Friday, December 27, 2019
Your office temperature doesnt have to be miserable
Your office temperature doesnt have to be miserableYour office temperature doesnt have to be miserableDont you dreadwalking into workon a Monday morning, still groggy from a long weekend, only to get hit in the face with your usual mountain of workand bitter cold room temperatureson top of all that?The way most building temperatures are regulated is based on an old model based on the metabolic rates of the averagemale, according toa 2015 study published in the journal Nature Climate Change.But some companiesare giving employees more individual controlover how cool or warm they want to be whilemanaging their work.Luckily some offices are offering solutions to this age-old problem.Where gender comes inIf youre shivering at your desk, the temperature may not actually be adjusted to your gender.You read that right the office thermostat wars are actually backed by science.A 2015 study published in the journal Nature Climate Changesays thatthe way most building temperatures are regulated i s based on an empirical thermal comfort model that was developed in the 1960s, according to ASHRAE.This model isnt just outdated, and apparently it alsodoesnt apply to everyone.The same 2015 study also says this in terms of the modelStandard values for one of its primary variables- metabolic rate- are based on an average male, and may overestimate female metabolic rate by up to 35% - average male in this case meaning a 40-year-old man weighing 70 kg, according to an article in the Journal of Applied Psychology.What that means offices are not currently built for women, who give off more heat and tend to be colder as a result.So if your office tends to keep things really cold, you should know that reportedly, theres an optimal temperature for getting things done- also according to science.The perfect office temperature existsA 2006 study from researchers at the hauptstadt von finnland University of Technology and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found that when temperature is up to 21-22 degrees Celsius, the level of performance goes up, and when the temperature is higher than 23-24 degrees Celsius, the level of performance goes down.The study also found that the highest productivity is at temperature of around 22 degrees Celsius, which is about 72 degrees Fahrenheit.TemperatureSome institutions rely on personalization to keep employees comfortable.The headquarters for the Agnelli Foundation in Turin, Italy is reportedly being revamped with a game-changing feature thermal bubbles that stick with employees wherever they go while at the office, according to the Wall Street Journal.Carlo Ratti, who leads the architecture company that ismaking changes to the office space, told the Wall Street Journalabout the new technology the building will have thousands of sensors with the power to change the lighting and temperature. On an app, workers set the temperatures they want, and just like magic, their phones can control heating and cooling systems in the ceil ing. If someone leaves an area, the systems switch back to standby mode, Ratti said to the Wall Street Journal.So, what happens when one employee thinks its too hot, and the other nearby thinks its too cold? The system will reportedly find a happy medium by averaging the temperatures.Our aim is to shift the focus from heating or cooling spaces, to heating or cooling people and the space they are occupying,Ratti told the Wall Street Journal.Another technology is changing the way people who work in traditional office spaces with chairs and desks operate, and aims to increase energy efficiency.Enter the Hyperchair.In addition to Wi-Fi and sensors, the desk chair has heating and cooling units inside- the temperature can be adjusted on the chair, or using a smartphone.The chair also communicates with the building, according to Fast Company.There might be a surge in electric prices on a hot afternoon, and so it sends the signal, Hey, lets use the chairs more today because were going to tu rn down the air-conditioning unit, Peter Rumsey, CEO of Hyperchair, told Fast Company. If you dont have access to a Hyperchair, you could always try agood-old blanket, but with a twist.The USB Heated Shawl and Lap Blanketwarms you up when you plugit into a USB port, and reportedly has a button to keep it from falling off of you as you work.But if if thats not your style, you could try something smaller towarm up your cold hands as you type.The company Smoko makestoast-shaped USB wired hand warmers, which gets your hands toasty when you plug them in.Whether its either too cold, too hot, or feels just right, technology is paving the waytoward better days at work.But while were not all lucky enough to have control the temperature and lighting in the spaces we work in, we can hope that one day, new technologies like this go mainstream. Until then, we can dream.
