Ever feel like you're doing all the work? At Fathom we have an unwritten code of offering our colleagues a drink whenever we make one for ourselves. A legacy, possibly, of the early years of the company, when the team was a lot smaller. Or testament to what a nice, friendly bunch we are, perhaps. But for all of this niceness, there have been, and may still be, a few issues with this system. When I joined Fathom, making a
"A person’s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.” Dale Carnegie The name Kevin was made famous by a fifth-century Irishman, later canonised in 1903. It gained popularity through the twentieth century, peaking in the UK and US during the 1950s and 1960s, but has been in secular decline ever since. In an increasingly globalised world, that may have something to do with its poor reputation elsewhere. In France, the name is associated
At last, something for black-cab drivers to be happy about! Keen users of controversial ride-hailing app Uber were dealt a substantial blow as Transport for London rejected Uber's application to renew its licence to operate in London. The precariousness of the gig economy has come into focus yet again. But what exactly is the 'gig' economy? The term gig is borrowed from the world of music, where (typically) a band or musician is paid in weak beer to play a
Ever watched a dog chase its own tail? It’s a thankless task for the dog, but can be amusing for the observer. An exercise in futility always has comedy value, provided it’s carried out by someone else. We shake our heads and smile at the dog’s foolishness. Next time, though, perhaps we should look in the mirror for a laugh — particularly those among us who make or comment on monetary policy. In chasing its tail, the dog goes in
This author happens to be German and an economist. There are some perks associated with being German. For example, the summer months of every second year, when major football tournaments take place, are something to look forward to. We tend not to drop out in the early stages of the tournament against smaller football nations, such as Iceland. In contrast, being a German economist can be as frustrating as supporting the English national team (or so I imagine). Germans have
“There are known knowns. There are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns. That is to say, we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns. The ones we don't know we don't know.” Donald Rumsfeld, 12 February 2002 At the time, Rumsfeld’s quote, made in response to a reporter’s question about evidence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, was seen as a gaffe or else a
Around 2 million students are studying at UK universities in the hope of developing their knowledge, gaining life experience and broadening their horizons, while, perhaps, partaking of one or two alcoholic beverages along the way. Many parents wish this for their children, the idea being that if they invest in their child’s future now, there will be substantial gains in the longer term. The majority of parents, depending on their income threshold, have to support their children financially throughout these
It is customary, late on a Friday afternoon, for Fathom to offer its staff a complimentary alcoholic beverage from the company fridge. Collectively, we have a taste for imported wine and beer, as indeed do many people across the UK. Unfortunately, such luxuries have risen substantially in price over the past few months. Fathom's management, in a textbook case, has responded to the price change accordingly. During the three months to August, the total amount spent on alcohol by the
What is the primary challenge facing UK PLC at present? If you thought Brexit, think again. The correct answer, as regular readers will be aware, is the economy's dismal productivity performance. Data released earlier this week showed that output per hour fell in the second quarter, and is now back below its pre-crisis peak. That is an unprecedented postwar decade of near-zero productivity growth. But there is one shining beacon of hope. The Premier League (PL), celebrating its 25th birthday
One member of Fathom’s staff yesterday found his journey into work delayed by a swan. The offending fowl had found its way onto the train track and, in the high-and-mighty, supercilious manner of swans the world over, refused to move. With apologies to Her Majesty, it’s enough to make one reconsider the relative merits of roast swan, compared to turkey or chicken, or other more ‘normal’ poultry options. This being the tenth anniversary of the start of the great financial