For those of you who follow my posts, I have been writing about vacations - and our attitudes about taking time off. Two weeks ago I explored America's poor report card on paid vacations (here) and last week I wrote about our personal challenges with being busy, and turning off the noise when we have a chance to get away. (here.)
The United States ranks far behind other countries in offering vacation time, and millions never use the time accrued. Taking off the month of August for "holiday," like the Europeans, will never fly in the US. Yet, leave it to Americans to come up with some interesting innovations in the work force that are redefining vacation time, as well as improving daily work environments.
At a hearing on July 23rd, the congressional Joint Economic Committee reported that among employers with more than 1,000 workers, there has been a 25 percent increase in flexibility programs. Clearly, in the recession, offering flextime, compressed work weeks, and telecommuting is the best way to save jobs. As the workforce continues to technologically evolve, more employees are able to complete their work from remote locations. The upside of this trend, is an increased flexibility to bring work home and not feel 'chained to a desk.' The downside of working from home, is finding the discipline to walk away now and then for a much needed break
Ultimately, how we take, and how we use our vacation time, is a matter of personal responsibility. Beyond the concept of flex time, some trendsetting companies are tossing out the HR manual altogether - eliminating any sort of set vacation days, sick days or personal days. Employees simply take off what they need, as long as their work is getting done. Sound crazy?
This innovative concept is being implemented quite successfully. Some of the leaders in this "open vacation policy" are Best Buy with their "ROWE" policy, which stands for "Results Only Work Environment" allowing their 4,000 staff to work anywhere, anytime - as long as their work is completed. Imagine the possibilities! To further inspire their staff, Best Buy has just started a "venture citizen fund." Employees are invited to submit social change ideas for creative and financial consideration by the company.
So smart. Let's face it, if you feel valued, are able to take time off, and are encouraged to serve the planet, why would you work anywhere else?
Netflix is another trendsetter, with an "unpolicy" that does not require staff to take allotted days off. Their HR department does not keep track of vacations, tardiness or sick days and still manages to be one of the most successful companies of the past few years. Netflix Chief Executive Reed Hastings, says traditional means of keeping track of employees time are "a relic of the industrial age."
"The worst thing is for a manager to come in and tell me: `Let's give Susie a huge raise because she's always in the office.' What do I care? I want managers to come to me and say: `Let's give a really big raise to Sally because she's getting a lot done' - not because she's chained to her desk."
One in three Americans don't use all the vacation time they have earned, and barely one in 10 takes a break for two weeks straight, according to the non-profit research firm Families and Work Institute. But at Netflix, it's estimated that most employees take off about 25 to 30 days per year, using the time to stay at home, take a vacation, or work on pet projects.
Besides trends in time off, how about innovations in the quality of our time at work? With increased pressures, what can be done within the work environment to offset the daily grind? Google operates with the sound belief that individual passions can become a great asset to the company's growth. With this in mind, they offer all engineers a "20% policy", where employees can use 20% of their work week, (which is about one full work day) for special projects outside of everyday responsibilities. The new product Google News is a result of this 20% program.
Small businesses are under tremendous pressure, yet with creativity, they can also be wonderful places to work and grow. I spoke with Tami Simon, CEO of Sounds True about some of her highly acclaimed, yet simple, management philosophies. Simon founded the company in 1985 with a mission to disseminate spiritual wisdom. Starting out with an idea and a tape recorder, the company has grown into a multimedia publishing company with more than 80 employees, a library of more than 600 titles featuring some of the leading teachers and visionaries of our time, and customers from around the world.
Simon admits it is harder to create flexibility in the workplace for a smaller staff.
"As a for-profit company in today's economy, it is simply impractical for unlimited time off. However, I think the key is how we can work together to find creative solutions."
For example, one of the staff who had worked at Sounds True for seven years, wanted to take three months off for an extended maternity leave. Simon reflected on the dillema.
"I knew it would be hard for three months, then I realized: would I want to have a staff member in the office that is not present and available? This was a once in a lifetime opportunity for them, so we made it work - with a combination of vacation time, unpaid leave time, and time she spent training a contract person to work in her place."
To increase daily "sanity," Simon has a meditation room on site for staff, and encourages dog owners to bring their pets to work. With a staff of 80, about 20 dogs are roaming the office at any given time.
"The dogs give us something to care for," Simon explained." They need to go out for a walk, which is kind of like an old fashioned equivalent to a smoking break!"
During staff meetings, everyone at Sounds True start with a moment of silence, followed by a short personal 'check in,' before starting the business at hand. Simon explained why this practice has made such a difference:
"People may think to themselves, 'taking a minute- what does that do?' But during that time of quiet, we can all become much more present, and we don't feel like the day is one long sentence. It provides a feeling of punctuation."
Simon concludes: "I want to make work life something that does not take the life out of us, but is a place that let's us take life back in."
Let's hear it readers! Do you have any innovative stories to tell from the workplace? How do you find the time to rejuvenate yourself- either on site or off? Always love to hear your comments. Be sure to hear more about this subject on Monday morning on NPR's "The Takeaway" radio show, where I will be a featured guest. If you would like to receive weekly updates of this post, click on "Become A Fan."
