In the old days

In the old days

You would go to work with one pen stuck in your inner jacket pocket,

Lunch would be in the works canteen

subsidised

Overtime would be paid for hours

worked

Continuous stationery would print

Phones would ring

Memos were typed

In the old days

In the old days

You were given a pager with a flashing red light to clip on your belt pocket

Lunch would be a sandwich from a garage,

on expenses

You worked as many hours

as it took

Performance prizes could be won

Faxes print out

Memos are sent

In the old days

In the old days

A mobile phone was installed in your company car, taking up the boot space

Lunch would be a sandwich from a garage,

on expenses

You worked as many hours

as it took

A large briefcase was provided

Pens and calculators

Teletext messages arrived

In the old days

In the old days

A mobile phone sat in your jacket pocket ringing, a heavy weight

Lunch is what you made the night before,

eaten at your desk

You worked as many hours as it took

for more money

Many emails arrive

Read and reply

In the old days

And these days

The tiny mobile sits on the desk, it doesn’t ring anymore

Lunch is a lonely sandwich made last night

eaten at the desk

You leave the office as soon as you can

far less money

Life is outside work

It's different now

These days