ROSEMARY ABBOTT | Culture
SIGNS OF LIFE
The capital’s grey-suited workforce was temporarily reminded of its own existence this morning, after a fire drill forced several government departments to evacuate onto Lambton Quay.
Pale office dwellers, usually hunched under fluorescent lights and the crushing weight of bureaucracy in downtown Wellington, spilled into the sunshine where, for the first time in months, they appeared to be enjoying themselves.
“Some of them looked like they were genuinely happy to be around each other,” said one onlooker. “It even briefly made downtown Wellington look like it was thriving, albeit for 12 minutes”
Karen Blake, a policy analyst confessed that she hadn’t left her building since late July. “When that alarm went off, I mean wow, what a thrill! Everyone was in it together, so much comradery. But honestly, I’d forgotten what fresh air smelt like during the working week, so it was exactly what I needed,” she admitted
Today’s fire drill reached its emotional climax when a mid-level manager, believed to be in charge of “something no one fully understands but sounds vaguely important,” emerged in a bright high-vis vest.
Another worker added, “That’s the most leadership I’ve ever witnessed from him. Normally, he just forwards emails. But there he is, doing something that actually looks like he’s adding value to society.”
“It was the happiest I’ve ever seen them,” said another bystander. “You’d think it was some sort of fun team bonding activity to get them out of the office, but no, it was just an alarm and a five-minute stroll outside.”
Unfortunately, the joy proved short-lived. After ten minutes of fresh air and vitamin D, staff were instructed to return to their desks, where they immediately resumed their soul crushing 9-5 existence.
More to come.
