Return to " the bad old days! "

In Charles Dicken's " Merry olde England " the serfs were virtually owned by their employer.  Now it seems that similar conditions are to be imposed on some Federal government employees.

Tanya Plibersek's Department of Human Resources - which includes the 37,000 people who work in Medicare, Centrelink and child support services have been told that if they want to engage in unpaid volunteer work - in their own free time - they will first need to get the approval of their boss.

Not only that, but they will need to renew their application each year and provide their boss with information about any change in the style of activities that the charitable institution may take from time to time.

This instruction stresses that it will have no application on personal religious activities, and there will be " exemptions " from the rule - bit it fails to accurately list what these may be.

It seems we are entering an era when government employees must present - cap in hand  - tug their forelock - and humbly ask permission to join a Lion's Club or Rotary, spend weekend time as a lifesaver on our beaches, or pick up a bag and help on Ian Kiernan's " Clean up Australia " day !

Obviously, there must be some limitations where a conflict arises between employment and leisure activities.   For instance, it would be unseemly for a person who works as a police officer to also be a colours wearing, official member of a  motorcycle club - given that the police are trying to have such clubs legally outlawed and shut down.

Most people will see this directive as an unwarranted intrusion on employees choice of what they do with their personal time off.   It can obviously include notification of an employees membership of a political party - and details if that person intends to hand out political literature at voting booths on election day.

Political beliefs are a very personal matter - and disclosure to the boss could - in some circumstances - be used to retard work advancement.   It is the first step on a very slippery slope.

By all means list organisations that an employee must not actively pursue - if there is a legal reason for such a ban, but the way this decree is heading we will see people needing permission to be a blood donor for the Red Cross or give their time on door-knock day for the Salvation Army.

It sounds like the result of a rush of blood by some individual - because it certainly has no place in the twenty-first century !