While I think it's important to recognize that improved connectivity has allowed work to colonize people's time outside the workplace, I don't think counting emails while commuting as work goes...
While I think it's important to recognize that improved connectivity has allowed work to colonize people's time outside the workplace, I don't think counting emails while commuting as work goes far enough. I think commuting itself should count as work and compensated accordingly -- especially when commuting to an office job.
If we don't recognize time spent commuting as work, then all of the social, health, and environmental costs associated with commuting to workplaces instead of working remotely and using appropriate technologies to communicate become another externality that businesses can dump onto society at large.
Imagine the changes to city planning if companies actually had to compensate their employees for travel time. On one hand, it means more housing close to where people work. On the other hand,...
Imagine the changes to city planning if companies actually had to compensate their employees for travel time. On one hand, it means more housing close to where people work. On the other hand, geographic location might become a big motivator for employers to not hire someone. This is an interesting discussion to have :)
instead of working remotely and using appropriate technologies
While that may true for the jobs you and I do, I think that's not an option in a lot of industries (doctor, lawyer, etc).
Not to mention providing workers compensation if a worker is injured in a car crash while driving to/from work. I think geographic location is already an issue in hiring. It just isn't necessarily...
Imagine the changes to city planning if companies actually had to compensate their employees for travel time.
Not to mention providing workers compensation if a worker is injured in a car crash while driving to/from work.
On one hand, it means more housing close to where people work. On the other hand, geographic location might become a big motivator for employers to not hire someone.
I think geographic location is already an issue in hiring. It just isn't necessarily explicit. Most office jobs require geographic proximity. Bosses want asses in chairs. They want to be able to look over your shoulder. It's harder for them to control you if you aren't physically present.
I think that's not an option in a lot of industries (doctor, lawyer, etc)
Professions are different, and need to be handled separately.
Companies should take steps to help that employee improve, and if they don't, then find a better employee. Coming into the office may help, or it may make no difference.
Companies should take steps to help that employee improve, and if they don't, then find a better employee. Coming into the office may help, or it may make no difference.
This is an excellent idea! As a programmer, my commute does count as work, but only because I do code on the train. It gets added to my time bank, so all good. My job is quite flexible with...
This is an excellent idea!
As a programmer, my commute does count as work, but only because I do code on the train. It gets added to my time bank, so all good. My job is quite flexible with working from home, it would be nice to work from home more often, 3 days a week maybe.
I came here to say the same thing. Why do we force the costs of commuting to the employees? And there are many costs - road and vehicle maintenance, psychological and labor costs, etc. If we...
I came here to say the same thing. Why do we force the costs of commuting to the employees? And there are many costs - road and vehicle maintenance, psychological and labor costs, etc. If we forced employers to pay for commute times, we encourage telepresence and reduce overall traffic. That means less road maintenance and fewer taxes.
This is only an option for a very small fraction of people who work. It may be practical in some fields, but for the vast army of millions doing the jobs that make the world run, it's completely...
instead of working remotely and using appropriate technologies to communicate
This is only an option for a very small fraction of people who work. It may be practical in some fields, but for the vast army of millions doing the jobs that make the world run, it's completely impossible.
I was supposed to be off today, and have already had five "urgent" e-mails and three "urgent" phone calls, with no practical ability to say, "I'm not available", or anyone else who could have...
I was supposed to be off today, and have already had five "urgent" e-mails and three "urgent" phone calls, with no practical ability to say, "I'm not available", or anyone else who could have handled them.
I completely agree with the one director (sadly, no longer with the company) who told me, "you should be putting half an hour on your time sheet every time you glance at mail, whether you're in the office or not."
While I think it's important to recognize that improved connectivity has allowed work to colonize people's time outside the workplace, I don't think counting emails while commuting as work goes far enough. I think commuting itself should count as work and compensated accordingly -- especially when commuting to an office job.
If we don't recognize time spent commuting as work, then all of the social, health, and environmental costs associated with commuting to workplaces instead of working remotely and using appropriate technologies to communicate become another externality that businesses can dump onto society at large.
Imagine the changes to city planning if companies actually had to compensate their employees for travel time. On one hand, it means more housing close to where people work. On the other hand, geographic location might become a big motivator for employers to not hire someone. This is an interesting discussion to have :)
While that may true for the jobs you and I do, I think that's not an option in a lot of industries (doctor, lawyer, etc).
Not to mention providing workers compensation if a worker is injured in a car crash while driving to/from work.
I think geographic location is already an issue in hiring. It just isn't necessarily explicit. Most office jobs require geographic proximity. Bosses want asses in chairs. They want to be able to look over your shoulder. It's harder for them to control you if you aren't physically present.
Professions are different, and need to be handled separately.
Technically, I'm a boss, and I don't care if butts are in chairs as long as the work gets done satisfactorily.
If more bosses were like that, we might make some progress.
Amen. Is the work done, well, and on time? Then fuck everything else. :)
Companies should take steps to help that employee improve, and if they don't, then find a better employee. Coming into the office may help, or it may make no difference.
Nope. You're on your own in the US.
Just one more thing pushing us towards automated cars!
Why not trains and trams and bike paths, dammit?
This is an excellent idea!
As a programmer, my commute does count as work, but only because I do code on the train. It gets added to my time bank, so all good. My job is quite flexible with working from home, it would be nice to work from home more often, 3 days a week maybe.
I came here to say the same thing. Why do we force the costs of commuting to the employees? And there are many costs - road and vehicle maintenance, psychological and labor costs, etc. If we forced employers to pay for commute times, we encourage telepresence and reduce overall traffic. That means less road maintenance and fewer taxes.
This is only an option for a very small fraction of people who work. It may be practical in some fields, but for the vast army of millions doing the jobs that make the world run, it's completely impossible.
I was supposed to be off today, and have already had five "urgent" e-mails and three "urgent" phone calls, with no practical ability to say, "I'm not available", or anyone else who could have handled them.
I completely agree with the one director (sadly, no longer with the company) who told me, "you should be putting half an hour on your time sheet every time you glance at mail, whether you're in the office or not."