Friday, August 01, 2008

Their Excellencies the job sharers

Intriguing piece in the Diplomatic News.

Ms Carolyn Davidson & Mr Thomas Carter have been appointed joint British High Commissioner to the Republic of Zambia

I assumed they must be a couple, else why would anyone want to go to Zambia to work part time?

I also wondered if this is a first or a commonplace now

Well yes they are & no it is not a first: the same couple have previously job-shared in Bratislava

When you think of it, the old fashioned diplomatic posting was a kind of job share, with the Ambassador’s/High Commissioner’s wife playing an important role as hostess & overseer of the wives of junior embassy staff.

It was just the contractual arrangements which were different

I wonder if they share the responsibility for menu planning & flower arranging for official entertainments?