Friday was and still is the weekly day off in this part of the world. When I first came to Dubai, the idea of working full day on Saturday (and that too in formal clothes) seemed awful. Saturday used to be a fun, dress down day back in Madras, with the afternoons usually spent lounging in my favourite book store. Even worse was the idea of working in Dubai on Sunday, being half strangled by a silk tie, when more than half the world was probably building sand castles at the beach. Somehow, it wasn’t enough of a comfort to know that I had relaxed on Friday while they had been working.
It was only after the industrial revolution, that the concept of weekend really took root. For the one day weekend to turn into a two day one, it took a few hundred years. Productivity improved. Happy workers upped the ante and delivered bumper results. But why then should we stop at a two day weekend? Why not push the envelope a bit more and see where it leads us? What would the ideal working week be?
Let’s take a quick look at concerns or peeves that employees do have. Most workers have ‘first working day of the week’ blues, whether it is Saturday, Sunday or Monday. Some are unhappy if they can’t get out of office early on the last day of the working week. That’s like encroaching on precious weekend time. Then, there is this thing about formal dressing. Most workers enjoy a dress down day. Smart casuals make for a cosy, friendlier environment. But on what day should it be? Should it be on the last day of the working week? Why not on the first day of the working week to reduce first day blues?
There are those who like the idea of a holiday in the middle of the week, as well. That way, a working week can never stretch long and drearily ahead of you. It’s not a bad idea. There’s no need to laugh mockingly at me. In the core of your heart, you know fully well that you have had many of these thoughts yourself.
Also, some employees fancy a half working day. That way, you can come to work assured of a nice lunch and a siesta, followed by enough time to play trivial pursuit with the family, go shopping, watch TV, visit the park or finish a book – depending on what your tastes are. Good enough to put a smile on anyone’s face in the morning.
Having spent a couple of decades pondering over this subject, I have come to a conclusion. I may not be able to incorporate everyone’s wish; indeed that is scarcely possible. So this suggestion of mine will not please everyone. But we have to learn to compromise for the overall good. Here it is then, the ideal working week, for this neck of the woods.
The working week should start from Monday, so no one works on days when the rest of the world is having fun. To mitigate the effect of Monday morning blues, on that day, the dress code should be smart casual. Offices should start late and always with a game or a fun quiz. Tuesday should be a full and regular working day. Wednesday should be a day off to satisfy the ‘mid week break’ lobby. Thursdays should be dress down day again and employees should be able to leave at 1 p.m. Weekend should be Friday through Sunday.
I urge all employers to do this. Then, just sit back and watch the productivity graph soar. I mean, clearly it stands to reason. What I can’t figure out is why no one is doing it.
']]}