Follow Kari Henley on Twitter: www.twitter.com/karihenley
"...encourages dog owners to bring their pets to work. With a staff of 80, about 20 dogs are roaming the office at any given time..." -- idiotic. OMG 1/2 the work force ignores their job now much less give them yet another distraction beyond gabbing about what was on American Idol or Desperate House Wives. Health and insurance issues abound with this liability nightmare.
What planet do you live on ? 80% of the work force is entirely a Dilbert environment. You do read yes ? Office Space isnt' an entertainment venue it's a documentary.
There are so many things wrong with todays American workforce I wouldnt' know where to start. But employers offering MORE time off ? Nobody dare leave because whoever isnt' around can be done without and they get voted off the island next. Your ass not dare work from home. That's the kiss of death.
We have a very dystopian work culture and we don't even realize it.
Somehow the paradigm has to change from within- meaning taking TIME to be unavailable and offline, is a vital priority. From there, we can find the creative ways to demonstrate to our employers that this is valuable to their bottom line!
Thanks for writing in!
kari
i can shut my office door when i need to bring my older kitty to work after vet visits or some work is being done on the house and not feel like i doing something out of the ordinary and taboo, which really helps.
Take care
Kari
Part of the deal about bringing a dog into public space is making sure your dog is in tip-top groomed condition. Barbara Woodhouse is the one who taught me to wash my dog's snout every single day. We have washcloths just for dogs. I wash the around the eyes, around the mouth, wipe the teeth, rinse and wipe the nether regions every night. Otherwise, the dog is not sleeping at the foot of my bed.
Europeans are more tolerant of dogs on transportation, in restaurants, and businesses, but those cultures also demand a certain "level" of dog ownership. Dog owners need to be better about responsibility in the U.S. and that means challenging and teaching clueless owners.
Your place of business should use a good vacuum cleaner too. One that traps dust. The whole office should also recognize "animal free" zones..... certain rooms and/or furniture.
Good dog grooming tips for us all to know about!
Thanks!
If that is fun and you stay longer if you need to because you don't have to rush home to let the dog out? Who knows, eh?
First pass around some info you can download about dogs in the work place. Point out the proper temperament for an office dog. Most dogs can handle it if they are well exercised, age at least two and a half, and have a balanced relationship with their pack-person.
Teddy Roosevelt hated corporations. They seem to have won and now they are global.
Is Netflix publicly traded? I don't know.
You work with a clueless dog owner. I could walk in and that minute the poor dog would breath a huge sigh of relief. The reason the dog is out-of-hand is because it does not know what the hell is going on, no one is stepping up to be the pack leader, and the dog, in its ultimate dog wisdom knows SOMEBODY has to be the pack leader.
The dog is laboring under notion that it is in charge of that work space because no one else, least of all its owner is stepping up.
Take up a collection and buy the Caesar Millan DVD "How to be a Pack Leader". This is not a matter of "training". It is a matter of leadership.
Brilliant post - thank you. It is so good to hear about companies that are making innovation work for them and at the same time, serving their employees.
It can take courage to break free of normal constraints and work thoughtfully - and yes, produce better results. That a few a demonstrating what is possible, it would be great if more will. There is plenty of room for creativity and innovation. In the best companies, people matter.
I really appreciate your research and awareness in this area.
Best to you,
Anne
Thanks for dropping by! I know a lot of your work is helping people remember how to bring their humanity back to work as well!
Tomorrow on the radio show, one guest has not take a vacation in years, and his boss is forcing him to take Fridays off.
Another is a CEO of a small company that is elminating vacations like the bigger Best Buy and Netflix has done.
It is wonderful to show their leadership, and demonstrate that working hard is not the same as working smart!
Thanks
kari
The ability to work from home, and thus take a half hour walk at 2:15 in the afternoon is no match for having to get projects done during your "vacation," or more importantly, illness. You're not going to have the luxury of ever being off the grid, or sleeping for days on end, getting over an operation. You have a job to do! And since you can do if from anywhere, at any time in the day, you have no excuse not to produce REGARDLESS OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
And don't think that if won't matter if you survived a car accident six months ago. If your co-worker (who was lucky enough to have no personal crises last year) produces more than you, you have no excuse when it comes to layoffs. So you in a coma for two weeks? You could have worked from your hospital bed - they do have WiFi access.
Good luck to you in your efforts- and thanks for the comment!
Kari
Thanks for bringing this forward and helping us become more conscious about how we approach our work and careers in this country. Yes, there are quite a few companies moving towards greater and greater consciousness and corp. responsibility and there is so much opportunity for more expansion in this direction.
Thank you for contributing to the dialogue.
Take care!
Jason
I know this is a topic close to your heart as well! Love to hear any other stories you have run across of how our work life and our time off can blend in new ways.
I agree there is plenty of work ahead~
Thanks for stopping by!
Kari