Friction refers to systems and processes that don’t work properly
Around this time of year in Australia, the performance of staff often deteriorates.
Why this time of year? Well, it's halfway between the big end-of-year holidays (and after the end of the tax year). In Australia and New Zealand that’s around July. In other countries, for instance, the US, it's more likely to be in January and February again halfway between the big breaks. It’s also coldest and darkest.