Some Things I would Like to See Canceled or Renamed

[RTchoke]

Sounds about right.

[Toll_Collector]

@Nemesis

All industrialized nations except the USA have minimum paid time off requirements. Though there are a number of states who have legislation around PTO. My state is not one of them, as usual they are 100 years behind.

I am fortunate that my employer has a generous Paid time off policy. But I know many of my family members and friends work for employers that provide very limited paid time off or none at all.

Every single study shows employees that have a good work life balance are more productive and better employees.

A study shouldn’t be needed for what I consider to be common sense.

This goes back quite a bit, but I remember a statistic not counting 3rd world nations, it showed that only Japan had less days off than the USA. I’m guessing as a nation we don’t want to force employers to give days off. I’m not sure the government should get involved with that. Let people decide whether or not to work for any particular employer.

[Nemesis]

I understand that perspective about government involvement. I dont necessarily agree with it but understand and respect it.

Maybe government could figure out a way to incentivize employers to provide some minimum levels of PTO. No idea how that would work but worth a punt.

[Toll_Collector]

@Nemesis

I understand that perspective about government involvement. I dont necessarily agree with it but understand and respect it.

Maybe government could figure out a way to incentivize employers to provide some minimum levels of PTO. No idea how that would work but worth a punt.

I’m not sure the government really cares about that. They’re good with making law that compels someone else to take a loss, but not so much themselves. That’s why I highly doubt overtime isn’t taxed. We’ll be lucky to see tips not taxed.

Speaking of days off. The head guy at an Amazon warehouse makes somewhere between 150k-200k a year. They get 1 week off a year. How do you live like that? You can keep that job.

[WuWei]

I’m fine with the number. I’m not fine with the excuses.

[WuWei]

We don’t need no “indigenous people’s day” either.

[tnt]

@WuWei

We don’t need no “indigenous people’s day” either.

LANGUAGE WARNING!!!

Hilarious Debate About Columbus Day - The Sopranos HD

[WuWei]

@Safiel

As for private employees, in lieu of these holidays existing, I would replace with 10 floating holidays a year, which could be taken at the joint discretion of the employer and employee.

Good idea. Make it 12.

[Nemesis]

On top of PTO becoming more common with many employers it will be interesting to see how the 4 day week will evolve (if it does). Early indications from businesses outside of the US who have piloted this have been promising. Of course it does not work for every business but again an increasing number of employers are offering creative options.

My employer offers unlimited PTO for certain positions and you have to take a minimum of 10 days per year.

[WuWei]

@Guvnah

@WuWei

Columbus Day-it’s hogwash. He’s no hero.

And rename Washington DC (District of COLUMBIA) Washington Swamp. Technically that’s what the land is that DC sits on.

Move the capitol to Lebanon, Kansas.

[WuWei]

@Nemesis

All industrialized nations except the USA have minimum paid time off requirements.

Go live there.

[Toll_Collector]

@Nemesis

On top of PTO becoming more common with many employers it will be interesting to see how the 4 day week will evolve (if it does). Early indications from businesses outside of the US who have piloted this have been promising. Of course it does not work for every business but again an increasing number of employers are offering creative options.

My employer offers unlimited PTO for certain positions and you have to take a minimum of 10 days per year.

Back in the late 80s, early 90s I had a 4 day work week with New Jersey bell (now Verizon). Monday through Thursday. The New Jersey Turnpike approved them back in 2007, but never implemented them. Adding a 3rd 15 minute break, and another half hour break. But that only counts for morning shifts.

[Nemesis]

That was pretty progressive for back then.

Our front line service reps can do 4 day weeks, though that means 4x10 hour shifts which can be challenging for the individual over the long term

[Toll_Collector]

@Nemesis

That was pretty progressive for back then.

Our front line service reps can do 4 day weeks, though that means 4x10 hour shifts which can be challenging for the individual over the long term

How challenging could it be? It’s then becomes a scheduling issue, right?

[WuWei]

It’s not.

[Nemesis]

No I mean for our reps to take calls for 9 hours a day, week after week, especially during our peak season. Scheduling is easy. We have quite a few who go back to 5 days a week but always have other reps who want to take their place.

I am sure some on here might disagree with just how hard it is but all I can do is say what I see happening.

[Guvnah]

@Nemesis

No I mean for our reps to take calls for 9 hours a day, week after week, especially during our peak season.

Some jobs might not lend themselves to 4x10. Or some people might not be cut out for it.

A good worker should be accommodated by the employer. It’s hard to find good help at times, and especially customer-facing help. And a poor worker needs to be retrained for something else, or simply let go,

I will say this. My years in tech customer support were some of my best. Every person calling to the tech center needed help to one degree or another. (Nobody calls to say, “Hey, I really like your product! That’s all I wanted to call about.”) So each call gave me the opportunity to be a hero to that customer at some level. And I simply thrived on that paradigm. When a person finds a good niche, there usually isn’t a difference between an 8 hour day or a 10-hour day. But if that job is a burden to the employee, even the 8 hour day is too much and he won’t last long. (Nor be effective.)

[Nemesis]

Same with our contact centers, people call because they need help because their health is impacted or their finances are impacted by their health. I have seen such an evolution in our customer service over the past 20 years and for the better.

Gone are the traditional call center metrics such as handle time, number of calls they took, queue time, number of inquiries they closed etc all replaced by meaningful metrics that advocate for the customer. Of course metrics such as handle time, queue time are critical to the running of a contact center but thats for leadership to figure out.

I love my current role where i manage a team of project managers all focused on the improvement of the caller experience as well as tools to improve the employee experience.

Just to add, the attitude you took with your tech support role is commendable.

[Toll_Collector]

@Nemesis

No I mean for our reps to take calls for 9 hours a day, week after week, especially during our peak season. Scheduling is easy. We have quite a few who go back to 5 days a week but always have other reps who want to take their place.

I am sure some on here might disagree with just how hard it is but all I can do is say what I see happening.

Oh I see. You were talking about a challenge for the employee. Yes, it all depends on the job. My job at Verizon got a bit tougher. My job now would be a piece of cake. But scheduling would be impossible.

I have a suspicion as to why a 4 day work week was approved for maintenance, but never implemented. It was for a midnight shift. Midnight shifts don’t take normal breaks. They work until they are done, and have the rest of the night off. You can see the issue there, right?

[WuWei]

I’m tired of being taxed to death too.