I feel very strongly about pursuing what I like and I feel that I am not really waiting for a weekend. I am just waiting to go to my office and I don't really feel I am losing anything by not making use of a weekend because there is not much difference between how I spend my weekend and my weekday (every day is freakishly different and fun), that is, I mix work-time and play-time seamlessly (FYI: by no means am I trying to impress my boss! she doesn't read my blog...and my appraisals are over long long back :-P). But it is very true that everyone waits for the weekend, I think it's because our minds are clocked in such a way that it doesn't want to function on Saturdays and Sundays...it's hard-coded in our minds that those two days are meant for us to relax or go-out.
I mean, why do we wanna relax or go-out ONLY these two days a week...mathematically, we are spending 4*2 = 8 vacation days out of the 30 days in a month. I believe the vacations will be more valuable if we can have one chuck of a month for vacation and the rest of the chunk for work. For instance, I am trying to think what can happen if we work continuously 22 days and take 8 vacation days every month. This idea simply fascinates me, coz I can plan for an out-of-town trip every month and have an amazingly long and satisfying vacation.
I think companies should allow employees to choose any 8 vacation days in a month. Why do I think this is good for the employee and the company? It is because:
- Taking a vacation is a conscious choice and the employees are sure of what to do in the vacation days. Vacation is put to use and it doesn't just pass-by.
- Generally, Monday's and Friday's aren't really productive because one is just after the weekend and the other is just before the weekend. You see, everyone is in the weekend mood. (not me, definitely not me; but I know some of my friends who would agree to this)
- You need chunks of time to do exceptional work. In terms of productivity, (22 days of continuous work) is greater than (22 days of work with weekly breaks). It's simple, if you apply breaks, you lose the momentum.
- Two days is too less for an out-stationed candidate to visit his parents. Two day vacations are like rush-hour, people go to see their parents and come back really quick...it's more like a formality (I don't mean to hurt anyone, just saying).
PS: These are strictly my thoughts. And it may be ridiculous to implement, so don't break your head if you think this can't be implemented.
PS: A decision like this will need lots of thinking and coordination. May be, there are a million things to consider before you can implement this.
PS: A decision like this will need lots of thinking and coordination. May be, there are a million things to consider before you can implement this.
