Core Value #6: What work looks like today is broken.
The current version of work—the idea that we work in offices, that we work from 9 to 5, that we’re continuously productive throughout the day, at equal measures—there is overwhelming evidence that this isn’t true. Research shows that we aren’t effective in an 8-hour workday.
We’re seeing the results of a broken workplace with the amount of people dropping out, the lack of diversity in the workplace, and more. Work is especially broken for women. And when we layer in parenting, and we try to make all of it fit together, within the paradigm that currently exists, well, what we see is that across the board, it doesn’t fully work.
In this core value, we take the stance that what work looks like today can be wildly improved on. We believe that the future of work can be far better than what we see today.
So, in this project, as part of the work of Startup Pregnant, we’re asking:
- Why is work so broken?
- What does the future of work look like?
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
Episode #002 on Work Flexibility with Annie Dean
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I love this critical POV – and I think it has come across most clearly for me in the podcast interview with Werk founder. One of my favorite episodes so far!
Hear, hear. When I was in grad school, I had to draw very firm boundaries with my time – when I left the office at 5 to go to class, I couldn’t respond to emails. I couldn’t work weekends, because I was doing classwork. When I graduated, I realized that those boundaries lead to a much better work/life balance. If something isn’t really urgent, I won’t respond to an evening email until the next morning. Most recently, I’ve negotiated to work from home two days a week, giving me time to write more, commute less, and work out – all things that keep my happy. Looking forward, I want to shift that balance even farther to the point where I can work fewer hours overall, and gain more time to pursue my own projects. Selling that into my company is HARD, but will be worth it.
I have been working through transitioning out of work that doesn’t propel me forward, but makes me feel stuck, unproductive and without professional development… and what do I want has been on my mind a lot in looking to create a new path for myself.
What I would like is the ability to use time to be productive on my own accord knowing deadlines and expectations within a perceived timeframe. To be better at setting boundaries, and simply saying ‘no, I cant take that that on’, and that being OK. Having the flexibility to go home, take care of my personal needs or interests/hobbies, etc.