Comments on: This Labor Day, how would you change our work culture? http://carrieanddanielle.com/this-labor-day-what-changes-would-you-like-to-see-to-north-americas-work-culture/ Simplify, Beautify and Prosper in all areas of your life. Thu, 18 Mar 2010 02:54:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Laurie M http://carrieanddanielle.com/this-labor-day-what-changes-would-you-like-to-see-to-north-americas-work-culture/comment-page-1/#comment-6206 Laurie M Wed, 03 Sep 2008 18:03:35 +0000 http://carrieanddanielle.com/?p=1023#comment-6206 A four-day work week or every other Friday off or a 3-day weekend every month - giving people a choice to choose the schedule that works for them! Sick leave that is not grouped with vacation time so you don't force yourself to go to work when you're sick to prevent the loss of vacation time. Better lighting. Support for alternative healthcare! I spend a lot of time and money on acupuncture and health prevention that is not covered, but which keeps me more healthy and productive at work. A four-day work week or every other Friday off or a 3-day weekend every month – giving people a choice to choose the schedule that works for them! Sick leave that is not grouped with vacation time so you don’t force yourself to go to work when you’re sick to prevent the loss of vacation time. Better lighting. Support for alternative healthcare! I spend a lot of time and money on acupuncture and health prevention that is not covered, but which keeps me more healthy and productive at work.

]]> By: blume bauer http://carrieanddanielle.com/this-labor-day-what-changes-would-you-like-to-see-to-north-americas-work-culture/comment-page-1/#comment-6164 blume bauer Tue, 02 Sep 2008 19:21:57 +0000 http://carrieanddanielle.com/?p=1023#comment-6164 @ Danielle, I so agree with you, but I have to add 2 hour lunches with that. When employees are happy and less stressed, they perform at much higher ratios. @ Danielle, I so agree with you, but I have to add 2 hour lunches with that. When employees are happy and less stressed, they perform at much higher ratios.

]]> By: Cindy http://carrieanddanielle.com/this-labor-day-what-changes-would-you-like-to-see-to-north-americas-work-culture/comment-page-1/#comment-6163 Cindy Tue, 02 Sep 2008 19:15:02 +0000 http://carrieanddanielle.com/?p=1023#comment-6163 1. Equal pay for equal work 2. Pay a liveable wage to everyone - especially administrative workers, janitors, etc... who do so much, and get paid very little 3. 4 day work week - actually, this is quite easy to do; I work at a place where you work two extra hours each day during the week, and then you can take the 5th day off (I only participate in this during the summer months) 4. ban cubicles - I don't see how companies expect anyone to be really productive when you have no privacy and can hear everything happening around you - plus, as one person already stated, they are just plain ugly 5. invest in assessments that are designed to teach you what everyone does well, and then fashioning the work to capitalize on everyone's strengths 1. Equal pay for equal work
2. Pay a liveable wage to everyone – especially administrative workers, janitors, etc… who do so much, and get paid very little
3. 4 day work week – actually, this is quite easy to do; I work at a place where you work two extra hours each day during the week, and then you can take the 5th day off (I only participate in this during the summer months)
4. ban cubicles – I don’t see how companies expect anyone to be really productive when you have no privacy and can hear everything happening around you – plus, as one person already stated, they are just plain ugly
5. invest in assessments that are designed to teach you what everyone does well, and then fashioning the work to capitalize on everyone’s strengths

]]> By: Xai Vicente Charles http://carrieanddanielle.com/this-labor-day-what-changes-would-you-like-to-see-to-north-americas-work-culture/comment-page-1/#comment-6172 Xai Vicente Charles Tue, 02 Sep 2008 12:51:47 +0000 http://carrieanddanielle.com/?p=1023#comment-6172 Equal pay for equal work to start. A 4 day week and telecommuting options. 30 days vacation mandatory. And yes, I agree with Danielle on maternity leave. It's ridiculous to leave your baby in 6 weeks to go back to work. Parents should be allowed to stay home for one year. Yup. One year. Equal pay for equal work to start. A 4 day week and telecommuting options. 30 days vacation mandatory. And yes, I agree with Danielle on maternity leave. It’s ridiculous to leave your baby in 6 weeks to go back to work. Parents should be allowed to stay home for one year. Yup. One year.

