babble
Thursday, June 27, 2002
I started working at a new company a couple of months ago. This company rocks the house. They allow flexible schedules, telecommuting, and have many other great benefits. Now, in the past I've worked for a company that is almost entirely comprised of a "mobile workforce" (i.e., everyone works remotely), and I've found that I'm more productive when I work at home. I think there are several reasons for this, the main one being that I tend to get more sleep when I'm telecommuting. I'm not really a morning person, and I generally find it difficult to get to sleep before 11 or so, which usually leaves me with a sleep deficit of varying degrees. In addition, when I work from home I don't have to make the hour-long drive each way to and from work. I can take breaks on my own schedule, work in comfortable clothes (usually jammies), and tend to household issues like receiving deliveries or being present for repairs or installations. All these things reduce my stress levels, which in turn increases my productivity and concentration.
Now, I realize that not all companies can easily transition to having a mobile workforce. Some companies are uncomfortable with the concept of not having their employees physically present in their offices. Others are concerned that no work will be done at all by the mobile workforce. Other companies simply don't have the technology infrastructure in place to support a large number of employees connecting to their networks remotely. In these cases, I have some suggestions for some simple workplace enhancements that will reduce stress for employees.
First, I believe that cots should be installed either in each cubicle/office or in a quiet room where employees can engage in power naps as needed. I've found that taking a 20- to 180-minute nap mid-afternoon to alleviate the exhaustion caused by lack of sleep and long commutes can do wonders for my energy and concentration levels. Having a siesta during the afternoon would surely increase workers' energy and productivity.
Second, on-site masseuses would be a good addition to the benefits package available to employees. Many of my colleagues share similar ailments- sore shoulders and necks resulting from tension and long hours in front of a computer, sore backs from jobs that require lifting, and general overall muscular tightness as a result of stress. Massage therapy, available at the workplace, could reduce or eliminate these problems. Employees would return to their desks refreshed, recharged, and ready to be productive. (A shower post-massage is strongly suggested to avoid massage oil stains on workstations and keyboards.)
Third, conjugal visits at work would be a welcome addition for many workers who spend long hours on their commutes and in their offices. Many times, these workers are too exhausted to engage in sexual relations with their spouse/significant other/sheep at the end of a long day. Increased sexual frustration can increase tension and distract an employee from their day-to-day tasks, unless your company blocks pr0n websites via your firewall. (In that case, they will simply become more frustrated.) Allowing them to attain sexual release with their partner during the workday would give them the opportunity to have a better work/life balance. For those employees who do not currently have a sexual partner, specially trained assistants can work with them to attain the results they need.
Adding benefits like these to a company's current benefits package may seem cost-prohibitive; however, increasing worker's job satisfaction in the above listed ways will undoubtedly reduce the need for other benefits that are currently being offered. Employee turnover will be reduced, and many workers will gladly forego pesky benefits like 401(k) plans, health insurance, and lunch breaks in order to have a b.j. at their desks. In the long run, adding these benefits would reduce overhead and increase employee productivity and satisfaction.
I will be available for consultations as a workplace efficiency expert to discuss increasing employee productivity using these and other means, like strategic use of cattle prods. Please contact me for further information.
babbled by Kat @ 12:41:00 PM |
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