The future’s bright, the future’s ……………
Q:
I’m increasingly frustrated with the vast swathe of requests for time off around school holidays. Now, I’m told some new law means we have to agree to these requests. How on earth are we supposed to turn out projects effectively under these circumstances?
A:
I’m assuming you are referring to the legislation regarding flexible working practices. The government doesn’t expect your practice to fail in its project delivery – merely to consider applications reasonably against various business criteria. Strictly speaking, from 6 April 2003, parents of children aged under six or disabled children aged under 18 have the right to apply to work flexibly and their employers have a duty to consider these requests seriously.
You will notice that the right is to apply to work flexibly and to consider these requests. The onus is on the employee to come up with a suggestion and for you to make an objective, consistent judgement. Suggested practices include part-time hours, nine-day fortnights, flexi-time or core hours and annualised hours – a total number of hours which could include working longer during term time but allow parents or guardians to spend time with their dependents during school holidays.
There is widespread concern in the industry that such practices will not only threaten project delivery programmes but also cause resentment amongst staff with no dependents. But look at it another way: you have a valuable team of staff that you’ve recruited carefully, know how you work and produce the goods. You want to hang on to them!
Some organisations have embraced the principles of flexible working and retention is high. A change of mindset is key to making these methods of working effective. Look at the results; at what is produced, rather than how many hours someone is sat at their desk.
The failure to turn on to flexible working practices is bleeding the design profession dry of talented and valuable individuals. Someone once said to me that working mothers can be some of the most efficient and productive employees around. Why would that be? – apart from the theory about women and multi-tasking! It has to be guilt. They feel guilty about not being in the office full time and so work a damn sight harder when they are there.
Equally, those who are working full time and complacently putting 50 – 60 – 70 hours on their time sheets – are they productive during those hours, or do they start their work at 6.00pm ?
These days people want to spend more time with their families or pursuing interests outside work. If they are valuable employees, you want to keep them. Perhaps they don’t have to be there every day. If you aren’t flexible, they may leave, and you will be left with a lot of mediocre people who are prepared to work all hours that God sends. The choice is yours.
June 2004
FX Magazine