]]> By: Carmelle http://carrieanddanielle.com/this-labor-day-what-changes-would-you-like-to-see-to-north-americas-work-culture/comment-page-1/#comment-6171 Carmelle Tue, 02 Sep 2008 12:47:26 +0000 http://carrieanddanielle.com/?p=1023#comment-6171 Minimum 3 weeks vacation per year! We need to be more like the Europeans where most enjoy at least 4. Although i am a small business owner who can take as much vacation as i want, i can honestly say that i would work for the same money a salaried job would pay me, even LESS, to have time off when i need / want it. I could never go back to the work force simply for the fact that i may only get 2 weeks off per year. Minimum 3 weeks vacation per year!
We need to be more like the Europeans where most enjoy at least 4. Although i am a small business owner who can take as much vacation as i want, i can honestly say that i would work for the same money a salaried job would pay me, even LESS, to have time off when i need / want it. I could never go back to the work force simply for the fact that i may only get 2 weeks off per year.

]]> By: Joannie http://carrieanddanielle.com/this-labor-day-what-changes-would-you-like-to-see-to-north-americas-work-culture/comment-page-1/#comment-6181 Joannie Tue, 02 Sep 2008 12:46:10 +0000 http://carrieanddanielle.com/?p=1023#comment-6181 The first step IS the biggest one - admitting one's powerlessness over the work addiction. May God be with you as you work the Twelve steps. The first step IS the biggest one – admitting one’s powerlessness over the work addiction.

May God be with you as you work the Twelve steps.

]]> By: Ginger http://carrieanddanielle.com/this-labor-day-what-changes-would-you-like-to-see-to-north-americas-work-culture/comment-page-1/#comment-6190 Ginger Tue, 02 Sep 2008 05:04:41 +0000 http://carrieanddanielle.com/?p=1023#comment-6190 Well put. I have recently had to admit to my own unhealthy (and very unsatisfying) work addiction. I feel as though I have been in an "abusive" relationship. I am still sorting through how to take steps to recover and rebuld in a better way-to gian back a better sense of self, self respect and joy. Certainly not there yet but hope awareness is a first big step. Well put. I have recently had to admit to my own unhealthy (and very unsatisfying) work addiction. I feel as though I have been in an “abusive” relationship. I am still sorting through how to take steps to recover and rebuld in a better way-to gian back a better sense of self, self respect and joy. Certainly not there yet but hope awareness is a first big step.

]]> By: Ginger http://carrieanddanielle.com/this-labor-day-what-changes-would-you-like-to-see-to-north-americas-work-culture/comment-page-1/#comment-6189 Ginger Tue, 02 Sep 2008 04:46:20 +0000 http://carrieanddanielle.com/?p=1023#comment-6189 I agree. Vacation is a benefit- time earned to decompress and rejuvenate. When it is still expected that you take a laptop, blackberry, etc. it defeats the purpose and is work not a vacation. I agree. Vacation is a benefit- time earned to decompress and rejuvenate. When it is still expected that you take a laptop, blackberry, etc. it defeats the purpose and is work not a vacation.

]]> By: Danette http://carrieanddanielle.com/this-labor-day-what-changes-would-you-like-to-see-to-north-americas-work-culture/comment-page-1/#comment-6193 Danette Tue, 02 Sep 2008 02:53:08 +0000 http://carrieanddanielle.com/?p=1023#comment-6193 Absolutely! Absolutely!

]]> By: Danette http://carrieanddanielle.com/this-labor-day-what-changes-would-you-like-to-see-to-north-americas-work-culture/comment-page-1/#comment-6192 Danette Tue, 02 Sep 2008 02:51:21 +0000 http://carrieanddanielle.com/?p=1023#comment-6192 What an overwhelming call for a work culture that nurtures LIFE, be it for parenting, for equality, for vacations or for doing what we love. I echo these sentiments. That's the kind of world I want to live in. When everyone can be supported to raise a family, be a valued member of society, take time out to rest and do work that is meaningful to them, imagine the kind of revolution that would occur! Imagine the energy as you walk through a crowd of people who are nurtured, fulfilled, relaxed and valued. Imagine the quality of relationships that might be possible in that world... Then we could tell our children that they can be anything they want to be, and we would mean it, because we would be living it. What an overwhelming call for a work culture that nurtures LIFE, be it for parenting, for equality, for vacations or for doing what we love. I echo these sentiments.

That’s the kind of world I want to live in.

When everyone can be supported to raise a family, be a valued member of society, take time out to rest and do work that is meaningful to them, imagine the kind of revolution that would occur! Imagine the energy as you walk through a crowd of people who are nurtured, fulfilled, relaxed and valued. Imagine the quality of relationships that might be possible in that world…

Then we could tell our children that they can be anything they want to be, and we would mean it, because we would be living it.

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