Workplace Innovations We Love
New Zealand businessman, Andrew Barnes, lifted productivity in his business by reducing his employees’ workday week to four days while maintaining their normal five day pay. His business saw a six per cent increase in productivity and 12.5 percent increase in profitability when he permanently introduced the policy. A four-day week has been shown to increase engagement and commitment to the business and life satisfaction, reduce stress levels and help attract the right talent.
Thrive@55 is a fantastic 8 week paid internship targeted at older workers in the advertising industry. The internship is being offered by Thinkerbell, which describes itself as an agency that brings together scientific enquiry and creative thinking. The agency is concerned about the “massive” underrepresentation of the 55+ age group in the industry. Internships are available across a broad range of skills from account management to design.
An incidental innovation that has occurred as a result of the pandemic is working from home. We don’t love Covid-19 but we do love the fact that it has helped organisations overcome a “significant hurdle” to remote working. Benefits of working from home according to research undertaken by Swinburne University of Technology, include not having to commute, greater flexibility and financial savings due to reduced travel.
Flexible retirements, return stints and retiree ‘pools’ are a win-win for experienced professionals and companies. The big question is – why don’t we see these more of these innovative approaches implemented in the workplace? This HBR article is an oldie but a goodie full of options worth considering!