Something most people don’t know about me – I can get done in an hour what it takes most people to do in three. Like a small elf in Santa’s workshop, I’m extremely and passionately productive. It’s like magic; I can’t really explain it…I’m just gifted. Even on my busiest days, days where I can hardly come up for a breath from all the work– I still find myself on Twitter for at least a half an hour, if not more (though most of that time is still spent promoting/tweeting about clients).
In my actual 8.5-hour day, probably four of those hours could be better spent working from the comfort and convenience of my own home…turning out better work in addition, mind you. On Fridays, that number increases by about four and a half more.
It's no secret that Americans are the hardest working culture possibly in the world. We work 24 hours a day, seven days a week chasing after the American Dream. The fact of the matter is, we could, in all honesty, work all day and all night and all weekend at all hours. My point being - there's certainly no shortage of work.
But when there is no shortage of work and no time-in/time-out clock, there's only one person who can blow the whistle, time out and go home - you. I'm sure if you're like me, you really do not mind staying late or working overtime if there is a particular deadline at stake; sometimes you just have to/want to/need to finish what you're doing. But when there is no deadline, what's wrong with the workday ending at 5:00 p.m.? Nothing. And don't let anyone tell you differently.
While we are an extremely hard working culture, we live in a time where people value face time over productivity. Fortunately, nine to five workers are a dying breed. Scientifically, working from nine to five just doesn’t make sense. When’s the last time you did anything in terms of personal business or projects for eight consecutive hours? When forced to do anything for that long, we lose the ability to concentrate effectively within just a few hours of starting.
To achieve the highest level of energy in your brain, breaks must be taken. Sure, we could push through and stare at a computer screen at work for 8.5 hours, but the work produced definitely won’t have the same creative edge as if your brain was being constantly rejuvenated with non-work activities.
Since I’m not one to complain about a problem without proposing a substantial solution, I suggest a Compressed Work Schedule (CWS). If you’ve ever worked for the government or know anyone who does, you may be familiar with this beautiful agenda. For those of you who aren’t, allow me to explain.
A compressed work schedule is one where employees work their total number of full time hours in fewer days by working more hours a day. The day off can be the same for all employees or it may vary or rotate. The most common compressed work schedules are 4/40, A 40-hour week consisting of four 10-hour days and one day off a week (or every other week); a 9/80, 80 hours worked over two weeks, consisting of eight 9-hour days, one 8-hour day and one day off; and a 3/36, A 36-hour week consisting of three 12-hour days and two days off a week.
Compressed Work Schedules benefit employers immensely because they are PROVEN to reduce absenteeism, tardiness and turnover by tremendously improving employee morale. A CWS provides employers with more coverage for customer services/client face time over various time periods during the workday. It’s also very beneficial for employees because it provides more flexibility for family and personal responsibilities.
If you are hesitant to try a compressed work schedule for your entire workforce, I suggest instituting a pilot program. If this pilot results in employee and management satisfaction, then the program could be expanded.
In some instances, as in my case particularly, employees may not have fixed hours from nine to five, or similar. In this case, a compressed work schedule can be negotiated among the work force by proposing that any extra hours worked (for overtime, events, or on weekends) does not count toward the CWS week hours. (For example, if you work a special event that goes until 10:00 p.m. on a Tuesday night, those extra hours worked would not be counted as part of the CWS week, and you would continue to work your CWS week as expected.)
A common concern that employers have about this and other remote work arrangements is that employees will abuse the time by slacking off. Employers give an inch and they’re afraid employees will take a mile. While I think this is a valid trepidation, I think it depends on the quantity and quality of staff. If you’re an employee who is as hard working, productive and trustworthy, not unlike myself, and your staff is at a manageable number, not unlike my company, that fact of the matter is – it might just be a perfect fit.
Good luck pitching this to your dinosaur boss who’s probably still living in the nine to five Stone Age. The cave man has come to his senses. The change is inevitable.
