OXFORD University researchers say 35 per cent of jobs will be done by robots over the next five to ten years.

No surprise that staff are feeling undervalued.

There used to be a phrase called "work shy". Now “work sick” is sadly becoming more common.

I read in the Globe about the soaring sickness levels of Wirral Borough Council staff.

Why? I have worked since I was 16 for private and public sectors and met proud people who would often boast of how few days they had taken off in their careers.

Since then it seems staff in various organisations do not get the job satisfaction they may have once had due to a combination of factors: stress; management style; workloads; cost-cutting and the spectre of redundancy.

I am freelance again and if I get sick I don’t get paid.

Those on Jobseekers' Allowance dread getting ill because they won’t be able to sign on.

Employers in all walks of life have a duty to look after their staff to make them feel wanted and valued...to feel human.

Motivated. I have sat through many appraisals over the past 40 years (and even conducted some). Annual appraisals should be mandatory.

They can be rewarding and encouraging yet without forward vision and positive internal communications they can seem pointless.

An appraiser once asked me: "Where do you see yourself in five years time?" 

I said: "doing your job". 

It didn't quite pan out. Staff cuts were made a month later.

Some employers now bring in consultants many of whom will never know what it is really like on the shop floor or for that matter in the board rooms.

A recent crackdown by Wirral Council hasn't solved the problem.

It's time that the "fastest improving council" dug deeper into the root causes of why their sickness rate is far higher than the national average and on the increase.

Despite the Oxford boffins' predictions, some staff may already feel like robots.

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ONE man who loves his job(s) is Wirral-based Pete Price who will be celebrating his 70th on January 25.

"But it’s going to be a top secret do", he said – and coming from the gossip guru that is going to be tough – not letting the cat out of the bag before then.

Talking of cats, Pete, whose autobiography is called Namedropper, is one of the stars of this year's Empire show – Dick Whittington. He revealed he has been in 30 pantomimes.

He recalled working with Cilla: "I miss holidaying with her and dear Bob Monkhouse. Cilla loved her champagne even while cooking me breakfast."

Pricey is playing two roles in a show that will, he gushes, astonish the audience with a 3D spectacles-spectacular.

After each performance Pete, 69, will get out his bus pass and head out to do his four hour Radio City phone-in show.

Before the Inferno left him taking another selfie of himself, he dropped another name.

“Did I tell you when me and Paul O’Grady…" 

That's definitely enough name-dropping for now, Pete.

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JEREMY Corbyn is getting instant appraisals – good and bad.

The Labour leader wants to change PM’s Question Time by offering "Citizens Questions." 

Welcome "Citizen Corbyn."

It was pure coincidence that this week we heard reports that the 1977 BBC series Citizen Smith was apparently going to return.

The wonderful Robert Lindsay, 65, who I met when he worked on Alan Bleasdale's GBH, has now quashed (via Twitter) any rumours that Wolfie will return as has the writer John Sullivan’s estate.

Bringing back the Tooting Popular Front rebel would be like re-making The New Statesman – political sit-coms that had their time and place.

I want to see one show make a comeback – we need unbiased, satire more than ever. Spitting Image take a bow.

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AND finally ... back to day jobs.

I’ve seen the Stump Squad in action (litter enforcement officers) who can fine you for discarding a cigarette end in a public place.

Pay up ... and no butts.

I wonder whether, if e-ciggie smokers run out of power, will they be penalised for dropping a battery?

Peter Grant