Professional Development Forum

I came across this article today (How working less could solve all our problems. Really.) and had two big emotions back to back after reading the title (oh heck yeah!), then the byline: "Shorter workweeks could help reduce accidents, combat climate change, make the genders more equal, and more, contends historian and author Rutger Bregman" (really, though? ::side eye::). 

Seems like a lot to put on shorter workweeks to solve, right?... but! when you take a look at these three arguments: 

• working less reduces stress and increases general life satisfaction

• commuting less* reduces CO2 impact 

• fewer errors/accidents because we'll be less exhausted

*this article is from 2017, so there's no way it could have predicted the impact of the pandemic on commuting. 

... it does seem plausible. 

The article also mentions some other positives (reducing gender and wealth inequality, and reducing unemployment) but I think those might be more of a stretch. 

I am all for a shorter work week, to be honest. In my mind that means fewer meetings and more time to focus on getting things done. I think about how I work when I'm up against a tight deadline, for instance, versus how I work when I have a more flexible timeline. I am always more focused when I'm trying to get it all done. 

What do y'all think? Is a shorter work week something you'd like? Something that'd be nice, but not necessary? Or something you wouldn't like at all?

I came across this article today (How working less could solve all our problems. Really.) and had two big emotions back to back after reading the title (oh heck yeah!), then the byline: "Shorter workweeks could help reduce accidents, combat climate change, make the genders more equal, and more, contends historian and author Rutger Bregman" (really, though? ::side eye::). 

Seems like a lot to put on shorter workweeks to solve, right?... but! when you take a look at these three arguments: 

• working less reduces stress and increases general life satisfaction

• commuting less* reduces CO2 impact 

• fewer errors/accidents because we'll be less exhausted

*this article is from 2017, so there's no way it could have predicted the impact of the pandemic on commuting. 

... it does seem plausible. 

The article also mentions some other positives (reducing gender and wealth inequality, and reducing unemployment) but I think those might be more of a stretch. 

I am all for a shorter work week, to be honest. In my mind that means fewer meetings and more time to focus on getting things done. I think about how I work when I'm up against a tight deadline, for instance, versus how I work when I have a more flexible timeline. I am always more focused when I'm trying to get it all done. 

What do y'all think? Is a shorter work week something you'd like? Something that'd be nice, but not necessary? Or something you wouldn't like at all?

I came across this article today (How working less could solve all our problems. Really.) and had two big emotions back to back after reading the title (oh heck yeah!), then the byline: "Shorter workweeks could help reduce accidents, combat climate change, make the genders more equal, and more, contends historian and author Rutger Bregman" (really, though? ::side eye::). 

Seems like a lot to put on shorter workweeks to solve, right?... but! when you take a look at these three arguments: 

• working less reduces stress and increases general life satisfaction

• commuting less* reduces CO2 impact 

• fewer errors/accidents because we'll be less exhausted

*this article is from 2017, so there's no way it could have predicted the impact of the pandemic on commuting. 

... it does seem plausible. 

The article also mentions some other positives (reducing gender and wealth inequality, and reducing unemployment) but I think those might be more of a stretch. 

I am all for a shorter work week, to be honest. In my mind that means fewer meetings and more time to focus on getting things done. I think about how I work when I'm up against a tight deadline, for instance, versus how I work when I have a more flexible timeline. I am always more focused when I'm trying to get it all done. 

What do y'all think? Is a shorter work week something you'd like? Something that'd be nice, but not necessary? Or something you wouldn't like at all?

OMG - Very timely here, @Maria Mooshil and @Quinn Drew :)

I'm all for shorter work weeks, and I think there are tons of benefits to that - as long as there's uninterrupted time to get work done hence, my fascination meeting free work days! I spend so much time in meetings that I never get the time I need to be proactive and put thought into necessary strategies and work to really move things forward. 

In fact, after our discussion Maria, I found this article that takes things a step further, stating:

When meetings were reduced by 40% (the equivalent of two days per week), we found productivity to be 71% higher because employees felt more empowered and autonomous. Rather than being pinned down by a schedule, they owned their to-do lists and held themselves accountable, consequently increasing satisfaction by 52%.

AND.....

While it may seem counterintuitive, the researchers concluded that having too many meetings detracts from effective collaboration, derails workers during their most productive hours, and interrupts people's train of thought. Consequently, removing 60% of meetings - the equivalent of three days per week - increased cooperation by 55%. Workers replaced meetings with better ways of connecting one-on-one, at a pace suitable for them, often using project management tools to aid communication. In doing so, the risk of stress decreased by 57%, which improved employees' psychological, physical, and mental well-being.

All in all, shorter workweeks and meeting free days allow us to work smarter and be happier and who wouldn't want that?!

I came across this article today (How working less could solve all our problems. Really.) and had two big emotions back to back after reading the title (oh heck yeah!), then the byline: "Shorter workweeks could help reduce accidents, combat climate change, make the genders more equal, and more, contends historian and author Rutger Bregman" (really, though? ::side eye::). 