Sunday, December 22, 2019
Career lessons from Fortunes 5 most powerful women in business
Career lessons from Fortunes 5 most powerful women in businessCareer lessons from Fortunes 5 most powerful women in businessFortune released its list of theMost Powerful Women in 2017, the 20th anniversary of ranking the most powerful female leaders across industries.The list comes amid rumblings of a rising backlash against the growth of women in some industries - including tech - and amid continued low representation of women in the executive ranks of corporations.Here are some things we can learn from the top-ranked women leaders1. Mary Barra Get comfortable being uncomfortableThe Chairman and CEO of General Motors claimed the top spot for the third year in a row, and talked about why trying new things can be beneficial for careers.Responding to a question about what shed tell young women,Barra talked about the importance of widening your horizons, even if it makes you nervous.I would say to young women, when you get that little bit of a knot in your stomach and you feel a littl e bit of discomfort because of, you know, the new assignment, you should take it, because getting breadth of experience and understanding how - whatever industry youre in - really understanding how it works is so critical for advancement. So take those assignments that cause you to step a little outside of your comfort zone, Barra saidin a Fortune interview..Earlier in the interview, she mentioned the types of people who shaped her career, including those who gave her feedback, saying, feedback is a gift.2. Indra Nooyi Never stop learningThe Chairman and CEO of PepsiCo came in second place on Fortunes list this year. Sheshared her perspective on the importance of learningin an interview with Walmart President and CEO Doug McMillon at a Stanford Graduate School of Business View from the Top event in 2016.Our CEOs and leaders have to be lifelong students- not just students in the sense of attending courses or reading a book or two. Youve got to learn how to read widely, walk the mar ket, look at trends in the marketplace, make connections that dont seem obvious, Nooyi said.3. Marillyn Hewson Work hard and dont forget who you areThe Chairman, President, and CEO of global security and aerospace companyLockheed Martin came in third placeon Fortunes list this year. She says the benefits of hard work shouldnt come at the cost of forfeiting whats important to you.I learned from my mother that if you stay true to your values and you work hard and youre determined, that you can do anything that you put your mind to,Hewson saidduring a Fortune interview, And she had five children. That was the lesson that she taught us every day. I mean, she just said, you have the capability, but youve gotta work hard. And you gotta be focused on it, and be determined, and be resilient as you face challenges, and then youll be successful.4. Abigail Johnson Focus, focus, focusThe Chairman and CEO of Fidelity Investments took the fourth spot this year. In 1946, her grandfather establishe d the company, in 2014, she became CEO, and in 2016, she became chairman, according to Forbes.Johnson demonstrated her professional drive in a past Forbes interview.Johnson praised her father, whowas chairman until she was named to the position in 2016,for teaching her to have a relentless focus on continuing to try to improve everything you do.No matter how senior you get in an organization, no matter how well youre perceived to be doing, your job is never done. Your customers are expecting more from you, your competitors are putting pressure on you by doing more and trying to beat you here, beat you there, she added.And while theres always room for improvement, self-doubt never helps, she added.Dont doubt yourself. Keep at it, stay looking ahead, stay committed, and stay true to yourself.5. Sheryl Sandberg Dont limit yourselfThe Facebook COO and author of Lean In and Option B took the fifth spot this year, and thinks that the sky is the limit when it comes to your life - includin g your work.Sheresponded to aquestion on Quorain 2015 about what advice she would have given herself when she was starting out.Believe you can do anything. This is important for everyone and especially for women. Dont let anyone tell you cant have both a meaningful professional career and a fulfilling personal life. When you hear someone say you cant do something, know that you can and start figuring out how. Ask yourself, What would I do if I werent afraid? Sandberg wrote.
