Productivity

I woke up this morning to the BBC reporting that UK productivity has slumped. "Another day ... another downgrade in productivity forecast from the Bank of England." So those of us who still go to work (however that is measured) are doing less (however that is measured).

Well, it's certainly been true for me today. For several months I have raced round writing training, supporting trainers who haven't taught before, claiming funding, doing stats, making things work... Today, meh all day. Claims? Don't care. Chargeout rates? Don't care. Writing the next batch of training? What's the point?

The only bright times were when the trainees were around. I saw M first thing this morning and we had about ten minutes when we worked out that + means 'and'. That was good.

I also saw him this afternoon when B, the student volunteer I thought would work well with him, came in. I'd briefed B to take things slowly but when I went in to see how they were getting on, M had drawn six dots in a 3 by 2 grid and was working out that x means 'lots of'. Three lots of two, two lots of three. That was excellent!

Then I left work early for the first time for months.

I wonder whether anyone has thought of correlating the productivity figures with staff relationships.