The Seven Day Weekend
Looking at the Rollercoaster discussion boards the other day one of the most common issues raised in the work section was part time working. A common theme was the issue “my employer says the business can’t support it” with many employees feeling guilty about even asking for part time work.
Our society is so brain washed that unless we have a full time working job many of us feel like we’re not valued or making a proper contribution. This is not just an issue that affects Mothers, it affects Fathers, retired people, carers and people who have talents which are not recognised in the traditional working world i.e. people with disabilities, or creative talents. Many organisations treat people as machines, not as rational, intelligent, feeling people.
Yet there is another way which works for both people and organisations
Reading Ricardo Semler’s book “The seven day weekend” some years ago was a revelation. His Brazilian company Semco has grown from $35 million revenues in 1994 to $212 million in 2003
Here are some direct quotes from the book.
“Semco has no official structure. It has no organisational chart. There’s no business plan….There are no vice presidents….There are no standards or practices…. There’s no human resources departments…no career plans… no job descriptions…no employee contracts….supervision or monitoring of workers is rare indeed..”
“We (Semco) give up control so workers can follow their interests and their instincts when choosing jobs or projects”
“Semco employees are free to customise their workdays, to come in earlier or later than traditional schedules. The hours they work are determined by their self interest, not by company dictates. They’re the best judges of the amount of time and the proper place necessary to get their job done”
(This is the case even on the factory production line)
“Ours (Semco) idea is in hiring people who will find a click between their life purpose and ours”
“The date of the (candidate hiring) interview is posted so any employee who is interested can participate. (in selecting the new employee)
(If no employees turn up they decide the job must not be very relevant and usually decide not to fill it !)
Managers don’t have desks or offices, secretaries, parking places, business cards or official titles.
To the outsider Semco is totally disorganised. To customers however Semco provides quality services. Semco rarely loses customers and staff turnover is very low. (less than 1%)
Semler believes “The opposite of work is not leisure, but idleness” and we don’t have enough idleness in our lives today.
The main principle is to “ask why” and it must be asked at least 3 times in a row.
Why can Semco operate in such an apparently crazy fashion and still be successful for its employees, customers and stakeholders?
Why is our working culture such that being seen on the company premises is more important than actually producing results ?
Why is happiness in work not more important?
If you feel out of step with your working life read this book. I got it in our local library and it's an easy read. It will reassure you, you’re not the problem.
Our society is so brain washed that unless we have a full time working job many of us feel like we’re not valued or making a proper contribution. This is not just an issue that affects Mothers, it affects Fathers, retired people, carers and people who have talents which are not recognised in the traditional working world i.e. people with disabilities, or creative talents. Many organisations treat people as machines, not as rational, intelligent, feeling people.
Yet there is another way which works for both people and organisations
Reading Ricardo Semler’s book “The seven day weekend” some years ago was a revelation. His Brazilian company Semco has grown from $35 million revenues in 1994 to $212 million in 2003
Here are some direct quotes from the book.
“Semco has no official structure. It has no organisational chart. There’s no business plan….There are no vice presidents….There are no standards or practices…. There’s no human resources departments…no career plans… no job descriptions…no employee contracts….supervision or monitoring of workers is rare indeed..”
“We (Semco) give up control so workers can follow their interests and their instincts when choosing jobs or projects”
“Semco employees are free to customise their workdays, to come in earlier or later than traditional schedules. The hours they work are determined by their self interest, not by company dictates. They’re the best judges of the amount of time and the proper place necessary to get their job done”
(This is the case even on the factory production line)
“Ours (Semco) idea is in hiring people who will find a click between their life purpose and ours”
“The date of the (candidate hiring) interview is posted so any employee who is interested can participate. (in selecting the new employee)
(If no employees turn up they decide the job must not be very relevant and usually decide not to fill it !)
Managers don’t have desks or offices, secretaries, parking places, business cards or official titles.
To the outsider Semco is totally disorganised. To customers however Semco provides quality services. Semco rarely loses customers and staff turnover is very low. (less than 1%)
Semler believes “The opposite of work is not leisure, but idleness” and we don’t have enough idleness in our lives today.
The main principle is to “ask why” and it must be asked at least 3 times in a row.
Why can Semco operate in such an apparently crazy fashion and still be successful for its employees, customers and stakeholders?
Why is our working culture such that being seen on the company premises is more important than actually producing results ?
Why is happiness in work not more important?
If you feel out of step with your working life read this book. I got it in our local library and it's an easy read. It will reassure you, you’re not the problem.
It is also useful for employers who want to manage in a more effective way.
Linking key words
part time working
career advice dublin
career guidance ireland
7 day weekend
Linking key words
part time working
career advice dublin
career guidance ireland
7 day weekend
posted by Carol @ 07:38
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