, really. Just desperate to have the last word, and oblivious to the fact they never will. I paraphrase a little, but that seemed to be the gist.
|
|
|
Post by robbiealive on Jan 7, 2024 12:07:53 GMT
I often like your posts, and I do this one particularly. That said, they often leave me with a slightly uncomfortable feeling. "I wonder if the old curmudgeon has got me in his sights with this one too?", I often ask myself. By the way, you may be fully justified in doing so too!! No I do not regard you as one of my Hateful Eight (or nine, now JIBerring has been added). But vengeance is God's. As it's Sunday. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
I don't what the last bit means, as biblical exegesis is one of my weak points. Something like?: if you're generous to the ungenerous they will more aware of their faults.
|
|
|
Post by Rafwan on Jan 7, 2024 12:12:24 GMT
It's a shame to see anyone leave the forum however when it's an individual who has posted just five times in over 2 years, four of which were to say how crap the forum is and insult those posting here, it's not that great a loss. I caught the post briefly just before it disappeared into the ether. I had never seen the name of the poster before, although from what this valedictory post said, it was from a long term lurker on this site and UKPR1. It bemoaned how UKPR2 had become an impatient, ill-tempered plaything of a small number of obsessive, endlessly repetitive posters, constantly regurgitating the same old tired 'arguments' without a hope in Hell of ever changing any minds. Not that they expect to, really. Just desperate to have the last word, and oblivious to the fact they never will.I paraphrase a little, but that seemed to be the gist. Well, that does sound an awful lot like me … . [now taking bets on who will be first to ‘like’ this; begins with c and ends with rofty]
|
|
|
Post by EmCat on Jan 7, 2024 12:15:42 GMT
Latest polling average, Labour on an 18 point lead, had dropped to a 17 point lead pre Christmas, this appears just a reversion to mean There have been occasional ups and downs, but polls have remained largely static for 16 months now Hard to see what can move the dial It almost looks as though their strategy is to imagine trend lines projected forwards. From when Sunak became PM, the trend for Labour is a slight downward drift. The Tory trend is also slightly down (almost in step with Labour's one) But... the Reform trend is on the rise. Almost as if the hare-brained scheme is to wait for Reform to rise more, and then magically jump ship from Conservative to Reform just in time for January 2025. (At this stage, any semblance of logic from CCHQ seems to have gone out of the window, so might as well go along with what in normal times would be seen as "remote possibility")
|
|
neilj
Member
Posts: 6,020
Member is Online
|
Post by neilj on Jan 7, 2024 12:23:15 GMT
It's a shame to see anyone leave the forum however when it's an individual who has posted just five times in over 2 years, four of which were to say how crap the forum is and insult those posting here, it's not that great a loss. I caught the post briefly just before it disappeared into the ether. I had never seen the name of the poster before, although from what this valedictory post said, it was from a long term lurker on this site and UKPR1. It bemoaned how UKPR2 had become an impatient, ill-tempered plaything of a small number of obsessive, endlessly repetitive posters, constantly regurgitating the same old tired 'arguments' without a hope in Hell of ever changing any minds. Not that they expect to, really. Just desperate to have the last word, and oblivious to the fact they never will. I paraphrase a little, but that seemed to be the gist. You make that sound like a bad thing 😀
|
|
steve
Member
Posts: 12,262
Member is Online
|
Post by steve on Jan 7, 2024 12:25:40 GMT
Sunakered has said he wants to cut taxes for working people further this year, possibly cutting welfare payments to fund it. He singled out long term disability benefits as an area for cuts.
Given that with no change in personal allowances currently frozen by this regime until 2028 that any change in income tax sees the poorest workers get poorer as they pay tax and nic on a higher proportion of their income, so perforce any reduction in income taxes favours those who pay the most taxes i.e. the wealthiest of course if he had iht or cgt in mind it's multi millionaires like Sunakered who take it in.
Good luck with that one in an election.
