Sometimes work just plain sucks. You spend 40 hours at a place you’d rather not be with people who can sometimes be a drag. But sometimes, your boss does a little something that changes your whole outlook. It might be something minor, but it can have a huge impact.
Twitter user Anne Helen (@annehelen) recently asked her followers ‘What’s a small thing that your employer or manager has implemented or changed that has made the experience of work easier/better/less shitty/less of an exhausting nightmare slog?’
The results were great examples of how much power and goon influence a manager can have.
“Mental Health Long Lunch Day”
Well this sounds awesome. Especially with the rising importance of mental health. Having the power to give your employees that break when they need it is a vital thing for a manager.
A Nomination System People Actually Want
Mine let us all pick someone from the office to get a day off if we think they deserve it. We have a blind draw once a month. I always give my vote to the cleaner who has to out up with some right mess in the bogs
— Urghlifeurgh (@urghlifeurgh) October 3, 2019
A lot of offices have nomination systems for feedback. Many of these end up with pretty lame prizes (gift cards, shout outs, etc). Being able to gift a fellow employee with a day off would be such a fantastic motivator.
A Four-Day Work Week
Working 4-10s with a 3 day weekend. He thanks people for good work. He invites debate on policy and actually listens.
— Wait…what?!?🌊🌊🌊 (@Victory4ppl) October 3, 2019
Working four 10-hour days is actually amazing. You get a day during the week to get all your errands done and then a full weekend to enjoy yourself. Can we make this the norm please?
Treat Them Like Adults
having a non-babysitting mentality. it's "let me know what your regular working hours are, be available via email and gchat during those hours, get your work done, everything else is up to you." this after my last job where I'd get a text if I was 10 min late
— Joy Netanya Thompson (@JoyNetanya) October 3, 2019
Being treated like an adult is huge. Trust people and they will repay you. This is especially important in a world where it is becoming easier and easier to work remotely.
Speaking Of Being Treated Like An Adult
One company I worked at started a policy that you're not to give a reason when you're taking a day off, you just do it and you're entitled to be trusted it was needed. That was nice, and nobody abused it
— Lauren Manelius (@el_manels) October 3, 2019
Part of being treated like an adult is trust. Sometimes you don’t want to have to tell people why you need to go to the doctor, you just want to go. Sometimes you just need a day to yourself to sit at home!
Being Able To Truly Enjoy Weekends
No emails on weekends or evenings past 8pm.
— LastAct 🇺🇦#RussiaReplacePutin🌻 (@LastGreatAct) October 3, 2019
Time to be TRULY free from work is so important. Nothing worse than getting home and having to constantly check your emails and stress about things you can’t do anything about.
Knowing Where You Stand At All Time
we have a "no surprises rule" for performance reviews, which is very refreshing
— a luminous presence shaped like Seth D. Michaels (@sethdmichaels) October 3, 2019
This is vital. There is nothing worse than walking into a review and getting blindsided by bad feedback. People should know where they stand.
Nothing Like Being Comfortable
Where it is appropriate, making the workplace comfortable is always a good thing.
Now That Is A Great Perk
Saving money on gym memberships and healthcare costs. Everyone wins here!
This Would Cut So Much Stress Out
No longer worrying about employees being late. Come in late then just stay longer.
— Alan (@specksioneer) October 3, 2019
Everyone knows that feeling of being stuck in traffic and knowing you’re going to be shouted at because of something you had no control over. Take that stress away and your workplace because that much more enjoyable.