Seems like a lot to put on shorter workweeks to solve, right?... but! when you take a look at these three arguments: 

• working less reduces stress and increases general life satisfaction

• commuting less* reduces CO2 impact 

• fewer errors/accidents because we'll be less exhausted

*this article is from 2017, so there's no way it could have predicted the impact of the pandemic on commuting. 

... it does seem plausible. 

The article also mentions some other positives (reducing gender and wealth inequality, and reducing unemployment) but I think those might be more of a stretch. 

I am all for a shorter work week, to be honest. In my mind that means fewer meetings and more time to focus on getting things done. I think about how I work when I'm up against a tight deadline, for instance, versus how I work when I have a more flexible timeline. I am always more focused when I'm trying to get it all done. 

What do y'all think? Is a shorter work week something you'd like? Something that'd be nice, but not necessary? Or something you wouldn't like at all?

OMG - Very timely here, @Maria Mooshil and @Quinn Drew :)

I'm all for shorter work weeks, and I think there are tons of benefits to that - as long as there's uninterrupted time to get work done hence, my fascination meeting free work days! I spend so much time in meetings that I never get the time I need to be proactive and put thought into necessary strategies and work to really move things forward. 

In fact, after our discussion Maria, I found this article that takes things a step further, stating:

When meetings were reduced by 40% (the equivalent of two days per week), we found productivity to be 71% higher because employees felt more empowered and autonomous. Rather than being pinned down by a schedule, they owned their to-do lists and held themselves accountable, consequently increasing satisfaction by 52%.

AND.....

While it may seem counterintuitive, the researchers concluded that having too many meetings detracts from effective collaboration, derails workers during their most productive hours, and interrupts people's train of thought. Consequently, removing 60% of meetings - the equivalent of three days per week - increased cooperation by 55%. Workers replaced meetings with better ways of connecting one-on-one, at a pace suitable for them, often using project management tools to aid communication. In doing so, the risk of stress decreased by 57%, which improved employees' psychological, physical, and mental well-being.

All in all, shorter workweeks and meeting free days allow us to work smarter and be happier and who wouldn't want that?!

I came across this article today (How working less could solve all our problems. Really.) and had two big emotions back to back after reading the title (oh heck yeah!), then the byline: "Shorter workweeks could help reduce accidents, combat climate change, make the genders more equal, and more, contends historian and author Rutger Bregman" (really, though? ::side eye::). 

Seems like a lot to put on shorter workweeks to solve, right?... but! when you take a look at these three arguments: 

• working less reduces stress and increases general life satisfaction

• commuting less* reduces CO2 impact 

• fewer errors/accidents because we'll be less exhausted

*this article is from 2017, so there's no way it could have predicted the impact of the pandemic on commuting. 

... it does seem plausible. 

The article also mentions some other positives (reducing gender and wealth inequality, and reducing unemployment) but I think those might be more of a stretch. 

I am all for a shorter work week, to be honest. In my mind that means fewer meetings and more time to focus on getting things done. I think about how I work when I'm up against a tight deadline, for instance, versus how I work when I have a more flexible timeline. I am always more focused when I'm trying to get it all done. 

What do y'all think? Is a shorter work week something you'd like? Something that'd be nice, but not necessary? Or something you wouldn't like at all?

OMG - Very timely here, @Maria Mooshil and @Quinn Drew :)

I'm all for shorter work weeks, and I think there are tons of benefits to that - as long as there's uninterrupted time to get work done hence, my fascination meeting free work days! I spend so much time in meetings that I never get the time I need to be proactive and put thought into necessary strategies and work to really move things forward. 

In fact, after our discussion Maria, I found this article that takes things a step further, stating:

When meetings were reduced by 40% (the equivalent of two days per week), we found productivity to be 71% higher because employees felt more empowered and autonomous. Rather than being pinned down by a schedule, they owned their to-do lists and held themselves accountable, consequently increasing satisfaction by 52%.

AND.....

While it may seem counterintuitive, the researchers concluded that having too many meetings detracts from effective collaboration, derails workers during their most productive hours, and interrupts people's train of thought. Consequently, removing 60% of meetings - the equivalent of three days per week - increased cooperation by 55%. Workers replaced meetings with better ways of connecting one-on-one, at a pace suitable for them, often using project management tools to aid communication. In doing so, the risk of stress decreased by 57%, which improved employees' psychological, physical, and mental well-being.

All in all, shorter workweeks and meeting free days allow us to work smarter and be happier and who wouldn't want that?!

I came across this article today (How working less could solve all our problems. Really.) and had two big emotions back to back after reading the title (oh heck yeah!), then the byline: "Shorter workweeks could help reduce accidents, combat climate change, make the genders more equal, and more, contends historian and author Rutger Bregman" (really, though? ::side eye::). 

Seems like a lot to put on shorter workweeks to solve, right?... but! when you take a look at these three arguments: 

• working less reduces stress and increases general life satisfaction

• commuting less* reduces CO2 impact 

• fewer errors/accidents because we'll be less exhausted

*this article is from 2017, so there's no way it could have predicted the impact of the pandemic on commuting. 

... it does seem plausible. 

The article also mentions some other positives (reducing gender and wealth inequality, and reducing unemployment) but I think those might be more of a stretch. 