Take away Mrs Jones mobility scooter daddy needs a new helicopter!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2024 12:37:03 GMT
colin - this Horizon saga is yet another example of what I posted about a few weeks ago, something which I think is symptomatic of the sclerotic British system; namely, the ridiculous inertia that many feel when something has clearly gone completely wrong. I'm not raising this as a partisan point - as you say, Horizon sucks in ministers from all three parties of recent government - as I think this is a systemic, rather than political issue, but we have catastrophic failures like Horizon, the contaminated blood scandal, Hillsborough, and more recently Grenfell Towers as a few examples of where something in the system has gone badly wrong, but getting firstly to the truth, and finally to due compensation for those wronged, takes decades. Not being familiar with how government machinery works, I can really claim to understand what causes these blockages, but it's Westminster doesn't work in these cases. I personally have a real agitation regarding seeing senior executives (public or private sector) trousering huge salaries under the claim that they have tough jobs with a great deal of responsibility, only to see these self same very well paid executives claim that they were not aware of X,Y or Z when the shit hits the fan, so neither they, nor anyone else, is ever held responsible. While to me that stinks, I'm also mindful of the fact that demanding personal responsibility in such cases could lead to exactly the frustrations I'm complaining about, as individuals and institutions dig in to protect the key decision makers. So I would be open minded to accept some kind of system that guarantees a rapid resolution, even if matters of individual culpability are given lower priority, but whatever we do, we have to get to grips with a system of governance that insulates itself from taking responsibility by delay, distraction and interminable obfuscation and abuse of a maze of inquiries, reports, investigations and committees. Great post alec Re your "dig in to protect the key decision makers." -in the play , one of the court scenes featured Vennell's icy. heartless sidekick Angela Van den Bogerd wittering on * about "protecting the PO brand" . The Judge asked her what that meant ! Its the same every time-The Catholic Church; The BBC. The victims are less important than The Organisation which screwed them. * assuming the court transcripts were accurately portrayed.
|
|
neilj
Member
Posts: 6,020
Member is Online
|
Post by neilj on Jan 7, 2024 12:37:55 GMT
This is disgraceful from the Telegraph for a number of issues Firstly it's a straight out lie Secondly it only caused more pain to the family having to deny it
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2024 12:40:02 GMT
|
|
steve
Member
Posts: 12,262
Member is Online
|
Post by steve on Jan 7, 2024 12:42:52 GMT
neilj Yvonne was my friend I was next to her when she was murdered. It's a fucking lie, Yvonne's family never wanted to make a public display out of her death, the Torygraph where the truth goes to die. John rightfully holds a flame for his friend over the years and I've no idea of any other reason why on duty police aren't being permitted to take part in the ceremony itself other than the families wishes but police officers both on and and off duty both serving and retired will be there and will if not present reflect on the death of a lovely young woman who I miss to this day
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2024 12:44:15 GMT
It's a shame to see anyone leave the forum however when it's an individual who has posted just five times in over 2 years, four of which were to say how crap the forum is and insult those posting here, it's not that great a loss. I caught the post briefly just before it disappeared into the ether. I had never seen the name of the poster before, although from what this valedictory post said, it was from a long term lurker on this site and UKPR1. It bemoaned how UKPR2 had become an impatient, ill-tempered plaything of a small number of obsessive, endlessly repetitive posters, constantly regurgitating the same old tired 'arguments' without a hope in Hell of ever changing any minds. Not that they expect to, really. Just desperate to have the last word, and oblivious to the fact they never will. I paraphrase a little, but that seemed to be the gist. Seems to sum it up rather well I would think.
|
|
|
Post by alec on Jan 7, 2024 12:45:35 GMT
colin - thankyou. I was discussing the program with Dr A, and one thing we both agreed on was our surprise that so many individuals within the PO and Fujitsu must have had some idea what was going on but failed to speak out. For us, that was the most disturbing aspect. In particular, the claim that the investigator into one of the key cases highlighted in the drama stated in a written memo that there was no basis for a prosecution, but who then presumably allowed the courts to be deliberately misled by the PO. Why didn't they speak out? Both Dr A and myself have worked in organisations where we've seem wrongdoing (not on the same scale as Horizon, it must be said) and both of us refused to stand by and stay silent. While I'm always really reluctant to draw parallels, there is a thread linking these kinds of scandals to the collective desire to look the other way in Germany in the 1930s. Ultimately, unless someone says something, this is the direction you are moving in. I guess that's why we've developed legal and managerial systems, because we understood long ago that we can't rely on people coming forward when they see wrongdoing. The real problems start when those systems are captured by those committing the wrongdoing.