Tuesday, December 17, 2019
6 Differences Between An Internship and Apprenticeship
6 Differences Between An Internship and Apprenticeship6 Differences Between An Internship and Apprenticeship Internships and apprenticeships both give you hands on training, but thats where the similarities end.While completing an internship is almost expected for any college graduate seeking employment, an apprenticeship(almost) guarantees you a high paying job once you successfully complete it.The comparison between an internship and an apprenticeship is like comparing a row boat to a destroyer, says AnthonyCarnevale , the Director and Research Professor of the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce. Theres a lot of applied work with people who are highly accomplished in their field.From the competitive nature of an apprenticeship to the pay rate, heres a look at six ways apprenticeships differ from internships.Apprenticeships arent as common in the U.S. as they are in Europe, but there are a number of ones you can apply for. Often they are geared toward highly skilled technical jobs in areas such as engineering or construction. Other popular trades where you can find apprenticeships include carpentry, plumbing, electrical and telecommunications. Internships, on the other hand, are readily available for most college students through their school or university and are often generalized rather than specified for a particular trade.When it comes to an internship , most people either do it for a semester or summer and then move on to the next one or get hired full-time. With an apprenticeship, it can take years to complete and requires a full-time commitment. While there are programs that last only a year, many are multi-year in length. Internships are generally shorter and dont have any classroom instruction attached to it, says John Ladd, administrator, Office of Apprenticeship, U.S. Department of Labor. An intern gets work experience and an apprentice gets mora than just work experience.Apprenticeships are highly compe titive, and one of the main reasons is because youget paid while you learn. While you wont be banking six figures in year one of your apprenticeship, you are going to earn more than with aninternship. Often internships give you college credits, a small stipend or something to add to your resume , where an apprenticeship gives you a salary you can live off. The difference with an apprenticeship versus other types of training is its directly tied to paid employment, says Jeff Vincent, the National Training Fund Director for the zwischenstaatlich Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE).Anyone who has completed an internship knows you arent going to have too much responsibility. Yes, youll get to see how the marketing department works or how a newsroom operates, but chances are you wont be creating a marketing campaign or publishing a news article. An apprenticeship, on the other hand, gives you real on the job training in the profession you will eventually work in. The whole deal is your seeing what you are doing for the rest of your career, says Vincent.Internships are a great way to get exposure to corporate America and to beef up your resume, but typically what you learn during your stint with a company isnt going to be taught in the classroom. This isnt the case with an apprenticeship. A key piece of an apprenticeship is that your classroom instruction relates to your occupation, says Ladd. You get a combination of classroom and on the job training and youre getting paid.In a perfect world, you would complete an internship in your senior year of college and then get a full time offer from the employer you have been working for, but thats not always the case. In many cases, your internship wont get you that foot in the door. However, an apprenticeship will. Since the employer is sponsoring you and spending the time to teach and train you, you are almost guaranteed to have a good paying job once you complete the program. When you complete an internship you dont ha ve anything at the end that says Im ready, says Ladd. When you complete an apprenticeship youve earned the certificate that says Im fully proficient to do the job.Interested in applying for an apprenticeship? Learn more about Glassdoors On-the-Job Training Finder here , which features apprenticeship opportunities across the country.
