Gingerbread Woman

It's been a funny old week at the Office

It's not every week the boss admits having a fling with a friend of yours and the paparazzi are queuing outside your office.

It's all been a tad tragic. Poor Tracey Temple has been gloriously dumped on by the establishment with the press running tales of how she'd be moved not only from her post but to another department altogether. That seems harsh. She's good at her job and has served as a civil servant for over two decades. There's thousands of us working for Big John and, at her level, they'd have had no trouble finding a role that wouldn't involve coming into contact with him.

We just recently had a survey round asking for views on how the Department views women. My answer would be that it's still a world where rank and gender have a role in how you're treated, and that this episode has served to underline that.

This morning's news that she's sold her story will no doubt put paid to any return at all but I can't help wondering if she'd have maintained her silence had she not been so swiftly shafted and her imminient departure announced in a week where she was sent into hiding. Ironically we had a circular come round senior staff which claimed that Tracey was being supported through the difficult circumstances. If having The Times announce your job has been whisked away, within 24hours of the story breaking is support, and being told that in a place where there are thousands of staff, spread accross a wide range of offices, there's no space left for you is manifestation of how it feels to be cosseted through turbulent times, I'd too have contemplated calling Mr Clifford.

Then there's the DPM.
He's married. He's taken a stupid risk with his career and his relationship. Yet I can't muster ought besides empathy for him. He came back to work and had the courage to eat his lunch in the staff canteen which I think showed his true colours. He's a courageous fellow who faces things head on.
He's also universally adored by staff.
He may not be some new age new Labour new man. But he's a boss who seems to genuinely surround himself with those best equipped to do the job. He has employed more senior women and gay staff than any other Minister I've worked with. I'm sure he's not a man without prejudice, but when it comes to recruitment and opportunity, he lives the ethos that other, more apparently right on men, purely pay lipservice to.
He entertains his staff. He treats his civil servants with respect, his asks their views and listens to their answers. Unlike another ministers who ooze contempt and superiority in every decision they make, who treat civil servants like idiots who need watching, telling, controlling... Big John knows how to empower his staff.

David Blunkett was known to have been almost universally hated by those who worked for him. I'm sure when his moment came there were many ready to administer the final shove.

What's been really interesting with the DPM and Tracey is that, in a week where the Sun has offered the lure of large wadges of cash for those to come forward who know them; the best that's elicited is a bitter ex-husband and ex wife of the ex husband.

The feelings I've picked up from everyone I've spoken to has been genuine sadness for all those involved, a story, that in itself, tells a thousand stories.

posted by The Gypsy @ 12:11 pm