How do words make you feel?

HMRC

I'm currently working with HMRC to develop a new online service. As part of this, I'm interested in gathering feedback around language and how it makes people feel. I've posted a short survey here, and would be interested in your comments and opinions. It'll only take a few minutes! Thank you. https://goo.gl/forms/L9hYqFaVyzefRArv2

booksurr

it is fascinating to see how taxpayer money is spent on identifying the lowest possible denominator of wording which "the public" can be expected to understand. What a indicator of our educational standards.

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

booksurr wrote: »

it is fascinating to see how taxpayer money is spent on identifying the lowest possible denominator of wording which "the public" can be expected to understand. What a indicator of our educational standards.

Surely it's "an" indicator?

le_loup

I don't disagree with you but it is a sign of our age when "delivery drivers" are compelled to be "self employed" and thus have to have contact with HMRC.
Years ago, most workers would never have needed to go beyond their payroll department.

Pennywise

le_loup wrote: »

I don't disagree with you but it is a sign of our age when "delivery drivers" are compelled to be "self employed" and thus have to have contact with HMRC.
Years ago, most workers would never have needed to go beyond their payroll department.

That's simply down to too much cost and red tape re employing people. Completely inevitable and foreseeable with the ever increasing employment rights, ever increasing employers national insurance, cost of new workplace pensions, mat/paternity leave, employers having to fund sick pay, etc. The way things are going, everyone will be self employed and no-one will be employed. What a great success for the employment right brigade.

le_loup

nothing whatever to do with greed then?

teddysmum

booksurr wrote: »

it is fascinating to see how taxpayer money is spent on identifying the lowest possible denominator of wording which "the public" can be expected to understand. What a indicator of our educational standards.

The renaming of the National Canine Defence League (Dogs Trust)comes to mind, as they thought people wouldn't understand that 'canine' referred to dogs.


Re the above: I don't think I would search the internet on any key words as the letters give a phone number for use if you have problems paying.

booksurr

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays wrote: »

Surely it's "an" indicator?

Indeed it is, but is that how "the common man" would talk? I rather doubt it as the objective is to find words "they" understand. (And yes that is gender terrorism; as well as erroneously starting with a conjunction).

teddysmum wrote: »

Re the above: I don't think I would search the internet on any key words as the letters give a phone number for use if you have problems paying.

I'll bet that a large number of those who do search will still end up on forums such as this anyway.

Wayne_O_Mac

Pennywise wrote: »

That's simply down to too much cost and red tape re employing people. Completely inevitable and foreseeable with the ever increasing employment rights, ever increasing employers national insurance, cost of new workplace pensions, mat/paternity leave, employers having to fund sick pay, etc. The way things are going, everyone will be self employed and no-one will be employed. What a great success for the employment right brigade.

This is an utterly despicable attitude and you should be ashamed of yourself.

badmemory

Wayne_O_Mac wrote: »

This is an utterly despicable attitude and you should be ashamed of yourself.

No unfortunately not - just stating fact as it is now becoming for many people seeking employment.

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

Wayne_O_Mac wrote: »

This is an utterly despicable attitude and you should be ashamed of yourself.

Oh behave. And get into the real world.


If tax on tobacco stops people smoking, and tax on alcohol stops people drinking, what on earth do you think tax on employment does? Go to France if you don't believe me, where it is twice as onerous to employ people, and they have double our rate of unemployment.