January 2009 Archives

The latest interpretations of the credit crunch cut backs have been doing the rounds this week and this one caught my eye. Not only does this provide a cheap office fit out solution but also takes office recylcing to the next level.

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If this isn't enough, here are a few policy changes which could help you keep a firm grip on those purse strings.

NEW OFFICE POLICY - EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 1, 2008


Dress Code:

1) You are advised to come to work dressed according to your salary.

2) If we see you wearing Prada shoes and carrying a Gucci bag, we will assume you are doing well financially and therefore do not need a raise.

3) If you dress poorly, you need to learn to manage your money better, so that you may buy nicer clothes, and therefore you do not need a raise.

4) If you dress just right, you are right where you need to be and therefore you do not need a raise.


Sick Days:
We will no longer accept a doctor's statement as proof of sickness. If you are able to go to the doctor, you are able to come to work.

Personal Days:
Each employee will receive 104 personal days a year. They are called Saturdays & Sundays.

Bereavement Leave:
This is no excuse for missing work. There is nothing you can do for dead friends, relatives or co-workers. Every effort should be made to have non-employees attend the funeral arrangements in your place. In rare cases where employee involvement is necessary, the funeral should be scheduled in the late afternoon. We will be glad to allow you to work through your lunch hour and subsequently leave one hour early.

Bathroom Breaks:
Entirely too much time is being spent in the toilet. There is now a strict three-minute time limit in the stalls. At the end of three minutes, an alarm will sound, the toilet paper roll will retract, the stall door will open, and a picture will be taken. After your second offense, your picture will be posted on the company bulletin board under the 'Chronic Offenders' category. Anyone caught smiling in the picture will be sectioned under the company's mental health policy.

Lunch Breaks:
* Skinny people get 30 minutes for lunch, as they need to eat more, so that they can look healthy.

* Normal size people get 15 minutes for lunch to get a balanced meal to maintain their average figure.

* Chubby people get 5 minutes for lunch, because that's all the time needed to drink a Slim-Fast.


Thank you for your loyalty to our company. We are here to provide a positive employment experience. Therefore, all questions, comments, concerns, complaints, frustrations, irritations, aggravations, insinuations, allegations, accusations, contemplations, consternation and input should be directed elsewhere.

Banking woes in context

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In these troubled times the media is full of statistics on the turmoil in the financial markets. A recent one which caught my eye was in City AM which clearly shows how bad things really are in the banking sector and just how far our banks have fallen over the past 2 years. The most notable decline, from the statistics sourced from JP Morgan, was for troubled Citigroup, which has seen its value slump to just $19 bn, down from the $255 bn of 2007. Elsewhere the value of RBS has fallen to $4.6 bn from $120bn and JP Morgan has seen its valuation almost half and now stands at $85 bn.


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Bank of America shares yesterday hit their lowest levels since the early 1990's, after analysts speculated that the bank needs at least £58 billion to restore capital to adequate levels.

Shares have been hit hard and have plummeted to under $6, down from the $40+ seen a year ago. Real Estate organisation, Ramsey Group recently stated that the banks 'tangible capital equity is too low, particularly for an organisation with questionable near-term profitability and credit costs'.

Investors are also being cautious following last weeks announcement of a fourth quarter loss of $2.4 billion, and the emergency $20 billion loan from the federal government to prop up the purchase of Merrill Lynch, which completed on the 1st January.

Like many which have tried to buy up their stricken rivals, the bank appears to have bitten off more than it can chew amid the crunch of the ongoing financial climate.

It has been reported by the Bank of England, that funding difficulties for UK based companies are being made worse by a sharp reduction in lending to British banks by overseas institutions. Outstanding loans to UK banks by overseas institutions fell by around 20% in the four months to November alone. This illustrates the extent of the governments challenge to increase the flow of funds to troubled companies.

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This page is an archive of entries from January 2009 listed from newest to oldest.

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