Letter of the Day | Adjust work schedules amid traffic chaos
Published:Thursday | November 1, 2018 | 12:00 AM
THE EDITOR, Sir:
Three stop light changes later and still I can't get through one intersection. Spending one hour on what should be a 15-minute drive, not to mention the two- to three-hour transit time for those who are getting the worst of it.
Along with the changes at Three Miles, there seems to be new potholes or roadworks happening all around the Corporate Area. We cannot be expected to continue enduring the current traffic situation in Kingston and St Andrew for another seven months, and whether you drive or take public transportation, the situation is affecting us all.
It's time to adopt more flexible working hours - and fast - because frustration is mounting. We will soon see persons taking more sick days. I've already heard cases where persons arrive to work late (through no fault of their own) and leave work early to try (to no avail) to beat the impending traffic congestion. Productivity and job satisfaction are dropping.
There are some options that could be adopted to relieve the current situation:
1. A flexible schedule that allows workers to alter workday start and finish times. The total working time required of employees is the same as that required under traditional work schedules. For example, if I currently work 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday to Friday, my total hours worked for the week are 40 hours. On a flexible schedule, I could work Mon 2 p.m.-6 p.m., Tuesday 7 a.m.-5 p.m. etc., and at the end of the week, my hours worked should still add up to 40 hours. There is already legislation in Jamaica to allow this.
2. Staggered hours vary the start and end of working hours in a manner that works best for employees, fulfilling the core working hours within a workday (e.g., eight hours). There is a typical time frame during which all employees must be present at work (e.g., 10 a.m.-4 p.m.). This is similar to the shift system currently employed by some high schools.
3. Remote working/work from home/telecommuting: Instead of commuting to an office each day to work from a designated desk, remote employees can execute their projects wherever they please. Some people have the opportunity to work remotely for the majority of the workweek, but have to commute to in-person meetings at the office one day a week.
While each organisation will need proper policies in place to manage these new ways of working, let us not be afraid to venture into something new that could alleviate some of the burdens we are facing. This is also a prime opportunity for businesses to adjust their opening hours to open later on a regular basis.
RIESE S.