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«(...)
A Changing Workplace
Back then, everything was handwritten, so good handwriting was essential. Reports were typed on manual typewriters. Accountants had to learn to add a column of numbers; I was not allowed to use an adding machine.
As there were no copy machines, carbon paper was used to create multiple copies. Negatives had to be in red, and typewriter ribbons had both a black and a red section. If there was a negative, we had to insert red copy paper. Everyone’s hands were dirty; typos were a nightmare, accurate typing skills were essential. I couldn’t thank my mother enough for insisting that I take typing in 11th grade, a skill that still serves me well in the computer age. Tax return preparation on the computer is wonderful, ensuring that we do not make obvious calculation errors, and it’s nice that the IRS no longer writes us that we added something wrong.
Office buildings at the time were hot in the summer—no air conditioning, only an open window. The dress code was suits and ties every day. For one large Touche client, I had to wear a hat. I dutifully bought one from a friend’s parents’ haberdasher and wore it for a few weeks; after that, it collected dust.
In the firms, most of the accountants were men and most of the secretaries were women. Everyone dated, and there were lots of marriages. The demographics of the profession has changed for the better. When I started, it was almost all white men. Now we have many female accountants, and the office looks like the United Nations. I love it. (...)». Leia na integra.
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