Friday, December 13, 2019
Customize this Outstanding Major Accounts Manager Resume Sample
Customize this Outstanding Major Accounts Manager Resume SampleCustomize this Outstanding Major Accounts Manager Resume SampleCreate Resume Bryce Colliar100 Broadway LaneNew Parkland, CA, 91010Cell (555) 987-1234example-emailexample.comProfessional SummaryEffective Major Accounts Manager with large account coordination and long-term services budgeting experience. Maintains success by keeping clients updated on product changes, anticipating client needs and utilizing revenue opportunities to their fullest extent. Utilizes a strong work ethic to create a proven history of success.Core QualificationsResources ForecastingHigh Level Client NegotiationsStaff Allocation BudgetingComprehensive Customer Profile DevelopmentGroup ManagementSales TrainingExperienceMajor Accounts Manager, February 2009 May 2015Tether Technology New Cityland, CARecruited and managed onsite staffing for three large clients.Regularly updated resource allocation projections for large clients with onsite resources. Engaged in weekly meetings with clients to address issues and develop solutions.Major Accounts Manager, June 1994 November 2005Magnum Technology New Cityland, CAWorked closely with executive team to develop budgets for each onsite project.Collaborated with engineers to create installation protocols for large installations.Submitted updated client revenue projections quarterly to sales upper management.Education1994 Bachelor of Science, BusinessTroy University New Cityland, CACustomize Resume
Sunday, December 8, 2019
Choosing Cashier Resume
Choosing Cashier Resume Introducing Cashier Resume The ideal way to receive a very good cashier resume is researching the work description. Lets look at what steps that you will need to take to develop into a cashier. Theres rarely any demand for formal education for the speedy food cashier, but a lot of restaurants do provide fundamental training for the newly employed cashiers. As a cashier, you are going to be working directly with customers to make sure their shopping experience is good. Employed as a cashier at a retail store demands lots of skill. Who Else Wants to Learn About Cashier Resume? Cashiers often spend the brunt of dissatisfied clients frustration and so must be ready to stay calm and deal swiftly and effectively with anything which goes wrong with a purchase. While previous experience isnt always required, successful cashiers are going to have service-oriented attitude and revel in working with the general public. In 1 form or another, cashiers have exi sted for thousands of years. Most positions provide a flexible schedule, and you can have the ability to choose the hours youre available to do the job. If in any instance you havent held a present job, you dont need to mention that, just incorporate any volunteer work youve done before. What You Dont Know About Cashier Resume Begin by listing all your cashier experience, and make certain to incorporate the skills you utilized to be successful in cashier roles, such as service with point-of-sale cashier and robust math abilities. You only require a high school diploma to be a cashier because training is usually given at work. The skills section also tells what you are able to increase the company for a cashier and not what youve been doing so long. Communication and computer handling skills are also rather important in regards to cashier resume. Resume included cashier Resume Samples that it is possible to use to assemble the service cashier resume for your requirements. She plays very important role in the field of banking. The fundamental duties of a cashier also take a high degree of efficiency and accuracy. The job of cashier consists of many things and its job of accuracy. The Secret to Cashier Resume Admins appearing to sharpen communication skills can enlist the assistance of a go-to review buddy. The skills ought to be modified slightly to ensure it is applicable for the particular job description. Your approach to improving your skills might want to be different based on your circumstances. Very good reading abilities and computer skills may also be useful. The Hidden Facts About Cashier Resume Cashiers should be quick learners and be in a position to adapt to technological advances in the market. Just be certain you have a resume. Based on the organization youre targeting, be certain your experience and skills are a fantastic fit for the job advertised. Relevant skills ought to be backed by further info in the resume. Computer skil ls might be either more or less important than example abverkauf resume, based on the particular sales associate position you are searching for. Technical Skills It is essential that you possess the technical skills i.e. the expertise in a specific field to create your opinion of interest to others. Where to Find Cashier Resume Attempt to list any skill you have pertaining to the jobs youre applying for. Soft skills are the skills that are pertinent to every job. Teamwork skills in the workplace are critical for the overwhelming majority of jobs. When an employer sees a college degree on your resume, he might feel your job position for a cashier will be short-lived until you discover another job in your preferred career field. Its possible youve held several distinguishable job positions that youre tempted to increase the experience section. If almost all of your listed job experience consists of highly-paid positions, he can hesitate to hire you. If youre on the lookout for jobs as a cashier, you are going to want to be certain youre employing the best job seeking skills. Ruthless Cashier Resume Strategies Exploited When a manager isnt readily available to deal with a customers concern, cashiers are expected to use decent judgment to discover whether replacement food is acceptable. A customer attempts to combine two offers which cant be combined. In the majority of environments, cashiers must have excellent merchandise and service knowledge so that in the event of any customer asking for information, they arent at bay, thereby showing non-professionalism. Many times, they get questions about promotions that the store is having or products that are stocked.
