June 26, 2008
People talk a lot of rubbish - and Guru should know, being a serial offender on this score - but of late it seems our politicians have been joining the fray - presumably in a bit to replace John Prescott, the one-man gibberish God.
And Harriet Harman's latest outpourings on equality had Yours Truly choking on his early morning Werther's Original. Age discrimination is to be barred, but discrimination against men generally, even really old ones, is to be allowed. Hmmm....
Just as he was about to dispatch a extra-stern missive to the minister, Guru received word from Disciple 'K' of the potential age time-bomb that's about to explode all over DIY retailer B&Q - long held up as the birthplace of equal opportunities for the elderly.
In a bid to reduce its carbon footprint, the home of home improvement disaster stories is to offer its 700 employees aged over 70 free installed insulation for their homes in what it describes as 'positive action'. Clearly it had not given its initiative a great deal of thought.
And it was clearly unfortunate timing, as Harriet Harman outlined her plans to completely ban all forms of age discrimination, while introducing her own bit of positive discrimination for... um... women.
So while seems likely the retailer has failed to insulate itself against the potential for tribunal claims from non-septuagenerian workers who need a bit of JabSqueeze padding for their homes, that could only be the beginning...
For with the elderly fully expected to gain full rights to everything they ever had before they crossed the retirement threshold, B&Q and others could find themselves deep in the prune juice over their employment policies - as younger workers rebel and try to screw the company for anything thing that isn't bolted down (with a number 6, deep-shaft, fixing ring, no doubt).
Being a notoriously lazy nation, this is unlikely to happen in the very near future, however, Yours Truly has formulated a - water-based, CFC-free, ozone-friendly - solution to the DIY giant's pending lagging dilemma.
Simply extend the free insulation scheme to everyone... that's right, everyone... with the proviso that they have to put it around all TVs, radios and computer systems.
It may cost a pretty penny to do it, but it will be music to the nation's ears not to have to listen to the ill-thought-out ramblings of egotistical MPs and their chums as they flounce around on their very high horses.
Posted for your edification by Guru on June 26, 2008 1:07 PM
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