Workplace saints….or sinners?

First things first, thank you China Gorman of SHRM (Society of Human Resources Management) for including me in yesterday’s conversation that led to the great title for this article.

Apparently some Human Resources professionals found themselves working on a Sunday and talking to each other about it.  What was the deal?  Why were they working on a Sunday?  Were they doing what needed to be done…or going the extra mile…or were they giving the company of their free time and making the rest of us look bad?

It brought me back to a conversation I’d had a couple of weeks ago.  Where I posed the question whether or not people were willing to pay (out of their own pockets) for more scheduling flexibility in the workplace?  And if those who were willing to pay more were simply giving their company something they didn’t deserve or even expect.

When I originally posed the question on twitter I received two immediate responses from Gen Y.  They both stated how they essentially work all the time based on their current jobs and aren’t sure that workplace flexibility exists or could be put into a workplace policy.  They admitted they didn’t always work in an office setting but did work a whole lot.  I don’t think the fact that they were both Gen Y influenced these opinions…but I do think their age did.

You see in my 20’s I was all about work.  Seriously.  After a couple of years of working under my belt I knew what I wanted to do for a living.  And I was going for it.   To get there I did what I felt I needed to do.  The company didn’t ask me to do it…I did it on my own.  I liked it.  I saw great results from my efforts as did  the company I worked for  and they showed their appreciation by giving me time off in the middle of the business day to attend graduate school.  It was a great business arrangement for all.

It was not as great for my family and friends.  I worked weekends, I worked nights, I missed family events, friends’ weddings and holidays that many in the workplace take for granted.  But you know what…it wasn’t stressful.  Because I was happy.  I still found time for friends and family it just was on a Tuesday night instead of a Saturday night.  I was being challenged at work.  I was reaching my personal goals.  It was fantastic!

And isn’t feeling fantastic about your entire life the goal?

So now back to the conversation between John Jorgensen, China Gorman and  Karla Porter where they discussed whether those working in their “free time” were saints or sinners, leaders or followers or simply doing what it takes to get the job done.  I’m not sure those were the right questions to consider, instead I think we need to re-consider our concept of “free time.”  As someone who worked Sundays for many years…I have no issues with someone working on a Sunday.  As long as that is either included in their schedule already or is their choice and not a requirement.  And if it is a choice then I hope the company they work for is also flexible enough with it’s time to allow them time as needed to take care of an elder or younger family member, to take classes, to be home for the cable guy, to live their lives.  If this is the case…then it’s a business win/win for all and my guess is everyone is happy.  Which again is the goal…the goal is NOT to have someone fill a chair certain hours of specific days.

And while I can’t get inside the minds of China, Karla & John…I do feel I know China – although we just me in person for the first time last Wednesday.  We met at a fabulous event she and SHRM co-hosted in Washington, DC.  That event attracted HR people from all over…Raleigh, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Portland (OR), Minneapolis, Tampa, Cincinnati and more.  It was not a 2-day event, or even a 1-day event.  It was a 2-hour event!  And those of us that traveled to be there did so because we love what we do, we like the people we get to do it with, and it felt fantastic to be with these people.   So my guess is China was not “suffering” in the office on Sunday – but instead using her time as she chooses to accomplish her goals both personal and professional.

That is my vision of the future workplace.  It’s not policy-driven but rather is a common sense business arrangement. Workers are given more autonomy to choose where, when and how they work without pressure from the company or their peers to work in a pre-described way that has no business purpose other than “because that’s how it’s always been done.”  They are engaged and excited about the work they do.  And everyone wins.

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I am submitting this vision to the Blog Carnival focusing on work/life being edited by Katherine Lewis that starts February 8th.  Check it out to read more about workers vision of the future of work.