Korean Job Discussion Forums

Lao Wai · Joined: 01 Aug 2005 Location: East Coast Canada

Hey,

I just read this article on Maclean's magazine website. It basically says that if Canada doesn't make some major changes we are going to be in big trouble in the future. Maybe it's a bit alarmist, but it got me thinking.

http://www.macleans.ca/topstories/business/article.jsp?content=20061127_137129_137129

Edit: Oh, there's also a mention of Korea in the article which says that Korea is an example of how working longer hours still does not boost productivity. Apparently, we Canadians work fairly long hours yet still aren't as productive as we should be. I can see this in a way. When I was doing my teaching practicum in a public school I noticed that the teachers were constantly complaining of having 'no time'. Yet, they seemed to waste a lot of time in my opinion. I.e. going to the staff room during their prep periods etc. Also, when I worked for (Human Resources Development Canada) as a summer student, I noticed the regular office workers would take hour long coffee breaks, and didn't seem all that productive. Anyway, just a couple of observations.

Bulsajo · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

Yes if the rest of Canada operates the way HRDC does, we are well and truly *beep* ed.

blaseblasphemener · Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 4:57 am Post subject:

Well, one problem could possibly be the large civil service. Places like Quebec, the maritimes, and the north would dissapear without it, and civil servants are about the laziest sacks of shit in the known world. My buddy works for Revenue Canada (taxes), and his job is to contact dillinquents, make deals with them, or freeze their accounts. He said it usually takes a couple of hours to "close" one case, but luckily for him, that is all that is expected of him, because a lot of the staff can't even close one a day. They also have "flex" time, which means if he "works" and extra half hour a day, he gets every second friday off or something. He can also bank sick days and flex days, so he ends up getting big chunks of time off. That's why it's so hard to reach gov't workers, because they are all on flex time, especially Fridays. He now works at home, so work is from 1-3 every day. Makes hagwons look like slave labour.

laogaiguk · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Location: somewhere in Korea

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

Practically, realistically, non-sentimentally...does Canada have a 'future' separate from its despised southern neighbor and major trading partner? Would Canada even have a place at the table?

JP Sartre said something about people not being free 'from' anything; the trick was to learn to be free 'for' something.

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

Practically, realistically, non-sentimentally...does Canada have a 'future' separate from its despised southern neighbor and major trading partner? Would Canada even have a place at the table?

JP Sartre said something about people not being free 'from' anything; the trick was to learn to be free 'for' something.

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

Practically, realistically, non-sentimentally...does Canada have a 'future' separate from its despised southern neighbor and major trading partner? Would Canada even have a place at the table?

JP Sartre said something about people not being free 'from' anything; the trick was to learn to be free 'for' something.

ajgeddes · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Location: Yongsan

Is there an echo in here?

Slep · Joined: 14 Oct 2006

Is there an echo in here?

twg · Joined: 02 Nov 2006 Location: Getting some fresh air...

laogaiguk · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Location: somewhere in Korea

blaseblasphemener · Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 7:00 pm Post subject:

Jeju Rocks · Joined: 23 Aug 2004

Would Canada even have a place at the table?

What table?