There are many different traffic light systems employed today. There is, of course, the very successful and highly regarded precursor to all of the traffic light systems, the traffic light. Who here can honestly say that they could confidently tackle an intersection situation without the help of our red, amber and green friends?

Then there’s the food labelling traffic light system that is being proposed in the UK right now where, instead of trying to do nutritional information mathematics in the checkout aisle, you can, at a glance see if a product has too much salt, calories or sugar by whether it is coupled with a red, amber or green dot.

Both are helpful and intuitive additions to the traffic light family.

Then there’s Everything Everywhere’s take on the traffic light. In a wanton display of douchebaggery, the company, formed by the recent merger between UK mobile providers, Orange and T-Mobile, herded all of their employees into a room in groups of 30-60 people and showed them a coloured light.

Red meant their job was “at risk”, orange that they must reapply for their jobs. Blue and green meant that they were safe under the new business plan.

One employee said:

“Some of the people got up and walked straight out of the room, others sat there crying, others were absolutely dumbstruck.”

I’ve been fired in a lot of ways, but never in a way that involved colours. Way to push the envelope, Everything Everywhere.

[Source: Telegraph]