Tuesday, December 3, 2019
How Sabbaticals Can Help Recruiters - Spark Hire
How Sabbaticals Can Help Recruiters - Spark HireGiving employees extended amounts of time off sounds like something that would be perfect for staff members and havoc inducing for a companys bottom line. In reality, quite the opposite is true. Studies show that employees who take sabbaticals come back feeling refreshed, and are more productive as a result. Instead of sitting at their computers trying to look busy, theyre ready to take on new projects and drum up new business. For this reason, sabbaticals are becoming increasingly common at companies around the country, and the unusual perk is helping to attract new hires too.The Society for Human Resource Management estimates that about 18 percent of firms offer unpaid sabbaticals currently, with five percent giving paid sabbaticals. Typically these are available for employees who have been with the company for more than five years, with others becoming eligible after a decade of service. Though the figure isnt startlingly high yet, i ts a reflection of a trend that was unheard of decades ago and is slowly working its way into mainstream business.At first, the idea of giving an employee an extended period of time off may seem crazy and impractical. But when a manager steps back and thinks about the benefits, the positive points become more apparent. Particularly in high-stress, fast-paced fields like finance, sabbaticals can become invaluable when it comes to allowing an employee to recharge their batteries and fully commit to work when they return. For employees who are often working 15-hour days, sabbaticals are a chance to unwind, calm down, and take a break from a cycle of long hours with little to no sleep.Recruiters explain that the idea of sabbaticals makes their job easier too. It gives potential new hires something to get excited about, and is an unusual and enticing perk. Instead of seeing endless months of tiring days ahead, they see a direct reward for their hard work. A sabbatical, either paid or unp aid, also shows that the employer values the mental health of the employees, indicating a positive company culture. Instead of solely focusing on the bottom line, employers want their staff members to be happy and rested.We know that many potential new employees today tend to focus on the culture and benefits of the job theyre considering, as opposed to strictly zeroing in on the salary as they may have in years past. With this shift comes the need for recruiters to change their approach, too. Illustrating that the organization values mental health and enjoys rewarding dedicated employees is a way to do this effectively.Current employees see the first-hand perks of sabbaticals, as they have been shown to help a worker who is approaching burn out feel more compelled to stay on with that organization. When people work long days doing the same font of work over and over, its easy for them to get fed up. They may want to quit, and when theyre at the office theyre not fully present or in vested. Though a sabbatical cannot completely resolve this issue, sometimes enjoying a chunk of time that is spent solely on family or pursuing hobbies is exactly what that person needs to feel recharged and reinvested in their work.Does your organization offer sabbaticals? Do you see a benefit to them?
Thursday, November 28, 2019
Masters Degree in Criminal Justice or Criminology
Masters Degree in Criminal Justice or CriminologyMasters Degree in Criminal Justice or CriminologyTheres little debate that earning college education is beneficial to any criminal justice career, even if the particular job you want doesnt require it. After completing your undergraduate studies, though, should you work to earn a masters degree in criminal justice or criminology? To be overly simplistic, theres really no such thing as too much education. Every day presents opportunities to learn new things and improve both yourself and your career. A masters degree, though, requires a special commitment of both time and money. In reservierung to figure out whether or not you should earn a masters degree, you should first find the criminal justice career thats best for you and then platzset career goals within that field. After youve determined your career path, you can evaluate whether or not a masters degree in criminology will be worth your time or your hard-earned cash. Evaluate Return on Investment Making the decision to earn an advanced degree should be based primarily on return on investment.Remember that it will probably take you at least two years and thousands of dollars or more to earn your degree, so serious consideration should be given to how much it will be worth your while in the long run. A masters degree requires a serious investment of time and can be very expensive. Because of this, it would be wise to make sure theres a payoff for you on the other end. How do you decide whether or not a masters degree will be worth your while? It all goes back to career planning. Some careers within criminal justice and criminology expect and reward advanced degrees, whereas others do not. Jobs Requiring a Masters Degree