Notes From Afar
Whilst rummaging through my Instapaper queue for some lunchtime reading I found this video.
I was struck by this comment:
thousands of people… working long hard hours, at jobs they hate, to buy things they don’t need, to impress people they don’t like
OK so this is perhaps a little overly dramatic, but it’s not that far from the truth for many people I think.
There’s got to be a better way. Right?
mybarclaycard is Barclaycard’s new online card account management site which launched late last year. I led the User Experience and User Interface design and development, and believe we created a unique and revolutionary site years ahead of Barclaycard’s competitors.
So it is nice to see mybarclaycard being recognised, and winning awards in both the financial services and wider design communities.
mybarclaycard won Best Online Initiative at the Card Awards. My favourite comment from the judges was “What everyone else ought to be doing”. Download their full summary.
And mybarclaycard has been commended by Design Week; with Barclaycard the only financial services company nominated.
It is only now I’ve had some space from the project and from the business, and seen the challenges prevalent in other large corporate bodies that I can appreciate just how bold and brave a project mybarclaycard was; especially for a bank.
I’m proud to have been part of the creation of mybarclaycard, and hope that Barclaycard continue to enhance and develop it. I can’t help but think about how awesome a mybarclaycard iPad app could be.
I should really be getting to bed but thought I’d post this first.
When I signed up to Project52 last year I felt that having had a recent resurgance in my blogging I would have no problems writing a post a week or more, but I’m sitting here in week one and can think of nothing to write. I don’t want to write quick link posts or embed videos just to meet my weekly quota; although it is of course debatable whether writing about not writing is any better.
What I hadn’t allowed for when I signed up was starting a new job which I did just before Christmas. I’m once again commuting to London, which I have in the past mused about being a muse, but this time my days are longer and my job more demanding. Sadly London Midland now use cattle trucks rather than carriages so there is no opportunity to write on the train, and for the first time in recent memory I have no interest in sitting in front of my computer when I get home.
Sadly I fear that I may be falling at the first hurdle for Project52 which for me might just be Project1.
As I enter week three of working a four day week I thought I should keep my promise and update you on week two: it passed without incident.
The end.
Sorry, but I’m pleased to say there is little to report. It is working well for both me and my wife who is enjoying the flexibility it has given her in starting her new job. My HR contact has been very helpful in answering a few questions not least how do I calculate holiday.
I had been told I needed to deduct 1.25 days from my holiday for each day I took which didn’t seem 100% fair to me. The official process is slightly more elaborate but much fairer: you add your holiday allowance to the bank holidays and then multiply by 7 to get an hour based allowance. I then take 8.75 hours for each day I take as holiday. This means I’m not penalised by bank holidays and also gives me more flexibility should I want to take a few hours here and there during the year.
When I worked at Vodafone they introduced hour based holiday; it initially seems more complex but I’m now all in favour of it for the flexibility and fairness it brings.
I won’t keep blogging about the following weeks unless something extraordinary occurs.
If you have the opportunity to adopt a flexible working pattern I strongly recommend it. Employers I recommend you consider offering flexible working to your employees; I believe that they will be happier and more productive.
Our son will be starting school in September allowing my wife to return to work; she wants to I’m not forcing her – honest. She has always wanted to train to be a nursery nurse, and through a chance conversation at our son’s pre-school she has secured a position starting immediately.
To give her the greatest possible flexibility I said that I would request to adopt a flexible working pattern which I am entitled to under UK law. Sadly my manager initially refused my request, but following a successful appeal I started my flexible working last week.
I now work “five days in four”; working all of my contracted hours in four days as opposed to five. I work from 8.15 to 18.00 Monday to Thursday and don’t work on Fridays. This has allowed my wife to take the great opportunity presented to her and to start training right away.
Having talked about other companies that have adopted a similar pattern wholesale I thought it might be interesting for others to document my experiences working a four day week in a five day week company.
Last week was my first four day week and it looks like this work pattern will work out well for me and my family and have no negative impact for my employers.
Not being a morning person I will admit to being concerned about actually making it in on time and being effective. Perhaps the biggest and most pleasant surprise of week one was early rising. I’ve found that I’ve had no problem actually getting up and that I feel more awake and alert through the day as a result. I wonder if it’s anything to do with seeing more daylight.
Having said that I also think that my increased alertness may be due to a greater focus and awareness of time I now have. I want this arrangement to be a success for me, for my family, for my employer and also for others that may want to work this way in the future. To this end I have found I have a much greater sense of engagement and focus.
So all very good so far.
Week two may be more of a test as I have a day in London on Thursday giving me have just three days in the office, but such days are a fact of business life so I don’t expect big problems.