20 ways office work was different in the 80’s and 90’s

Computers were clunky, office chairs were creaky and desks were anything but hot. But it's more than the operator's chair and the office furniture that has changed - it's a whole way of working that has evolved from those more innocent times.

1. Lunch - now lunch is something to be grabbed at your desk with your mobile buzzing. Then it was three courses on expenses.

2. Taking a sick day - then you were off work because you were genuinely ill, now if you're off sick you're also working - from home.

3. Reading reports - back in the 80s and 90s, people actually read reports, on paper. Now, we read everything that's relevant - or NSFW - on the internet.

4. Faxing - once, we faxed the weekly update. Now we have real-time updates that track our every move.

5. Tippex - the delete button.

6. The business card - checking their LinkedIn profile before you meet.

7. Using the photocopier - why bother when you can copy everyone into an email?

8. Leaving work at 5.30pm - emailing at 5.30am.

9. The promotional pen - handing out power banks and video cards.

10. Your own desk - once we had desks with pot plants and photos; now we hot desk or head for Starbucks.

11. Chatting with the receptionist - remember human interaction? Now we check our WiFi connection when we walk through the door.

12. Your Filofax - once contact numbers were kept in a hard copy address book, now it's Outlook automatic contact save.

13. Envying the boss's office chair - now you're sitting next to the boss in a raw design open plan office.

14. A swift pint in the pub at lunchtime - half an hour with the kettlebells in the gym.

15. Celebrating - back in the 80s and 90s, it was champagne and cakes for every new success, now it's an email letting you know your new workload.

16. Transport - back then you had a company car, now you have a Brompton and some very sweaty lycra.

17. Carefully guarding your stationery stash - if you've never had your stapler pinched, you wouldn't understand. Nowadays if it can't be done online, we don't want to know.

18. Having a smoke at your desk - Having a jog at your sit stand desk.

19. In tray - inbox.

20. Uncomfortable office chairs - If your office furniture needs an upgrade from the 80s and 90s, visit and we'll be happy to bring your office into the 21st century!