→ Ireland: king of the EU’s new censorship regime
Move over Brussels, there’s a new censor in town. Ireland’s social media regulator, Coimisiún na Meán (The Commision), has launched its user contact centre, which allows members of the public to report on one another for breaches of the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA). Coimisiún na Meán is now set to be the biggest regulator on the continent, with oversight for 450 million Europeans.
The DSA came into full effect at the weekend, with Coimisiún na Meán taking on a majority of the regulatory caseload. The body has the ability to fine digital platforms millions of euros for failing to properly educate people about “misinformation”, while it has been suggested that its public complaint function will invariably be used to target political dissidents. Another free speech victory for the EU…
→ Zoomers really don’t want to work
The Gen Z labor force truly is a new breed pic.twitter.com/a35r1Ccc8o
— Chris Josephs (@Chrisjjosephs) January 27, 2024
Gen Z’s reputation for work-shyness only seems to be growing. Late last year American psychologist Jean Twenge wrote about how attitudes to work plummeted among young people after 2021, remarking that all those TikToks about “quiet quitting were onto something”.
Now, a new survey by Indeed has revealed that like dating, ghosting is rife among this age cohort. Based on a survey of 1,500 businesses and 1,500 people, as many as 93% of Zoomers said that they’ve not shown up for job interviews. In addition, 87% claimed that, after securing the job, they never showed up for work on their first day. Maybe military conscription isn’t such a bad idea after all.
→ The anti-Trump Resistance is burned out
Facing 91 felony counts and a $355 million fine, it would be understandable if Donald Trump was getting tired with this whole politics thing. But he’s not the only one: according to a recent New York Times story, anti-Trump voters (aka The Resistance) are grappling with a similar kind of sentiment. “Some folks are burned out on outrage,” said one progressive, while another claimed that “we’re kind of, like, crises-ed out… It’s crisis fatigue, for sure”. Hallelujah! After 8 years of catastrophising about everything from Russiagate to the looming threat of civil war, America’s guardians of democracy are (we hope) finally going to take some time off.
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SubscribeAre these kids living in mom’s basement? If it was my kid, I’d escort them to their interviews and jobs on the first day. Then I’d hand them an eviction notice.
I think it’s the eviction notice that’s needed. My work ethic didn’t come from anything more noble that actual hunger, and a dislike for sleeping on the back seat of my 1987 Volkswagen Golf.
I cleaned sewers, sold electric razors, delivered post, sold Christmas trees, rented apartments, ran legal searches for a property solicitor, made sandwiches in a 24 hour deli, … not because I liked that any more than the Gen-Zers, but because I had no other choice.
I’m with the employee here. Having established the T&Cs of his employment, not attending an 8am meeting the next day doesn’t make him “work shy”.
I say this as someone who’s spent decades going beyond my basic working hours. The possibility of going beyond his basic working hours should’ve been made clear up front. I congratulate him on his response.
I he’s an hourly employee, or a salaried employee making less than the exempt minimum, he will be paid for his time. If he’s a exempt salaried employee, he has no defined working hours. The same guy will no doubt want to take a two hour lunch when he has a doctor’s appointment, or leave at 4 PM on Friday to beat traffic. If you want flexibility, you give flexibility.
The only reasonable complaint is that if he’s out of pocket for the workout class, his employer should reimburse.
You’re making assumptions about him wanting XYZ, which is not something you’re entitled to do. The guy had established his working hours, that’s perfectly clear.
I understand every single argument about flexibility; i’ve dealt with it all in a management position within the largest organisation in the UK. Don’t try to second guess what people think.
I’ve been working for 25 years. The people who arrive at 9:01 and leave at 4:59 are the same ones that magically are sick for the exact number of sick days they have, and are always sick on Monday and Friday.
They’re also the first to disappear during the day to take care of their personal business. A non-hourly worker who shows no flexibility should be gotten rid of as soon as possible.
Christ, you know how hard it is to get an interview these days? And they’re just passing them up. Well, all the more for me, says I.
Is anyone else still not seeing this column?
Do not be surprised if red states offer to pay Trump’s fines with taxpayer money. It’s better than having Saudi Arabia pay them. The Supreme Court should interfere with the Democratic party’s attempt to destroy the Republican nominee with lawfare. This fine was only imposed because Trump is running for President. It was not imposed on other businesses equally guilty. The NY City real estate business is universally corrupt because the Democratic party wants it that way. They force developers to pay bribes to politicians by setting up regulations that will receive selective enforcement. Development in that city without corruption is made impossible.