GORDON LIGHTFOOT | Culture
IMAGINE THAT
A 33-year-old man working at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has interestingly expressed excitement over the prospect of being made redundant by David Seymour’s promise to cut government jobs if elected.
The employee, who prefers to remain anonymous, claims to be sick and tired of his public sector job at MBIE, feeling disillusioned by the severe lack of value he adds each day.
Upon learning about ACT’s proposal to halve the more than 6000 staff at MBIE and shut down work on several government projects, the man found a glimmer of hope.
He believes that being laid off from his current position might be a blessing in disguise, freeing him from what he considers an unproductive environment.
“Gee imagine being sacked, just like that. All my stresses could go away in an instant! Not my problem anymore!” he said as he thoughtfully stared off into the distance.
“I could start a whole new life as an employee of a privately owned company that delivers benefits to willing customers”.
Seymour, the leader of ACT, has been vocal about his intentions to reduce government spending and eliminate projects he deems unnecessary, saving over $1 billion. If elected, he plans to issue Stop Work notices to chief executives on his first day in office.
Critics argue that abrupt and widespread redundancies could have adverse effects on individuals and families, as well as on the efficiency of government agencies.
It remains to be seen whether David Seymour’s promise to slash MBIE to pieces resonates with voters. For now, this one employee has been left to personally grapple with a sick combination of excitement and self-destructiveness.
More to come.
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