I am all for a shorter work week, to be honest. In my mind that means fewer meetings and more time to focus on getting things done. I think about how I work when I'm up against a tight deadline, for instance, versus how I work when I have a more flexible timeline. I am always more focused when I'm trying to get it all done. 

What do y'all think? Is a shorter work week something you'd like? Something that'd be nice, but not necessary? Or something you wouldn't like at all?

OMG - Very timely here, @Maria Mooshil and @Quinn Drew :)

I'm all for shorter work weeks, and I think there are tons of benefits to that - as long as there's uninterrupted time to get work done hence, my fascination meeting free work days! I spend so much time in meetings that I never get the time I need to be proactive and put thought into necessary strategies and work to really move things forward. 

In fact, after our discussion Maria, I found this article that takes things a step further, stating:

When meetings were reduced by 40% (the equivalent of two days per week), we found productivity to be 71% higher because employees felt more empowered and autonomous. Rather than being pinned down by a schedule, they owned their to-do lists and held themselves accountable, consequently increasing satisfaction by 52%.

AND.....

While it may seem counterintuitive, the researchers concluded that having too many meetings detracts from effective collaboration, derails workers during their most productive hours, and interrupts people's train of thought. Consequently, removing 60% of meetings - the equivalent of three days per week - increased cooperation by 55%. Workers replaced meetings with better ways of connecting one-on-one, at a pace suitable for them, often using project management tools to aid communication. In doing so, the risk of stress decreased by 57%, which improved employees' psychological, physical, and mental well-being.

All in all, shorter workweeks and meeting free days allow us to work smarter and be happier and who wouldn't want that?!

I came across this article today (How working less could solve all our problems. Really.) and had two big emotions back to back after reading the title (oh heck yeah!), then the byline: "Shorter workweeks could help reduce accidents, combat climate change, make the genders more equal, and more, contends historian and author Rutger Bregman" (really, though? ::side eye::). 

Seems like a lot to put on shorter workweeks to solve, right?... but! when you take a look at these three arguments: 

• working less reduces stress and increases general life satisfaction

• commuting less* reduces CO2 impact 

• fewer errors/accidents because we'll be less exhausted

*this article is from 2017, so there's no way it could have predicted the impact of the pandemic on commuting. 

... it does seem plausible. 

The article also mentions some other positives (reducing gender and wealth inequality, and reducing unemployment) but I think those might be more of a stretch. 

I am all for a shorter work week, to be honest. In my mind that means fewer meetings and more time to focus on getting things done. I think about how I work when I'm up against a tight deadline, for instance, versus how I work when I have a more flexible timeline. I am always more focused when I'm trying to get it all done. 

What do y'all think? Is a shorter work week something you'd like? Something that'd be nice, but not necessary? Or something you wouldn't like at all?

OMG - Very timely here, @Maria Mooshil and @Quinn Drew :)

I'm all for shorter work weeks, and I think there are tons of benefits to that - as long as there's uninterrupted time to get work done hence, my fascination meeting free work days! I spend so much time in meetings that I never get the time I need to be proactive and put thought into necessary strategies and work to really move things forward. 

In fact, after our discussion Maria, I found this article that takes things a step further, stating:

When meetings were reduced by 40% (the equivalent of two days per week), we found productivity to be 71% higher because employees felt more empowered and autonomous. Rather than being pinned down by a schedule, they owned their to-do lists and held themselves accountable, consequently increasing satisfaction by 52%.

AND.....

While it may seem counterintuitive, the researchers concluded that having too many meetings detracts from effective collaboration, derails workers during their most productive hours, and interrupts people's train of thought. Consequently, removing 60% of meetings - the equivalent of three days per week - increased cooperation by 55%. Workers replaced meetings with better ways of connecting one-on-one, at a pace suitable for them, often using project management tools to aid communication. In doing so, the risk of stress decreased by 57%, which improved employees' psychological, physical, and mental well-being.

All in all, shorter workweeks and meeting free days allow us to work smarter and be happier and who wouldn't want that?!

I came across this article today (How working less could solve all our problems. Really.) and had two big emotions back to back after reading the title (oh heck yeah!), then the byline: "Shorter workweeks could help reduce accidents, combat climate change, make the genders more equal, and more, contends historian and author Rutger Bregman" (really, though? ::side eye::). 

Seems like a lot to put on shorter workweeks to solve, right?... but! when you take a look at these three arguments: 

• working less reduces stress and increases general life satisfaction

• commuting less* reduces CO2 impact 

• fewer errors/accidents because we'll be less exhausted

*this article is from 2017, so there's no way it could have predicted the impact of the pandemic on commuting. 

... it does seem plausible. 

The article also mentions some other positives (reducing gender and wealth inequality, and reducing unemployment) but I think those might be more of a stretch. 

I am all for a shorter work week, to be honest. In my mind that means fewer meetings and more time to focus on getting things done. I think about how I work when I'm up against a tight deadline, for instance, versus how I work when I have a more flexible timeline. I am always more focused when I'm trying to get it all done. 

What do y'all think? Is a shorter work week something you'd like? Something that'd be nice, but not necessary? Or something you wouldn't like at all?