"Feierabend"- disconnecting from work the German way, the need of the times during a year of remote work 2021

04/23/2021

"Feierabend" simply means disconnecting in German so that one has time to renew and revive oneself. At 4.00 pm or 5.00 pm one simply disconnects from work and gets on the bike for a ride or does something else. Can British and American cultures learn from their German or European counterparts? Ireland has passed a law calling for this disconnect requiring it because of the huge negative impact on mental health of remote work that has no structures. Microsoft has recognized this issue in 2020. More needs to be done by companies than to simply shift this burden,shift this task on someone else, or to workers who have no idea what working from home requires. Associations and other groups also need to get involved.

Linked Articles

Right to disconnect is vital for future health of home workers

04/23/2021

Mike Clancy

BBC News 07/12/2022

What Bill Gates and France had in common in the fight for health preparedness

05/11/2020

France had learned lessons from SARS epidemic and prepared for the H1N1 epidemic at the time that Bill Gates of Microsoft was pushing for greater awareness of public health priorities. Today Gates says this was not enough, that he did not do enough and feels terrible about it. The irresponsible banking practices that caused the financial crises first in the global financial crisis of 2009 and then in the eurozone financial crisis that followed by 2011 led to the ditching of the pandemic preparedness effort in France and Britain. In all of the western world including the U.S. austerity practices were the response without addressing the root causes of financial crises. Investments in public services and infrastructure were neglected leading to a level of unpreparedness that is shocking. Countries in lesser developed countries with more consciousness of the importance of public services and care of the vast majority of people were better protected in the crisis as a result than the more developed countries.

Linked Articles

Bill Gates Has Regrets

WSJ 05/11/2020

Betsy Mc Kay

France 24 05/17/2020

Microsoft and the risks in having directors serve on Boards for long periods of time

07/16/2013

The problems of the lack of new energy and new ideas, and the lack of younger members with fresh perspectives.

Linked Articles

Microsoft Board Shows Little Taste for Bold Choice in CEO

Wall Street Journal 09/02/2013

Shira Ovide, Shira, Ovide, Joann S. Lublin, Joann, S., Lublin

Wall Street Journal 07/16/2013

Joann S. Lublin, Joann, S., Lublin

Missteps by H-P's Board and the risk-averse nature of the Board at Microsoft- two tech companies and the transition to new information technologies

08/28/2011

Linked Articles

Microsoft Board Shows Little Taste for Bold Choice in CEO

Wall Street Journal 09/02/2013

Shira Ovide, Shira, Ovide, Joann S. Lublin, Joann, S., Lublin

Wall Street Journal 08/28/2011

Al Lewis, Al, Lewis

The Elop memo in 2011 and the sale of Nokia's mobile phone business to Microsoft in 2013- the startling change of fortunes for Nokia

02/09/2011

Nokia was a pioneer in the development of mobile phones in an earlier era when fixed lines were the norm. It dominated the mobile phone business in the period before 2009 for 2 decades before the coming of smartphones. The change in Nokia's market came quickly and suddenly with the advent of the iPhone and Nokia was unprepared for this development. This is a classic case of obsolesence and disruptions caused by innovation and new technologies. Other companies from the previous era before cloud computing and the internet, H-P, Oracle, IBM, and Microsoft, face the continuing challenge to adapt or lose to new competitors.

Linked Articles

Microsoft in $7 Billion Deal for Nokia Cellphone Business

Wall Street Journal 09/03/2013

Shira Ovide, Shira, Ovide

Wall Street Journal 02/09/2011

Stephen Elop, Stephen, Elop