Social measures and productivity
Firms try to get more and more attractive to co-workers, providing them with the best environment and conditions possible. The "environment package" has trully become a point on which firms noy compete to hire the best profiles.
Let us just take the example like Google. People are basically free to do yhatever they want during working time, are encourages to use the amazing sports, wellness facilities provided to them, are provided with nurseries withing the office buildings, etc. Not even talking of all the team-building sessions, groups travels that are there create a team spirit, ans a feeling of belonging to the firm. And this trend is definitely growing fast, even sometimes so much that one could wonder if this feeling of freedom given by firms to its employee is not a way to tie them even tighter to the firm.
But what about productivity? Does it really increase productivity?
On the one hand, it definitely does, since employees are not put under pressure, and feel happy in their firm. the low employee turnover at Google proves it. They are also surely proud of being part of such an amazing company and business adventure. And the financial results of Google are another evidence of the efficiency of such a policy.
Nevertheless, when you do not have to be there, when you can do whatever you want, are you as concentrated, and do you take things as seriously as if you were part of a traditionally organised company. This start up like spirit, could we really have it everywhere? Do you imagine employees at the NASA being able to leave the office anytime to play soccer? We at the office got header to listen music while working. Nothing compared with team week ends in castles, for sure. But still. And do I work better now that I can freely listen to music? In a way, I feel much more relaxed, but am I as efficient? And at some point, work has to be done..
I do believe that it is very important to have people grow and feel good in the company. However, companies are not life, and it is even more important to have a private life to yourself. Can you really have that, when you keep having drinks with colleagues, or attending team incentive sessions?
I thus personnaly think that this "social trend" has many positive aspects, and may lead to less stressed people and a better team spirit, and maybe people more committed to their work. However, I do not believe that too much is such a good policy. Because most of the people have to be a little constraint to work: Otherwise, things will never get done. What is your opinion?
Let us just take the example like Google. People are basically free to do yhatever they want during working time, are encourages to use the amazing sports, wellness facilities provided to them, are provided with nurseries withing the office buildings, etc. Not even talking of all the team-building sessions, groups travels that are there create a team spirit, ans a feeling of belonging to the firm. And this trend is definitely growing fast, even sometimes so much that one could wonder if this feeling of freedom given by firms to its employee is not a way to tie them even tighter to the firm.
But what about productivity? Does it really increase productivity?
On the one hand, it definitely does, since employees are not put under pressure, and feel happy in their firm. the low employee turnover at Google proves it. They are also surely proud of being part of such an amazing company and business adventure. And the financial results of Google are another evidence of the efficiency of such a policy.
Nevertheless, when you do not have to be there, when you can do whatever you want, are you as concentrated, and do you take things as seriously as if you were part of a traditionally organised company. This start up like spirit, could we really have it everywhere? Do you imagine employees at the NASA being able to leave the office anytime to play soccer? We at the office got header to listen music while working. Nothing compared with team week ends in castles, for sure. But still. And do I work better now that I can freely listen to music? In a way, I feel much more relaxed, but am I as efficient? And at some point, work has to be done..
I do believe that it is very important to have people grow and feel good in the company. However, companies are not life, and it is even more important to have a private life to yourself. Can you really have that, when you keep having drinks with colleagues, or attending team incentive sessions?
I thus personnaly think that this "social trend" has many positive aspects, and may lead to less stressed people and a better team spirit, and maybe people more committed to their work. However, I do not believe that too much is such a good policy. Because most of the people have to be a little constraint to work: Otherwise, things will never get done. What is your opinion?