I was at the polyclinic yesterday. Very interestingly, I can still see the “helpers” made of mostly aunties and a makcik, helping patients from the very entrance till the point you are at the waiting area to see the consultant. I was and have always been puzzled by the nature of their job, wondering if they are told to do so, or just based on their initiatives.
Look around and observe. Because of technology, companies are making a lot more by cutting man power. In radio, we call it OMO, (One Man Operation). Previously, there were an engineer, in-charge for the technical area such as sound mixing. A dj however, will play music, an announcer will do the talking and the newscaster will be reading the news. Now, a producer/presenter will have to do it all.
I am pretty concerned thinking about the staffs and our elderly who are still hoping for an iron rice bowl. It does not seem like it will happen anymore. Only in certain industries and companies, they can survive. In the transportation business for an example, we do not see the conductor anymore. The one that issues out ticket and to him that we pay. Now, one man operation took away his job. The Bus Driver.
How about barrier operated parking spaces? We will expect lesser parking attendants too. Definitely they cost a lot cheaper as compared to paying individual attendants. What will their future hold?
Going back to the polyclinic, it will only takes someone to say stop, and all these aunties will be out of job. Imagine, they are the ones helping you scan your appointment cards or ICs, when the auto machine is already so friendly, they will click for you on the touch screen computer when you can read and touch yourselves, they announce the numbers on the big screen when you actually can read it yourselves too.
Good thing though, as long as there are illiterate and helpless old folks around that can’t read or are afraid of technologies, these aunties will continue to stay in the polyclinic. I hope they will remain because the computer and the machines don’t smile back at you.