or Higher? CriminologistForensic psychologistCriminal ProfilerUniversity or college professorUpper management and administration On the other hand, many jobs wont require a masters degree, in which case you may be spending time and mon ey that could be put to better use. These include Police officerDetective or criminal investigatorForensic science TechnicianLoss prevention specialist Reasons Why You Should Get a Masters Degree Career Advancement If you have no intention of advancing your career or promoting, there will be little need for you to earn an advanced degree. If, however, you want to move up the rank and into high-level management or executive position, a masters degree can be just the thing that can give you the edge. The diploma alone will set you apart, but the extra knowledge and expertise you gained through your degree program will really help you shine in any promotional assessment process. College Instruction If you have any designs on teaching at a university, an advanced degree will almost certainly be required. In fact, instructing at the university level for any length of time will often lead to the need for a doctorate. In any case, though, if you would like to become even an adjunct col lege professor in your spare time, it will be worth your while to pursue a masters degree in criminal justice. As an adjunct instructor, you might be able to earn a respectable extra income in addition to your full-time job. Public Policy Advisory Positions Every legislative body has an army of staffers backing it up, doing research and advising lawmakers on matters ranging from fiscal policy to education and yes, even criminal justice. Working as a legislative staffer can be financially lucrative, as criminal justice issues are often hot-button issues. In most cases, though, a masters degree or higher will be expected in order for you to have any credibility in advising representatives and senators on forming criminal justice policy. If working for a state legislature or Congress isnt for you, there are leise opportunities to influence public policy. Criminal justice think tanks, such as the Justice Research Association and the Center for Court Innovation, perform independent resea rch to help make positive changes within the criminal justice system. As careers in these organizations are, necessarily, research-heavy, a masters degree would be very beneficial to landing a job. Edging out the Competition Though many careers in criminal justice dont require an advanced degree, some place more value on it than others. For example, if your goal is to become a local or state police officer, there will be little need for a masters degree, and local agencies will probably pay no attention to it unless you look to promote. However, if you are looking to get hired by the Federal Bureau of Investigations, a masters degree may likely be the thing that puts you over the edge and above the other candidates. When Deciding Choosing whether or not to earn a masters degree in criminal justice or criminology is a huge decisionand one that should not be taken lightly. The right choice will be different for every individualand should start with deciding on a career path. Plan your educational objectives around your career goals. If you are geared more toward academics, instruction, planning or administration, than a masters degree should definitely be part of your long-term plan. If you have no desire to promote or you are more interested in fieldwork, you will do just fine with a bachelors or associate degree.
Saturday, November 23, 2019
ASME INSPIREs Fourth Year New Content Leads to Bigger Impact...
ASME INSPIREs Fourth Year New Content Leads to Bigger Impact... ASME INSPIREs Fourth Year New Content Leads to Bigger Impact... ASME INSPIREs Fourth Year New Content Leads to Bigger Impact and DreamsJan. 12, 2018 The fourth year of the ASME INSPIRE digital STEM course for middle and high school students is off to an auspicious start, with new, enhanced program content and a record number of schools incorporating the course in their curricula.During the last academic year in 2016-2017, ASME INSPIREs hallmark program INSPIRE STEM Readiness was used in more than 1,000 schools across 48 states. Over the past three years, this award-winning online, in-class student experience of using early algebra and coding skills to successfully complete 16 missions has engaged more than 100,000 middle in high school students.As every engineer knows, with proof of concept comes opportunities. Enter ASME INSPIRE Career Readiness, a new program that allows middle school students to explore real career s and gain applicable skills. Based on their personalized journey through unterstellung career paths, students develop a personalized portfolio of exciting opportunities and profiles specific to their interests.And the impact of this new experience? As of December, ASME INSPIRE programs were already in use in 897 schools by more than 45,000 students, an astonishing 114 percent increase over the same timeframe last academic year. April Carpenter (far right) and herbei eighth-grade students at Alexander Graham Middle School in Charlotte, N.C., show