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Jan
11
I am only 50 pages into Ricardo Semler’s “The Seven Day Weekend” and am already impressed by a point he makes: most companies treat employees like irresponsible, overgrown children.
You need to be in the office (classroom) at 8:00am wearing clothes (uniforms) from some approved list. There is a list of projects (assignments) you need to finish and instructions on exactly how to do them. Lunch (recess) is one hour and can only be taken between 11:00am and 1:00pm. Please do not talk during work (class). You will receive a performance review (report card) twice a year that will point out your areas of improvement (weaknesses). Don’t leave until the bell rings and enjoy the rest of your life.
By a show of hands, how many of you love your job and the way you are treated and would show up at the office even if you weren’t getting a paycheck? You in the back, is your hand up or are you giving me the finger?
Semler makes a great point here:
“Do we really believe that responsible adults, whether interested or not, committed to the company or service or not, would simply fail to show up after promising to do so? … Come on. What a disheartening view of humankind.”
If you hire responsible people and treat them like human beings, they will return the favor and act like adults; they will act accordingly to get their work done. End of story.
