ROWE Vs. TOWE
November 19th, 2008
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Photo by Little Li
Here’s a real email from a real vice president, at a company that clearly does not support a Results-Only Work Environment (ROWE).
“Hey guys—
I know that we aren’t as busy as we have been in the past, but the start time every day is still 8:30…so you need to be here at 8:30. 9am is late. I’ve noticed folks are rolling in later and later, and I’m not cool with it. I understand the infrequent late arrival, but please don’t make it a practice unless you plan on taking PTO…
Thx—”
I guess this must be a Time-Only Work Environment (TOWE). Why does everyone need to get there at the same time? Do they start the day with synchronized swimming?
Photo by KRHamm
The objection isn’t that people aren’t getting their work done, or even that they’re not putting in enough hours. It’s just that they’re not arriving right at 8:30. Apparently this is important, even if they don’t have enough work to do. It must be great to be so far up the corporate ladder and still have enough free time to enforce counterproductive rules.
November 19th, 2008 at 9:41 pm
There’s not much to say when you get an email like that except “hey, it’s time to update my resume, isn’t it?”
Face time jobs are just painful. Any manager who would send an email like that to his staff doesn’t understand, well, humans.
November 20th, 2008 at 4:52 am
I hate that employers still measure by time, but I’m getting my own back. By being productive I can get my work done in less time and then eat up the rest of my work days by commenting on excellent blogs like yours
So my boss still sees I do my hours, I produce the results and I spread a little comment luv.
However, I’d rather do my work and leave early!
Nice blog, taking a look around…
Chris (from Lifestyle Project)´s last blog post..Top Tips to Eliminate Temptation (and information overload)
November 20th, 2008 at 8:07 am
Ya, he’s promoting “seat time.” Sadly, it’s all too prevalent. This particular dude is so disconnected he doesn’t even realize he has the basis for a bold new initiative – employees who are competently executing with time to spare could use that time to boost a new product or idea -or- take their kid to day-care an hour later in the morning.
Betsy Wuebker´s last blog post..AS IF
November 20th, 2008 at 11:37 am
I say it depends on the business. If all the business’s clients start their day at 8:30, then 9:00 doesn’t work. Also, when people start being late, morale falls.
ROWE is an attractive concept to people who don’t like the 9-to-5, but it’s not for everyone. So many Internet entrepreneurs make the assumption that all employees are potential entrepreneurs, or at least are high-level whte collar workers. If your job is answering your boss’s phone, for example, and your boss gets in at 8:30, then for you to arrive at 9:00 is going to mess up his day and possibly miss out on clients who call while he’s on the phone with someone else. If you’re the boss, on the other hand, it may matter less when you get in.
Dot´s last blog post..One Heartbreaking Day
November 21st, 2008 at 4:14 pm
BTW, I forgot to mention that the VP is a woman (not that it matters, but people are saying “he”).
@ Steve, I had assumed the VP was human, but now I guess I’m not sure!
@ Chris, it’s good that you can finish your work faster and then have time to yourself. Many places punish fast workers with more work!
@ Betsy, yup, the employees with time to spare should be able to put it to better use than just sitting there.
@ Dot, good points. I’ll respond in another post.
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