The Seven-Day Weekend

Imagine a workplace that relinquishes control over its employees. That means no monitoring of arrival time, no control over what clothes to wear, where to work(home or office), or monitoring of what the employees are doing. No rules. A company that trusts in adult behaviour, encourages job rotation and practices flexi time (the employee decides what time they arrive and leave work, even for assembly floor workers!). A company that does not hide secrets from its lower level staff and practices total democracy(where the CEO’s vote is equal to the cleaner lady’s vote).

My initial reaction? Such a model would be impossible in Singapore, a first world country. People here need fixed rules and supervision; for without, there will be plenty of abuse and loss of productivity. My reaction was basically founded on the premise that people are inherently selfish, self-centered and cannot be fully trusted to put the company ahead of self. Not too far from the truth, right?

But such a workplace does exist. And it is not in America, Switzerland or in any of the leading first world countries.

The company is called Semco and it is located in a Brazil, a third world country. And all this was made possible by its visionary owner, Ricardo Semler. Instead of falling apart after the introduction of radical reforms and corporate re-engineering in the 80s, the company’s revenue has grown from $4mil in 1982 to $212mil in 2003, enjoying 40% growth annually without public investment. As for turnover, it is less than 1% annually (that is 3 out of 3000 employees). Well, if I was there, I wouldn’t want to leave too.

Get hold of his books, The Seven-Day Weekend or Maverick if you wish to find out more.

*******

“Among those things Semco doesn’t do is a 7 day work-week. If rock climbing is more inviting on a Wednesday morning than a budget planning meeting, then break out the rope and pitons. If lighter traffic on a Saturday afternoon makes the commute to office more bearable, go for it. The seven-day weekend is more than permission to play hooky. It’s about creating an atmosphere and culture that grants permission to employees to be men and women in full for seven days a week. Why should the fun, fulfillment and freedom stop first thing Monday morning and be hold until Friday night? I believe no one can afford, can endure or can stomach leaving half a life in the parking lot when she or he goes to work. It’s a lousy way to live and a lousy way to work.”

From 'The Seven-Day Weekend', by Ricardo Semler