A few days have passed since the celebration of Labor Day and we can analyze what it has given of itself.
It has been evidenced that being more in the office does not mean working more, because the Spaniards exceed the French, Danish or German in 200 hours a year, but they are at the bottom in productivity. Experts strongly criticize this culture of presentism and obsessive work in which working many hours is a sign of dedication and professional promotion against leaving work at the official departure time that is interpreted as lack of motivation.
And more discouraging statistics have also been confirmed for all mothers: only 7% of Spanish companies offer flexible schedules and objectives (that's why we already talked about suspending family-work conciliation) and teleworking represented 4% in Spain, compared to 13% of the EU average and 18% of Sweden.
Given these data, it is not surprising that sociologist Isabel Aler said that work is an obstacle to motherhood and not vice versa.
But the National Commission for the Rationalization of Spanish Schedules has established the following Decalogue of proposals to improve the situation:
- Separate the personal from the labor. Follow the rule of eight hours of work, eight rest and eight free time
- Prioritize Organize time based on really urgent tasks
- Learn to say "no"
- To plan. Planning is the cornerstone of time management: make a list of tasks
- Be respectful of your own time and demand that others also be
- Be on time at the start of the day to be more legitimate to leave on time
- Avoid and combat the presentism. Companies increasingly evaluate their workers according to their results
- Convene meetings only when necessary, replace them when possible with a telephone conversation
- Organize meetings so that they do not extend. You have to set not only start time, but also end time
- Replace work meals with breakfasts. Equally effective for decision-making, but much shorter
Well, as a theory it is very correct, but in practice some points are not very viable in many jobs, from working 8 hours (when you have to add food and travel) to the theme of meetings. It seems a decalogue more for stressed executives than for mid-range workers.
In fact I would like them to do the same exercise for companies, suggesting for example: flexible hours, paid permits for urgent personal circumstances, ample scope for teleworking, etc.
Studies show that promoting the balance between work and personal life has a zero cost for organizations but gets committed, motivated and satisfied workers that translates into less absenteeism, less turnover and more productivity. That is, a perfect equation.
An upbringing with attachment, and ultimately a healthy upbringing, requires an economy that facilitates reconciliation, if not, the entire society loses.
As the Spanish expert on this subject Nuria Chinchilla said:Reconciling is not a luxury but a necessity!.
