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6pm. Quitting time. Supposedly. That's what it says in your contract at least. As you walk out, you start seeing the narrowing of eyes from your 'tireless' colleagues. "I've got somewhere to be, meeting a friend for dinner' you stammer, trying to excuse your indiscretion. "Leaving early again", they're all thinking, as they hunker down for a good couple of hours of overtime, ensuring, of course, that this devotion to the cause won't go unnoticed by those with the power.
It's not difficult to see how we've evolved to this working mindset in business: tales of previous generations being put to work since the age of 16, and working 25 hours a day in order to achieve outstanding success. The more hours you work, the more 'above and beyond' you go, the more people that notice that insatiable work ethic and the more likely you'll reap the rewards in the long-term. The result? We compete to be the last one in the office, to send the latest e-mail in the absolute dead of the night - I've even heard anecdotally of one employee claiming he was too busy to go to the toilet.
There have been countless studies, research, news stories to the contrary - long working hours cause cancer, dementia, heart problems, depression - but these are mere sacrifices for a greater goal. Does a boxer worry about the frequent concussions catching up to him when he's 60? Does a dancer worry about the almost inevitable struggles with arthritis to come in later years? If you work hard and make sacrifices now, you'll supposedly set yourself up just fine in the future - the reinforcement is all around us.
However, frequently working long hours has been proven time and time again to be detrimental to productivity. It becomes harder to stay focused and tackle problems. Tasks take longer, so you inevitably end up spending even more time in the office, and the cycle continues. Meanwhile, the newer generations, who prefer flexible hours, bring fresh new approaches and streak ahead, unfettered by anachronistic processes. Just because a process is 'the way you've always done things', doesn't make it untouchable. Nor does experience always trump youthful impudence.
I can't deny working hard is a desirable trait in an employee, but this isn't synonymous with working long hours. Today's whippersnapper generation, 'the Millennials' as MTV calls them, are learning more efficient methods to work and place emphasis on keeping a stricter work/life balance. In this vein, research from Harvard Medical School has recently highlighted the importance of creativity for workers, pointing out that hobbies and time away from the office can not only give you confidence, but give you the positivity to help overcome tricky confrontations and situations.
Creativity's an appropriate theme too this week, in the light of the annual Cannes International Festival of Creativity, which is currently drawing to a close. Alongside branding agency Lambie-Nairn, we've been getting creative ourselves with our Cannes Also initiative - being taught a few tricks by Wallace & Gromit creators Aaardman, balloon artists Airigami and Lego pros Bright Bricks. You'd be surprised how many grown adults like a bit of clay and Lego!
It's simply not enough to zone out in front of the TV for a couple of hours - that's only delaying thinking about work again. By stimulating your mind in some way by tackling some different form of challenge, you're putting your brain to task in a completely different way. It may not seem that rock-climbing (advised by TFL last week as a way of occupying yourself during Olympics rush hour) will directly help you deal with a client shouting down the phone at you, but it actually could!
Creativity is not something we should just be encouraging in schools, and leaving behind us once we finish education. From five to 55, and beyond, set aside some time each week, each month to do something stimulating. Make some pottery, learn how to juggle, act like you're 12 again and buy some Lego. Tackle a problem that has no ramifications, stress or timeframe - and simply have some fun. Even the pub plays its part - it's been proven that we are actually much better at solving other people's problems, than those which concern ourselves.
Employers now too are making efforts to encourage employees to make the most of their time away from their desks, implementing schemes and activities to broaden some horizons. From lunch-time yoga sessions, to setting aside a day each quarter for an away day, there's few large businesses left that aren't endeavouring to provide stimulation that isn't desk-based.
So what is left other than a fear of change? All work-no play doesn't just make Jack a dull boy, it could well make him an unemployable one too.
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This has to increase the workers stress levels at a time when they should be relaxing, especially if on the way home to family and loved ones.
I'm lucky, I can't do my work outside of the office and therefore cannot take my work home.
I must say though, I don't envy those who do.
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Instead I found myself stressed by the process of getting myself into central London instead of starting the day - agreeably - by seeing my kids off to school. Once there I would be distracted by office chatter, lose time by being dragged into unnecessary meetings and - worst of all - I began clock-watching. Even with all my work for the day completed and free to leave as and when, I started to look around at the full-time staff and feel guilt (and their resentment) when I got up to leave. It lasted two weeks before I gave up and hastened back to my more familiar - and productive - environment.
Working long hours is fine by me - as a freelancer I charge a relatively hefty daily rate and I'll give my clients a lot in return. But productivity isn't about routine. I tend to work in 2-3 hour bursts, separated by mundane stuff that allows me to power down the analytical thinking and boost creativity. And my most productive time of day still seems to be around 10pm to 2am... I'd like to see the clock watchers compete with me
Unfortunately for many (including me), working from home is not an option - I support academic staff at a university and need to be there physically to do so!
I completely agree with your comments about being called in to work in a client's office - what a waste of time. Quite apart from the distractions of an unfamiliar environment, they hardly ever have a computer set up properly when I get there.
I disagree. There are many, many people forced to do more work than is fair just so their employers can cut staff costs. I have worked at companies where entire departments are laid off and their workload pasted on top of other people's responsibilities. I once went from being a junior journalist, to effectively sub-editor within three months of starting a job. No pay rise of course. I was also the only IT-competent person in an office of 30, and the only person who could fix the ropey boiler and close-to-deadly fusebox. I asked for a rise and was told I could carry on or quit.
I think this is great advice, for how burnt out workers can cope, but it has to be complemented with a healthy company environment, which includes knocking CEOs and managers down a peg or twenty four. Why? Because humans are humans, and being looked down on day after day causes harm. Happy people create. Creating can boost happiness, absolutely - but soul crushing entitlement can kill that creative instinct just as much.
Of course, I take this too personally. But hey, again, humans are humans, and so am I.
Although I have a degree, and my job required a degree to apply (though it certainly doesn't require a degree to DO) and I do get a little disheartened with this fashionable dig at anyone with a degree and a job. I got my job because I was a good candidate and I am in my job because I am good at it (passing probation etc), I wasn't simply handed the job because I have a degree.
But otherwise, I agree. Too many managers feel they have the power and right to demoralise their staff, especially prevalent in the most irritating of people - those who try to micro-manage.
I think it's awesome that people graduate. I wish more people did, absolutely. I think it gives a better shot at pursuing happiness and all that, and that's only good. I've spent much of my life being talked down to by folk who think that a degree and being well-read, etc. are the ultimate judgment of character (you're either a graduate or you're lazy, black and white) - so I'll admit that I come with bias. But, I'm pretty well aware that it's a minority of people with that level of judgment, and sorry if I did not convey that well.