A bit of a git

A telephone conversation, overheard in the FRU office, several years ago:

Mr Smith, you’ve told me what happened. It seems to me that basically you’re saying that your ex-boss is a bit of a git.

Now, I’ve heard what you’ve got to say, and I’ve read the documents. You know what? I agree. He is a bit of a git.

So, what’s going to happen next, is that we’ll turn up to the tribunal on Monday and they’ll hear the case. And I bet they’ll think he’s a bit of a git too.

The problem, Mr Smith, is that being a bit of a git isn’t actually against the law.

I don’t object!

Courtroom dramas are filled with beautiful people who, at the slightest provocation, leap to their feet to shout “I object”.

Of course, real life in the employment tribunals is not like this. But a lot of litigation is similar. One side will want to do something, or do it in a particular way, while the other side tries to stop them.

A lot of these arguments are important. Many are not. But people (and lawyers are some of the worse) often fall into the trap of objecting to everything the other side tries to do.

This is foolish for several reasons.