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This week's letters
Letter of the week
Evolution of the English language
Lyn Ferguson of Schuh asks when someone is going to champion the teaching of correct grammar (Letters, 21 August). Perhaps that is the wrong question.
Current standards of English owe as much to environment as to education. At my company we work with American-English computer software before going home to surround ourselves with US television programmes, books and magazines. We eat foods from many parts of the world and we have the good fortune to live in a multi-racial and multi-lingual society. We allow consultants to rename companies with artificial words such as Arriva, Kwik-fit or, dare I say it, Schuh.
No wonder 21st century Britain is confused about correct English usage.
Perhaps we should follow the example of our forebears and accept that English is, and always will be, a developing and evolving language. Let's develop and evolve with it.
David Dodds
Area HR operations manager, Safeway Stores
Government role in cheap housing
I found the article "Skilled Staff Squeezed out of the South East" (Analysis, 21 August) interesting and informative. For those companies that have, or are considering implementing, a flexible benefits package, the forms of subsidy or assistance with housing are worth considering.
From a corporate viewpoint, anything that helps to attract and retain staff must be considered. From a macro-economic point of view, however, surely such practices, should they become common, would fuel spiralling house prices still further, thus exacerbating the North-South divide and, in the longer term, making matters worse.
Surely the Government has a role to play here, by encouraging the building of affordable housing and the movement of employment out of the South East.
I take issue with the comment from John Adsett regarding extending such schemes to other areas with staff shortages. If a group of companies does not have equitable policies throughout its various sites, staff dissent is invited. If you do introduce a policy, do it globally. Take-up may well vary, especially if it is as an alternative to another benefit, such as pensions contributions, but you do not want to cause a benefit gap within your own corporation.
Ian Stain
HR consultant, Industry and Employee Services, Coventry
