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April 20, 2005
tea and biscuits
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(Oh Dear, it seems I'm still on lowly mug status. Still a long way to go etc.)
I was sharing a Guinness at Mulligan's with Mr Anthony Hewitt last Friday. Decades ago, Mr Hewitt, who is about 30 years my senior, worked as a young undercutter at Anderson & Sheppard, like myself.
"I wouldn't say it was my favourite place to work," he said. "But it was without question the best place to get your education. Without any question whatsoever."
Of all the great firms on the row, Anderson's was the one with the most hardcore reputation and the strictest rules, bar none. That was still true when I came on board.
Mr Hewitt went on:
"It was very simple back then. If you were a packer, a trouser maker or a coat maker, you got a mug of tea. Then, if you were an undercutter, you were given a cup. If you were fully-fledged cutter, you were given a cup and a saucer. And if you were a director, you were given a cup, a saucer, a white napkin and a biscuit. That's how they ran everything."
So there you have it. Why bother with giving your employees expensive company cars and window offices when, frankly, all they really need to be happy is some nice crockery and a tin of biscuits?
Posted by tom at April 20, 2005 2:05 PM
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