Is there a job which is NOT needed?

[Jux]

I mean, does anyone know of an actual existing post in any firm, company, organisation, where the employers' believe that they don't need to pay someone to do that work, but it's just nice to have someone there and to pay them for the privilege? That they could sack that person, not fill the vacancy adn there would be no effect on anything except their payroll is a bit less?

I've just remembered this sketch - a perfect illustration for this thread!

John Lewis used to have lift attendants.

They also used to have toilet cleaners who would clean between every use. That's not useless though!

Social media influencers

School archivists

Have worked in internal comms. Can confirm.

Prince and Princess of Wales.

Any Equality, Diversity & Inclusion person

Still going on about a vote that happened nearly 8 years ago?
Really!!!!

Buttalapasta
John Lewis used to have lift attendants

All stores and office blocks would have had lift attendants - I believe this was legally required as a specific job for people with disabilities. There were several designated roles that only people with disabilities could be employed to do. That bit of legislation is long gone

Well I guess when we stop feeling all the negative consequences from Brexit, people won't need to discuss it. Only another 50 or so years to go!

barneshome
Still going on about a vote that happened nearly 8 years ago?
Really!!!!

Those who wanted the UK to leave the EU didn't stop 'going on' about it after the first referendum, did they ? Unrealistic to expect people who voted to stay to put up and shut up

But then how would the people of Sussex band together against attempted incursions from Hampshire and Kent?!

*Nicked from a vague memory of a HIGNFY Facebook post

Omg this.

The internal newsletter is almost certainly not the only task they do.

It's the only thing you see, but they will also be managing responses to queries from journalists, promoting any major council initiatives, press releases (i.e. getting space in local press to publicise things the local community needs to know), managing the comments whenever the council appears in the news over something etc.

You know when a news article says "A council/hospital/department spokesperson said...."? That's the comms team.

(I'm not a comms person myself, but I'm not silly enough to think that all they do is internal newsletters.)

Agree with this. Gambling provides a small amount of fun for some people, anda large amount of pain for many others. It's a net negative, society would be better off without the whole industry.

So while he was spending time doing this, their activity will have dropped to nil, and they'll have lost a large number of longstanding clients? Clients aren't just going to wait around until the firm is ready to start doing some logistics again.

If this is real (I dont believe it is), the man was an idiot, because it's possible to measure productivity without putting your entire business on hold for weeks/months and taking such a huge hit to revenue and reputation.

It's the kind of story that sounds clever until you actually think about the reality of it, and the impact that ceasing all activity would have on a business.

I know at least two companies who employ very elderly ladies to make tea and coffee at breaktime. Everyone has their own mugs and own coffee and tea but at breaktime, they cant use them and have to go along with buying it from the old ladies who give them a biscuit on the saucer too.
Purely because nobody has the heart to sack them.
What's also amusing is the ladies are very slow, so not everyone has time to drink their drink.

When I say at least two, I actually meant two. But there are probably more out there...

I work in customer service (telephony) and I’d say my job would probably be cut by about half if people were to use their common sense before phoning! Half of it is actually solving real problems but a good chunk is basically unnecessary phone calls

Goodness, given the barriers companies put in place to stop people calling them, I am surprised any "frivolous" call still gets through"

@lieselotte Unfortunately not! Although we’re not particularly difficult to phone so maybe companies which are harder to phone get less of this

Personal shoppers
Influencers
Nail technicians
Cosmetic surgeons/ anyone who does Botox/fillers
Sommeliers
Table sweeping people at posh restaurants
Interior designers
Ghostwriters for celebrities especially certain celebrities
Celebrities
Tv announcers
Anyone in advertising
Publicans

It's a joke from the hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy. A planet got rid of its useless members, such as telephone sanitisers, and ended up being wiped out by a disease spread through unsanitary telephone receivers.

@Aphrathestorm I don't think they're redundant jobs..

I like getting my nails done and personal shoppers help me find what I need.

You mean those are jobs that embody values you don't share.