Business Traveller

About 7 1/2 years ago, I made a big change in my life, and left the cozy comfort of things that I knew well in sunny South Africa, to go and join the civilised world of Europe.

I think that one of the things that I relished most about working in Europe was getting away from the bizarre concept that, somehow people in south Africa thought that the way to fix a past discrimination was to create a new form of discrimination to replace the old one. That, and to give it a name with better PR. So racism was replaced with ‘Affirmative Action’. I don’t remember what sexism was replaced by, but it was probably something along the lines of ‘equal opportunities’ or something like that. Bottom line is that the basic problem remained. One lot of people got screwed so that another lot of people could get ahead, without any consideration being given to their competence, capability or value to the business.

Fast forward nearly 8 years, and here I am in England. I’ve had black bosses, and been the boss of some black people. I’ve had woman bosses, and managed some women. All going well then? No. Turns out that one of the women who works for me has been invited to join our company’s ‘women’s advancement forum’. A forum of women from every level of our company that meets once per month to provide a platform for women to get promoted quickly to senior positions.

Now, before everybody gets up in arms, I have no problem with women in senior positions. I work with senior women every day, and for the most part, I have nothing but respect for them, same as my male colleagues.

The thing that gets my goat is the fact that there is this secretive forum purely focused on promoting women through the company. In a truly ‘equal opportunities’ company, this sort of forum would be looking at people across the business, and promoting them – regardless of black, white, woman or man. Until then, there is no equality, and never will be.

In a desperate attempt to hang onto the last vestiges of youth, I went out and did what all men my age seem to do (either go out and buy a Porsche or a motorcycle – I could afford the motorcycle).

She’s shiny, and black, and red – a Yamaha R6, and she is awesome!

Wow, how bikes have changed since I last owned one in the early 1990’s. The balance of the bike is just unbelievable! Also, the power.

Puts a grin on my face every morning when I head into work!

This morning I arrived at the corporate HQ, and immediately noticed that each door into the buildings on the campus had security staff positioned at it, looking like nightclub bouncers, complete with secret service ear-pieces.

I wasn’t the only one who noticed, and we started a little office pool as to what the reason was.

I won. This afternoon the company announced that 450 people in the HQ are being made redundant.

Please let it be me!