There are a good deal of comments flying about along the lines the members of the Government are swanning around behaving like Kardashians at the taxpayers’ expense, but accuse working people, the ill, and people with mental health conditions of being scroungers. The country can afford luxury jets for ministers to fly the world, but it can’t afford health care, mental health care, pensions, good pay for carers, nurses…

Conversations out and about on the street suggest a lot of dissatisfaction with workplaces. Insecurity of jobs, people with pretentious job titles, big egos and bullying ways with subordinates.

The Government says it wants more people working. Instead of threats and insults, perhaps a change in workplace cultures and environments so that people feel enthused about being at work rather than dreading what the next working day will bring would deliver benefits. The Govt seems to have created a motivational culture of “the beatings will continue until morale improves.” That is not a good way to win economic growth and renewed sustainable prosperity.

The UK, and Ireland, seem to be authorising a lot of people from outside the EU to work in the UK for lower pay than British citizens expect, without being honest that this is what they are doing.

What does it say about our values as a country that insults and threats seem to be the default motivational tools for the Govt and many in positions of power? Or that we bring in workers from overseas to do jobs such as nursing, social care for the elderly and mentally ill, food preparation, food and retail deliveries because we are not willing to do these jobs ourselves? What does it say about our values that we can’t put on a kettle or cook a meal but have it delivered, but at the same time we’re not willing to pay people a decent wage for these jobs?

We can’t all be Kardashians, and thank heavens for that. The people who do the vital, but unglamourous, work which keeps society running deserve more appreciation, respect and reward and less entitled and abusive treatment from those deemed to be in “superior” positions in society.

Thanks to everyone who has signed so far. Keep talking, keep sharing, keep moaning, keep signing!