Article Should Be Directed to Partners

The article “ To Your Health ” ( JofA , Sep.03, page 65) was informative. However, shouldn’t it be directed at the firms’ partners so they can assist their employees with surviving tax season in a healthy environment? As staff we are limited in the number of hours we have to do anything other than work. Yet nothing in the article was directed to the firm itself.

Our firm does provide us with fruit during tax season instead of just high calorie snacks, but I don’t believe the partners would appreciate our exercising in the office.

What I really want to know is this: Thirty years ago CPAs had to work 60 to 80 hours six days a week during tax season when everything was done by hand. Now we have tools to help us get the job done better and faster—computers, software and imaging, for example. It’s 2003 and we still are working 60 to 80 hours six days a week during tax season. Why? Maybe it’s time to rethink tax season not only in terms of eating right and exercising but why we have to continue this punishing schedule just because it’s the way it’s always been done.

Adele Bonar, CPA
Burlington, New Jersey