Post by Teddy Bear on Dec 17, 2011 19:50:11 GMT
Like the 'lifting up a box' video that has to be seen every 2 years, just in case the staff forget. This article in the Daily Mail explains this, and other absurd ones that simply waste time and money.
'Colossal waste of time and money': BBC criticised over training video that's like something from The Office
BBC managers have been criticised over a training video that staff say is so ridiculous it resembles a scene from The Office.
The video - which shows staff throwing paper at each other, drinking at the pub and taking taxis everywhere - has been branded a 'colossal waste of time and money'.
Workers said the excruciating 30-minute film resembled an episode of the Ricky Gervais series called Training, in which embarrassing boss David Brent plays the guitar in front of his bemused employees.
The 'mandatory video' - which cost £34,000 to produce - has been watched by 90 per cent of BBC staff, which includes experienced stars such as Jeremy Paxman.
BBC worker Darynn Garrett, a studio manager at BBC Radio, said the video bore no resemblance to his working life.
He also recounted being forced to complete a £72-per-person Manual Handling Awareness course, which includes advice on how to lift a box.
He said in a letter to BBC internal magazine Ariel: 'I have just completed my compulsory data protection course.
'It's an online course with several films supposedly depicting life at the BBC.
'They consist of people throwing paper at each other, going to the pub and taking BBC taxis everywhere.
'It's not a BBC I recognise and I do not think it's one we should be depicting in these supposedly tough times, whether internally or otherwise.
'Furthermore, I did a very similar course not long ago and really did not need to do this course.'
The course is described by the BBC as an 'introduction to the essentials of data protection' and 'a lively and interactive journey through the topic providing guidance, describing best practice and explaining where to turn for help'.
Mr Garrett also attacked his bosses for sending him on a course to learn 'how to lift a box.'
He said: 'Lifting up a box courses have to be repeated every two years in case I may forget how to lift up a box.
'I very rarely, if ever, have had to lift up a box at work. But one course surely is one too many.
'Is this a good use of money?'
The BBC summary of the three-hour Manual Handling Awareness course says the face-to-face tutorial 'gives a practical understanding of the risk involved, and control measures required, in lifting and carrying.'
Another member of the BBC, who did not want to be named, said: 'Pretty much everyone who works here had endured this online tutorial about data protection.
'It shows a string of scenarios where you could slip up, including throwing bits of paper at each other in the office, leaving documents in the pub or dropping them as you go around in taxis.'
I very rarely, if ever, have had to lift up a box at work. But one course surely is one too many.
He added: 'The embarrassing thing is that everyone has to watch this video - it's mandatory - so you've got people like Jeremy Paxman being told they have to watch the video.
'To be honest, if a 10-year-old didn't know the things were were being told they should be ashamed of themselves. It is a colossal waste of everyone's time and of course money.'
A spokesman for the BBC said: 'Up to December 5 2011, the Data Protection Act course has been completed 19,704 times across all divisions of the BBC.
'The course is mandatory for all staff. The estimated duration of the Data Protection course is 25-30 minutes, depending on the pace of the learner.'
She added: 'The capital cost of the design and production of the Data Protection course was £34,000 - the filming elements of the course accounted for £16,500 of the overall production cost of the course.'
Of the Manual Handling Awareness course, the spokesman said: 'Training would only be required for those who undertake significant manual handling in the course of their work - this would be determined by local management through risk assessment.'
BBC managers have been criticised over a training video that staff say is so ridiculous it resembles a scene from The Office.
The video - which shows staff throwing paper at each other, drinking at the pub and taking taxis everywhere - has been branded a 'colossal waste of time and money'.
Workers said the excruciating 30-minute film resembled an episode of the Ricky Gervais series called Training, in which embarrassing boss David Brent plays the guitar in front of his bemused employees.
The 'mandatory video' - which cost £34,000 to produce - has been watched by 90 per cent of BBC staff, which includes experienced stars such as Jeremy Paxman.
BBC worker Darynn Garrett, a studio manager at BBC Radio, said the video bore no resemblance to his working life.
He also recounted being forced to complete a £72-per-person Manual Handling Awareness course, which includes advice on how to lift a box.
He said in a letter to BBC internal magazine Ariel: 'I have just completed my compulsory data protection course.
'It's an online course with several films supposedly depicting life at the BBC.
'They consist of people throwing paper at each other, going to the pub and taking BBC taxis everywhere.
'It's not a BBC I recognise and I do not think it's one we should be depicting in these supposedly tough times, whether internally or otherwise.
'Furthermore, I did a very similar course not long ago and really did not need to do this course.'
The course is described by the BBC as an 'introduction to the essentials of data protection' and 'a lively and interactive journey through the topic providing guidance, describing best practice and explaining where to turn for help'.
Mr Garrett also attacked his bosses for sending him on a course to learn 'how to lift a box.'
He said: 'Lifting up a box courses have to be repeated every two years in case I may forget how to lift up a box.
'I very rarely, if ever, have had to lift up a box at work. But one course surely is one too many.
'Is this a good use of money?'
The BBC summary of the three-hour Manual Handling Awareness course says the face-to-face tutorial 'gives a practical understanding of the risk involved, and control measures required, in lifting and carrying.'
Another member of the BBC, who did not want to be named, said: 'Pretty much everyone who works here had endured this online tutorial about data protection.
'It shows a string of scenarios where you could slip up, including throwing bits of paper at each other in the office, leaving documents in the pub or dropping them as you go around in taxis.'
I very rarely, if ever, have had to lift up a box at work. But one course surely is one too many.
He added: 'The embarrassing thing is that everyone has to watch this video - it's mandatory - so you've got people like Jeremy Paxman being told they have to watch the video.
'To be honest, if a 10-year-old didn't know the things were were being told they should be ashamed of themselves. It is a colossal waste of everyone's time and of course money.'
A spokesman for the BBC said: 'Up to December 5 2011, the Data Protection Act course has been completed 19,704 times across all divisions of the BBC.
'The course is mandatory for all staff. The estimated duration of the Data Protection course is 25-30 minutes, depending on the pace of the learner.'
She added: 'The capital cost of the design and production of the Data Protection course was £34,000 - the filming elements of the course accounted for £16,500 of the overall production cost of the course.'
Of the Manual Handling Awareness course, the spokesman said: 'Training would only be required for those who undertake significant manual handling in the course of their work - this would be determined by local management through risk assessment.'