We can work it out

When COVID hit in March 2020, did any of us realize that it would change just about everything in the world for everyone in the world?

I mean, besides the horrible amount of people who died and who were made sick, many of whom will be dealing with the long COVID for a long amount of time.  And for those who call the whole thing a hoax, how do you explain all those fatalities and lingering illnesses? 

Work changed for those whose jobs, up until that March, involved going to an office or workplace. Those whose jobs involve putting out fires, selling groceries, fixing cars, and other non-office pursuits were not so affected, but lots of office people began working from home.

I first became aware of the new way of work when I had to call my cable and internet provider about something. I won't mention their name, but it rhymes with TomFast.  Anyway, a woman was helping me deal with the jamup and suddenly came the bewailing bawl of a young child who had just a) cut off a major appendage or b) been denied that last few Frooty Pebbles by an older brother. She asked if I would mind being put on hold for a minute and I said sure. She returned in a few minutes and apologized for the disruption; I asked if it was Take Your Child To Work Day and she said no, she was home, as were all the NomLast customer service reps. So, it's fine, work went on, and offices were productive for the most part.

Mr Hart would not approve.

So, as the world keeps changing and modifying the norms, thousands of British employees are trying out a new four-day-per-week schedule for a while. With no cut in pay, they are trying on this new pair of shoes for six months.

It's only a trial, but it should prove interesting. 3,300 workers (in metric Britain, that works out to 3,300 workers) are pledging to do 100% of their work in 80% of the time for 100% of their pay.

It's all the idea of an outfit called 4 Day Week Global, which is one of those "think tanks" where these ideas are hatched. Researchers, equipped with clipboards and furrowed brows, are on the job representing Cambridge University, Oxford University and Boston College.

At an independent brewery in London called Pressure Drop Brewing, Sienna O’Rourke, a brand manager, told CNN Business that their biggest goal was to "improve the mental health and well-being of its employees."

“The pandemic [has] made us think a great deal about work and how people organize their lives,” she said. “We’re doing this to improve the lives of our staff and be part of a progressive change in the world.”

Interesting enough, before anyone ever heard of Covid, Iceland conducted the biggest test of a shortened working week from 2015 and 2019.  2,500 public sector workers did the same jobs in fewer hours, and the result was "no corresponding drop in productivity among participants, and a dramatic increase in employee well-being."

As long as companies get the work done, they are willing to overlook the increase in employee well-being. Bottom line above all. 

I thing we can expect this sort of thing to change the workplace soon and forever. 9-5 Mon-Fri is about to punch the time clock for the last time.