TGIT (Thank God It’s Thursday!)
A weekly roundup of the latest future of work and conscious leadership news and insights
What if the future of work means saying TGIT (Thank God it’s Thursday!), instead of TGIF (Thank God it’s Friday!)? Last May I wrote about how many companies are seriously examining the merits of a 4-day work week. At the time, New Zealand’s Prime Minister was considering the mounting evidence that 4-day work weeks are actually healthier for workers.
This week, the idea is taking hold in Europe: Spain’s government just announced a trial program to allow 200 companies to try out the 4-day work week for their employees. According to Más País, the political party advocating the policy, private company Software Delsol moved to a 4-day work week last year and, “They saw a reduction in absenteeism, productivity went up and workers say they are happier.”
The Spanish government proposal provides €50m “that would allow companies to trial reduced hours with minimal risk. The costs of a company’s foray into the four-day work week, for example, could be covered at 100% the first year, 50% the second year and 33% the third year.” Más País is excited about this program because, “A pilot project like this hasn’t been undertaken anywhere in the world.”
True, no other governments have provided financial incentives to private businesses to implement a 32-hour work week. However, for the last few years, many private companies have tried the 4-day work week and found it to be an effective way to boost employee engagement while maintaining or even boosting productivity and profit—all without government programs.
For conscious leaders eager to create businesses that transform how we work, produce, and build community, the 4-day work week is a fantastic opportunity. While it may not work for every business, there are ways to start bringing these once-futuristic ideas into the present. A 4-day work week is just one of the many ways to build a healthier team.
For conscious leaders, the goal in building a conscious company is that never again will someone feel like saying, “Thank God it’s (day of the week)!” because every person will love what they do and truly feel part of a larger purpose in their work.
How can you start creating vision, purpose, and extraordinary work that draws out the best in your teams? You don’t need to wait for a government program. You can do it now. BE one of the innovators who consciously leads your industry.
Here is some of the future of work and conscious leadership content I found interesting this week:
In a related example of poor leadership when it comes to working hours, Yahoo reports that Goldman Sachs’ youngest employees are working 100+hours per week in “inhumane and abusive” circumstances. Hopefully this is the sign of a trend among older institutions: young staff standing up for their health and wellbeing against a culture that definitely does not embrace conscious leadership.
No more “cubicle farms” at Ford Motor Company. The company announced 30,000 employees will now have the liberty to work remote. The company’s philosophy that it’s “trying to make it as easy as possible to be a Ford employee” is an excellent model for other industry leaders.
Business Insider shares 5 ways remote work is changing the economy for the better. These include companies moving to hybrid teams of full-time and contracted employees and neighborhoods becoming places for collaboration, not an office.
PR Daily interviewed a mentor and mentee about the power of a mentorship relationship. Conscious leaders can draw inspiration from this post. As the mentor shares, in everyone’s journey to success, “there was this teacher…” How can we ensure our teams have the right teachers, mentors and coaches so they can soar?
Work happy. Live happy. BE happy.
Meredith
The way we work and build teams is rapidly changing. Leaders often feel unprepared to navigate the transition. As a conscious leadership coach, consultant and communicator, Meredith helps leaders and their teams create new ways of working and relating so they can prepare for the future by consciously co-creating it.
Contact her to develop your conscious leadership and transform your organization into the workplace of the future.
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