We're moving to a four-day work week at Beacon • Hacker News Board

Re: We're moving to a four-day work week at Beacon

#171

Post by heretogetout » Tue, Jun 07, 2022, 2:31 PM UTC

dsr_ wrote: post #169

heretogetout wrote: post #147

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Let's say you do need to attend a meeting. It's a 1 hour meeting. You're needed in the meeting. Go in and say you only have 20 mins. Every time I've tried this or seen it tried the meeting gets rescheduled and everyone's time is wasted. I wish it worked this way.

Yesterday I had a 1 hour meeting where 3 of the 7 participants needed to attend another meeting after 30 minutes. We reorganized the agenda to hit the issues that they were especially concerned about while they were available, and then did the other things in the next 20 minutes, finishing a little early. It's not impossible, it just requires a culture of consideration, communication, and prioritization.

I wonder if that's the key -- maybe it's acceptable to shorten one meeting on your behalf (or at least your participation in that meeting) if the reason you'll miss this meeting is that you'll be in a different meeting. As long as you're in some time-wasting activity, they're satisfied.

I say mostly tongue in cheek...

Re: We're moving to a four-day work week at Beacon

#172

Post by heretogetout » Tue, Jun 07, 2022, 2:32 PM UTC

rhino369 wrote: post #159

lkxijlewlf wrote: post #154

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> ... and better documented in email. This, so much. Let's just jump on a quick Teams meeting almost always can be taken care of in an email. And then it's documented and can be referenced and sent to all parties who may need to know that were not included in the "quick" Teams meeting.

Quick phone calls are often more efficient than emails. For status updates, downloads of information, sure email works. But if you want a back and forth exchange of ideas, talking is often much faster.

Talking is indeed faster but if you're not recording the result in some document to share with others not on the call there's risk that valuable information will be lost.

Re: We're moving to a four-day work week at Beacon

#173

Post by ChrisRR » Tue, Jun 07, 2022, 2:33 PM UTC

simonswords82 wrote: post #33

This is part of a wider scheme in the UK whereby 60 firms and 3000 employees are piloting 4 day weeks. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/apr/04/thousands-o... From the article: Employees from a wide range of businesses and charities are expected to take part in the scheme, which will run initially from June to December, including the Royal Society of Biology, the London-based brewing company Pressure Drop, a…

As with every time these tests are run, I would like to see results longer than the initial few months honeymoon when people's productivity is being closely monitored

I want to know if 1-2 years down the line, the productivity is still running at 125%

Re: We're moving to a four-day work week at Beacon

#174

Post by matsemann » Tue, Jun 07, 2022, 2:36 PM UTC

yrgulation wrote: post #145

matsemann wrote: post #137

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wow, what an uncharitable view you have on people with a different opinion than your own. Quite stunning, actually.

Quite the contrary. My aim is at those opinions that tell _me_ what to do, essentially not respecting my own opinion. I am more than happy for people to return to the office if that's _their_ wish but I am not returning to an office to be someone’s substitute for a normal life. To each his own, basically. As i said, there are valid reasons but not at my own freedom’s expense.

If you only said you don't want other's needs to affect you, that would be a valid opinion. (Albeit not very altruistic)

But what you're saying is also that those wanting to be at the office are friendless, need this as a substitute for a normal life etc. That's unnecessary, and just you being a total dick. Please present your arguments here in a better way.

Re: We're moving to a four-day work week at Beacon

#175

Post by shadowtree » Tue, Jun 07, 2022, 2:38 PM UTC

This is escalating like the Gilette wars (3 blades, 4 blades...12 blades).

Soon you'll only stand out by announcing the 3 day work week.

...and get killed by a team that just outworks you. How many pro-sports teams have switched to less and less training :)

I do hope all our competitors switch to 0 day workweeks...

Re: We're moving to a four-day work week at Beacon

#176

Post by krnlpnc » Tue, Jun 07, 2022, 2:39 PM UTC

shadowtree wrote: post #175

This is escalating like the Gilette wars (3 blades, 4 blades...12 blades). Soon you'll only stand out by announcing the 3 day work week. ...and get killed by a team that just outworks you. How many pro-sports teams have switched to less and less training :) I do hope all our competitors switch to 0 day workweeks...

Says a person currently on HN instead of working...

Re: We're moving to a four-day work week at Beacon

#177

Post by krm01 » Tue, Jun 07, 2022, 2:41 PM UTC

I’ve mentioned this before, but when moving my team (design agency that helps B2B SaaS)to a 4-day work week, productivity increased dramatically.

Most businesses can move to a 4-day work week. If you’re an employer and you read this, just give it a try for a month and measure output.

Your limiting beliefs will most likely become weak opinions.

Re: We're moving to a four-day work week at Beacon

#178

Post by [deleted] » Tue, Jun 07, 2022, 2:43 PM UTC

shadowtree wrote: post #175

This is escalating like the Gilette wars (3 blades, 4 blades...12 blades). Soon you'll only stand out by announcing the 3 day work week. ...and get killed by a team that just outworks you. How many pro-sports teams have switched to less and less training :) I do hope all our competitors switch to 0 day workweeks...

[deleted]

Re: We're moving to a four-day work week at Beacon

#179

Post by hansworst » Tue, Jun 07, 2022, 2:50 PM UTC

michaelcampbell wrote: post #162

jihadjihad wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's always weird to watch Office Space and see the guys all wearing ties. I can't imagine having to do that for a typical software job.

I worked in a Wall St. firm in the 90's and wore suit and tie every day, even though my job was neither customer facing nor even in New York. I quickly realized I didn't mind it at all once I found correctly fitting shirts. If you consider a tie to be too constricting, you have the wrong shirt. Even as borderline OCD (self diagnosed, so likely wrong), I never found particular clothes to be a hinderance to me typing (…

I don’t think it’s really about the clothes being uncomfortable, but just the idea of being forced to wear certain kinds of clothes

Re: We're moving to a four-day work week at Beacon

#180

Post by eweise » Tue, Jun 07, 2022, 2:54 PM UTC

dnndev wrote: post #129

eweise wrote: post #120

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What is a results oriented work week? How do you measure? If its "I said I would get X done" then yes, a four day work week is much better.

Sounds to me like someone does not trust employees to manage themselves and meet deadlines, and thats ok. I was coming into this thread from a highly skilled, well paid workers perspective. Completely agree, if you need to micro-manage then workday oriented results are easier.

Well, if you ever get the chance to work with highly skilled, well paid workers I think you'll be surprised to find that even we have a hard time estimating the effort needed to complete tasks since we are usually doing unique and complex things that have unknowns. I also suggest studying agile methodologies which assume workers are working at 100% and instead of guaranteeing work gets completed according to estimates it tracks work completed and adjusts accordingly.