No Bollocking Allowed.

Sometimes, and it is only sometimes, I wish I was back in the world of Gene Hunt and Ashes to Ashes - where men were men, sideburns were long and you could be unreconstructed man in the comfort of your own office.

This morning I received a phone call from a client requesting an urgent meeting, an hours notice was given. I was then informed by one of our staff that the client had also contacted her to ask for some up to date management accounts. Five minutes before the client arrives the management accounts are dropped on my desk, I'm actually preparing some other financial information for the client so don't get the chance to check the management figures. This doesn't bother me particularly because we prepare monthly accounts, payroll, do the book-keeping and prepare quarterly VAT returns.

I go into the meeting at 12:30 and just as I am about to handover the management accounts I notice that the largest figure in the accounts - the payroll costs - is missing. Fortunately I can bluff my way round this. The point is that ten years ago the member of staff in question would have been given a right roasting (verbal), these days we aren't allowed to raise our voices, we have to be constructive not destructive. The last member of staff I had problems with turned round when I was telling her off and told me not to 'talk shitty to her.' I'm sorry but if somebody isn't doing the job they are paid for why should I have to put up with it?

Grrrr.