End of an Era

Yesterday was my last day of work under the current junta. My next working day is Saturday, and the election is tomorrow. 

It has been an interesting journey since November 2017. Like all work experiences it has had its highs and lows…its rewarding times and its frustrations. Purely in that context the last 13 months have been truly appalling, for a whole number of reasons. 

Just to mention one, our workload increased by somewhere between 100% and 200%. We got no additional resources and in fact ended up with less. Firstly, that was because the team spirit we had in the Office evaporated overnight as we all had to work from home, or alone in the Office. Secondly, it took a toll on our health. Two of my colleagues have had absences resulting from stress and anxiety. Another was unable to access her regular medical treatment for several months. 

On top of that, the members of the public we have dealt with have often been in desperate circumstances. I am well used to ensuring the constituents’ problems do not become mine in normal circumstances, but the unrelenting volume of those cases inevitably created additional pressure.
 
Certainly I have been impressed by the Boss’ resilience in dealing with all this, plus the pressures of a re-selection contest and then the election campaign itself. 

This sample from yesterday’s workload is typical. 

- A man whose wife died of Covid 19 and is unhappy about the delay in an investigation into her care. We can do nothing to help right now, but will do if the Boss is re-elected. My job was to explain that as tactfully as possible while not making it seem like a “vote for me” pitch. 

- A woman who needs a waiver of quarantine requirements for returning from abroad for a funeral. I had no idea where that can be obtained. Her enquiry came in on Sunday. She was travelling today. 

- A man who wants to know what the SNP will do about a certain issue if he votes to re-elect the Boss. We cannot answer that because it is party political. I explained that as best I could, but these subtleties are often interpreted as avoiding the issue by those on the outside looking in. 

- A community group disgruntled by the re-opening guidance being changed at the last minute. 

Coming up to date, today was mostly just a routine Wednesday. Not routine was being able to sit at a table for my coffee and muffin at the farm shop. Blipped. 

The other unusual event was booking another short break, this time for the end of the month.