their enthusiasm for the ASME INSPIRE program during an INSPIRE Connects classroom visit on Nov. 7. (Photo by Patti Jo Rosenthal, ASME Programs & Philanthropy)INSPIRE Classroom Connects school visits are already in full swing, with a Nov. 7 visit to INSPIRE scholars at Alexander Graham Middle School in Charlotte, N.C. Led by their teacher, Air Force veteran April Carpenter, these eighth-grade INSPIRE champions have already completed the IN SPIRE Career Readiness program and have started INSPIRE STEM Readiness.Following a 17-year military career, Carpenter has spent over a decade teaching Career and Technological Education (CTE) in Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools. This is her fourth year integrating ASME INSPIRE into her classroom experience, finding it an invaluable tool in supporting her success and primary goal as a CTE teacher, which is to promote college and career readiness.Using INSPIRE within our curriculum opens the doorway to opportunities and gets students thinking, Carpenter said. Its real-world and the software itself is encouraging and motivational. It gets them talking about college and a career direction that they may not have ever considered. Students from Alexander Graham Middle School work on an INSPIRE Innovation Investigation brainstorming exercise during the INSPIRE Connects visit in November. (Photo by Patti Jo Rosenthal, ASME Programs & Philanthropy)Additionally Carpenter shared that using ASME I NSPIRE with its hands-on and self-guided approach helps students discover exciting possibilities and illuminates a path toward a fulfilling and important career in engineering. Some students may not hear that they can go to college, but we support that dream and the pursuit of STEM career fields, she said. These students will make an impact in the world.For more information on ASME INSPIRE and overall K-12 STEM education programs, contact Patti Jo Rosenthal, rosenthalpasme.org, or visit https//www.asmefoundation.org.Patti Jo Rosenthal, ASME Programs Philanthropy
Thursday, November 21, 2019
A 4-day work week is proven to make employees happier
A 4-day work week is proven to make employees happierA 4-day work week is proven to make employees happierAre we happier when we work a little less? New Zealand company Perpetual Guardian worked to find out, giving us a blueprint on how we can apply their workflow to our own companies.Back in March, the company let about 250 of its employees work a four-day week with eight-hour days for eight weeks. Pay did not get docked. The employees still got full-time pay while they worked shorter work weeks.After the landmark experiment, the company declared it a success and recently announced that they are going to adopt the work schedule full time. This is about our company getting improved productivity from greater workplace efficiencies, Perpetual Guardian founder Andrew Barnes told the Guardian. Theres no downside for us. How employees really feel about working four daysTo get more insight into what shorter work weeks can do for employees, two New Zealand academics collected data on the ex periment. They found that employees were indeed happier after the change. Before the trial, only half of employees said they were satisfied with their work-life balance. By the end of the trial, that number jumped up to 78%. Commitment to the company also rose by 20 percentage points. Employee stress levels decreased by seven percentage points.But the system was not perfect. Some employees said they felt stressed about completing work in a shorter timeframe. One manager expressed disappointment that the new work week did not spark radical change. Nothing slipped, this manager said, according to the data. But I didnt see a drive, I didnt see busy-ness, I didnt see, ooh, how are we going to do this better and more innovative? But overall, there were few reported concerns about what the extra time would do for employees personal time. Employees said they felt more motivated and productive overall when they got an extra day to organize the chaos of their personal life. Helen Delaney, on e of the researchers, wrote that, employees were freed up to spend quality time with friends, family, or themselves on a weekend. Many reported feeling less psychologically rushed.When you have more freedom to yourself, it can help you understand what you really want out of life. Thats a valuable lesson employees can take beyond any one job. As one person in the trial said Someone said to me now youve got at least 48 extra days in your life every year, imagine if it went forward, what are you going to do with that? And that was just like a passing comment from someone, but it keeps ringing in my ear and I keep thinking to myself, you know, what am I going to do? What could I do for me?Eight weeks is not a ton of time to get used to a radical change in production. It remains to be seen what would change if the shorter work week was enacted long-term. However, the data overall suggests that with tweaks in clarifying expectations around workflow, the four-day work week can become a doa ble reality for more companies.
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