Contest: Start Your Own ROWE Revolution
July 2nd, 2008 by Cali & Jody
A friend of ours recently told us a story that made our jaws drop. He was visiting one of his vendors and happened to have a copy of the book with him. When he showed it to the people there, they were very excited about the prospect of a ROWE. It seems that they have a very strict punctuality policy—if you don’t punch in on time, you get docked 10% of your pay.
When employees complained about fairness, management put an ingenious (and cruel) spin on it. They told people to think of the policy as a “punctuality bonus”. If you punched in on time, you’d get your 10% bump, even if it really just brought you up to your normal salary.
*Sigh*
We hear stories like these and it makes us wonder what would happen if the leadership at that company were exposed to the ROWE mindset. Work cultures are slow to change, and we doubt this place will become a good place to work without a lot of struggle, but maybe, just maybe we could make work suck just a little less at this company.
You probably have your own horror stories, about a company policy, a manager’s outdated notions about time, or coworkers who Sludge like crazy. You can probably also see how a Results-Only Work Environment would change the culture of your work.
So we want to hear from you. Post a comment (five lines maximum) about why you want or need ROWE. We’ll award a copy of the book to the best entry. If you’d like, we’ll also send a copy to your boss, manager or member of the executive team. We can’t promise to score that “punctuality bonus” for you, but maybe we can help plant the seed that will make those kinds of policies go away.
Why I want ROWE - a Haiku
Work is what you do
We can control our own time
ROWE makes one happy
A ROWE can save gas and the environment…
We are exploring going to a 4 day week to give people a break on gas prices. Instead of policing to make sure people are working their “10 hour days” we need a ROWE to make this work!
I ROWE on my own until the current (upper mgmt) throws me overboard.
But that’s not going to happen.
Ridding
Offices of
Whiners
Exponentially
Sorry, I know it really isn’t the right topic, but had to one-up the haiku from Gary…
I work at Harley-Davidson. Many of us own motorcycles, but are in the office during the best times to ride.
ROWE would give us more time to be on two wheels, connecting with customers.
Because please, for the love of God, I just want
to do
my
damn
job.
I work for the federal government. The American tax payers should demand the most productive government they can get. The gov’t is filled with many talented people, but also is a haven for slackers concerned only with job security. Isn’t productivity even more essential when its our safety and taxes on the line? A ROWE should be the only option the American people accept.
I meet my weekly quota by midweek, but I don’t get paid more for exceeding it, so I waste my time and the company’s time sitting at my desk, staring at the walls. Why bring up my efficiency if my only reward is more work? How about more control over my time! ROWE would increase productivity and happiness!
Business Owners! Boards of Directors! When will you see that ROWE is good for business??
Sorry I’m just not as poetic as the others…
Just finished the book - loved it
I have trouble with a few thoughts - you will notice that they are all SMB (small / medium business oriented)
A switchboard with nine lines to be answered from 0730 to 1800 EST and only two people to do it
One or two IT guys and 30 to 60 people needing help on why they can’t print or that powerpoint presentation is screwing up - and the presentation is in 10 minutes.
That support line that needs answering from 0700 Atlantic time until 1900 pacific time. - and there are three of you who rotate
The one IT guy that has to physically swap the nasty little backup tapes 365 days per year and recover that file you deleted when you need it
Your largest customer calls with a FUBAR and you have to be on a plane in the next 45 minutes. (I trust all know the the FUBAR principle)
The customer needs an urgent change NOW - umm there is only one software developer with the needed skills. (lets not forget who is paying the bills here)
The bank calls - unless there is a faxed answer in the next few hours with the supporting docs, your line of credit is cut off - there is only one finance staffer
The RFP comes from your largest client arrives at 16:30 that needs to be responded to by 08:00 tomorrow. Oh yes - finance, operations, development, and professional services need to put in their pieces - and that is actually one person per department.
You get the picture …….
Elliot - we get the picture! We just migrated a 20 person professional services firm in New Richmond Wisconsin who, by its nature, has many of the issues you described - a few people wearing many hats. But, in a ROWE, everyone is accountable to serve the customer, and everyone has everyone else’s back. For example, at this small company, the reception area worked like your typical reception area with one receptionist needing coverage for breaks, lunch or time off. Now the reception area is part of everyone’s responsibility, including the founder and CEO. The receptionist is in a Results-Only Work Environment because ROWE does not exclude. Before migrating to ROWE, the sales team operated like a typical sales team - expecting their sales assistants to be available at the drop of a hat for their last minute needs during office hours. Now the sales staff knows that they can plan their work more effectively so there aren’t as many last minute fire drills. And, if their assistant isn’t available during a last minute crisis between 8-5, they know how to handle it themselves. The great thing is that customer service doesn’t turn off at 5:00. In a ROWE, the customer has the opportunity to be served at times outside traditional work hours. This has strengthened the relationship between the sales force and their assistants, and has improved customer response time.
Last we heard, revenue per full time employee is up, profit per full time employee is up, and accuracy rates are up. And, the person that brought ROWE to the company wears three hats: IT, HR and Finance.
The work of the business is everyone’s work. We can all pitch in, regardless of job title. That way both business and people win.
We’re pleased to hear you read the book!
I’m in a small organisation that builds web applications - we work flat out from 8-6pm every day with no end in sight. I think the ROWE concept will not only make the work hours more flexible, but more importantly help to reveal a different way of doing business that how we currently operate.