In the mean time, there will be plenty of work left for me to do on Monday. And I never miss a deadline,
Bridget Marie
In my actual 8.5-hour day, probably four of those hours could be better spent working from the comfort and convenience of my own home…turning out better work in addition, mind you. On Fridays, that number increases by about four and a half more.
It's no secret that Americans are the hardest working culture possibly in the world. We work 24 hours a day, seven days a week chasing after the American Dream. The fact of the matter is, we could, in all honesty, work all day and all night and all weekend at all hours. My point being - there's certainly no shortage of work.
But when there is no shortage of work and no time-in/time-out clock, there's only one person who can blow the whistle, time out and go home - you. I'm sure if you're like me, you really do not mind staying late or working overtime if there is a particular deadline at stake; sometimes you just have to/want to/need to finish what you're doing. But when there is no deadline, what's wrong with the workday ending at 5:00 p.m.? Nothing. And don't let anyone tell you differently.
While we are an extremely hard working culture, we live in a time where people value face time over productivity. Fortunately, nine to five workers are a dying breed. Scientifically, working from nine to five just doesn’t make sense. When’s the last time you did anything in terms of personal business or projects for eight consecutive hours? When forced to do anything for that long, we lose the ability to concentrate effectively within just a few hours of starting.
To achieve the highest level of energy in your brain, breaks must be taken. Sure, we could push through and stare at a computer screen at work for 8.5 hours, but the work produced definitely won’t have the same creative edge as if your brain was being constantly rejuvenated with non-work activities.
Since I’m not one to complain about a problem without proposing a substantial solution, I suggest a Compressed Work Schedule (CWS). If you’ve ever worked for the government or know anyone who does, you may be familiar with this beautiful agenda. For those of you who aren’t, allow me to explain.
A compressed work schedule is one where employees work their total number of full time hours in fewer days by working more hours a day. The day off can be the same for all employees or it may vary or rotate. The most common compressed work schedules are 4/40, A 40-hour week consisting of four 10-hour days and one day off a week (or every other week); a 9/80, 80 hours worked over two weeks, consisting of eight 9-hour days, one 8-hour day and one day off; and a 3/36, A 36-hour week consisting of three 12-hour days and two days off a week.
Compressed Work Schedules benefit employers immensely because they are PROVEN to reduce absenteeism, tardiness and turnover by tremendously improving employee morale. A CWS provides employers with more coverage for customer services/client face time over various time periods during the workday. It’s also very beneficial for employees because it provides more flexibility for family and personal responsibilities.
If you are hesitant to try a compressed work schedule for your entire workforce, I suggest instituting a pilot program. If this pilot results in employee and management satisfaction, then the program could be expanded.
In some instances, as in my case particularly, employees may not have fixed hours from nine to five, or similar. In this case, a compressed work schedule can be negotiated among the work force by proposing that any extra hours worked (for overtime, events, or on weekends) does not count toward the CWS week hours. (For example, if you work a special event that goes until 10:00 p.m. on a Tuesday night, those extra hours worked would not be counted as part of the CWS week, and you would continue to work your CWS week as expected.)
A common concern that employers have about this and other remote work arrangements is that employees will abuse the time by slacking off. Employers give an inch and they’re afraid employees will take a mile. While I think this is a valid trepidation, I think it depends on the quantity and quality of staff. If you’re an employee who is as hard working, productive and trustworthy, not unlike myself, and your staff is at a manageable number, not unlike my company, that fact of the matter is – it might just be a perfect fit.
Good luck pitching this to your dinosaur boss who’s probably still living in the nine to five Stone Age. The cave man has come to his senses. The change is inevitable.
In the mean time, there will be plenty of work left for me to do on Monday. And I never miss a deadline,
Bridget Marie
I would love to hear from you! Email me at bridget (DOT) forney (AT) gmail.com or find me on Twitter at twitter.com/BridgetForney.
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