|
|
|
Post by robbiealive on Jan 7, 2024 12:56:55 GMT
|
|
neilj
Member
Posts: 6,020
Member is Online
|
Post by neilj on Jan 7, 2024 12:58:22 GMT
The article suggests Starmer is very reluctant to commit to tax cuts and indeed would reintroduce Inheritance Tax if the tories cut it "Sir Keir Starmer refused to commit to tax cuts or unfreezing thresholds - but said he would reverse any cuts to inheritance tax the Tories might make... When asked by our political editor Beth Rigby if a Labour government would commit to cutting taxes "on day one", Sir Keir said his priority would be to grow the economy "because that's been the single biggest failure of the last 14 years". He added: "We have said on taxes that we do want to lower the burden of working people, but that has got to be fair and it's got to be affordable" Seems good to me
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2024 12:58:59 GMT
colin - thankyou. I was discussing the program with Dr A, and one thing we both agreed on was our surprise that so many individuals within the PO and Fujitsu must have had some idea what was going on but failed to speak out. For us, that was the most disturbing aspect. In particular, the claim that the investigator into one of the key cases highlighted in the drama stated in a written memo that there was no basis for a prosecution, but who then presumably allowed the courts to be deliberately misled by the PO. Why didn't they speak out? Both Dr A and myself have worked in organisations where we've seem wrongdoing (not on the same scale as Horizon, it must be said) and both of us refused to stand by and stay silent. While I'm always really reluctant to draw parallels, there is a thread linking these kinds of scandals to the collective desire to look the other way in Germany in the 1930s. Ultimately, unless someone says something, this is the direction you are moving in. I guess that's why we've developed legal and managerial systems, because we understood long ago that we can't rely on people coming forward when they see wrongdoing. The real problems start when those systems are captured by those committing the wrongdoing. I know-we had the same difficulties when watching. What was going on at Fujitsu is very very unclear. But the PO execs who pursued those folks for thousands in fictitious thefts. You first ask how could they think those particular people had done that ? Then when you learn that there was an incentive scheme related to it-and the accused were all told they were the only ones. And the Sub postmasters' union guy was accused after he went to Fujitsu. It all looks like company policy-deliberate , cold hearted, and vindictive. And do you remember the Second Sight guy finally tracking the "recovered" money down in a "suspense account" & saying it had ended up in PO profits ?!
|
|
|
Post by alec on Jan 7, 2024 12:59:08 GMT
Danny - "Yep, very prevalent fridays and mondays." I've not seen any consistent evidence for a Monday effect on school absence rates. I assuming you have such evidence, otherwise you wouldn't have said it, so if you could share the data we can all have a look. And for the avoidance of doubt, by 'evidence' I don't mean 'I know some teachers and they say...'. There is evidence of a Friday effect - see here ffteducationdatalab.org.uk/2023/03/absence-from-school-on-fridays/The most common day missed overall was Friday, at both secondary and primary, with Mondays the second most common (albeit only very marginally at secondary level). There will be I'm sure a classic weekend effect on both these days, as there always has been, but that doesn't tell us too much about what may have changed. Much more telling is the pattern of severely absent pupils - the category that would cover pupils with long covid issues. Here, the pattern at both levels is of no significant Monday effect, but with generally rising rates through the week with Thursday and Friday the second and first most common days respectively, a pattern entirely consistent with the idea of fatigue and other symptoms building up during the week. The report also goes on to find that illness is what appears to be driving the increased absences on Fridays, although there is also an underlying Friday effect of unauthorised absence, as would always be anticipated.
|
|