Michele Harmon
I once heard a quote that sums up the oilfield work week: “It’s only two more workdays til Monday.” Unless the world is planning to change, work does not stop in the Oil Patch on Friday, much less on Saturday or Sunday.
For families in the Permian Basin, where both parents work, what would you do with your children in Midland ISD and Ector County ISD if those school districts shut down on Friday? Greenwood has done it, but I suspect their demographics are slightly different. I know they are, but I will not bother you with the details.
Over the past 15 years, our two largest school districts, as well as private and public companies, have done their best to provide childcare for the non-school age or after-school care for our young students.
Some of our larger companies provide opportunities for their employees to have every other Friday off, flex time, and occasional work from home opportunities. However, how does working from home work with two or three school-age children who are not at school? Admittedly, I would love a four-day work week, but that would also mean entertaining those school-age children who are at home.
How might a four-day work week benefit the oil and gas industry? From the Human Resource perspective, I would argue that it would only work in the office. Research, a la artificial intelligence, suggests some positives. They include improved work-life balance, which can lead to higher retention rates. Another is reduced operational costs, energy costs, maintenance costs, and other operational expenses. Does that mean the air conditioning will not be running? I know someone will be in that office working, and they will want their zone turned on.
Initially, a four-day work week will attract talent. I witnessed it last year. However, I caution anyone who jumps to a four-day work week: remember, your employer can return to a five-day work week, and who really wants to do five days’ worth of work in four days? Reality hurts; you will work during your three-day break almost every time.
What about increased productivity in those four days? Most of us hit a wall around 4:00 or 5:00 p.m. if we started at 7:00 a.m. Are you planning to implement a 32-hour work week without a pay cut? I doubt it. Going on a four-day workweek in the oil patch does not mean fewer hours. We have an employee shortage as it is.
Some say employees may maximize their output during their active hours, which can lead to more efficient production processes. I would argue that only your best employees maximize their output during active working hours.
I agree that there may be less absenteeism, but I am afraid I have to disagree with the idea of less stress. A little stress makes me a better performer. How about you?
If your organization wants to consider a 4-day workweek, the SHRM has these suggestions.
Step 1: Clarify what you mean by a four-day workweek and what you hope to achieve.
Step 2: Consider the potential impact on your customers.
Step 3: Consider policy and wage and hour issues.
Step 4: Do not overlook the importance of communication and training.
Step 5: Try out the concept before implementing it fully.
In Canada, an overwhelming majority—91 percent—of 1,449 senior managers surveyed by Robert Half favored a four-day workweek, although 45 percent favored a four-day week with employees working longer, 10-hour shifts.
There is no free lunch, folks, and certainly not in the Oil Patch.
On the positive side, The Josh Bersin Company recently completed an extensive study. The link to it is https://joshbersin.com/the-four-day-work-week/
In case you do not explore the link, the study has some great points that include the following:
In every company we spoke to, the most successful started with a well-defined pilot program. In this report, our Action Guide will get you started and share how to:
- Create a worktime reduction pilot for your company.
- Get buy-in from leadership and employees, and
- Create strong and clear metrics for success.
The MIT Sloan Management Review did a study in the United Kingdom. The link to it is https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/how-far-reaching-could-the-four-day-workweek-become/
This study highlighted the conclusion that the 4-day work week may work in many industries, but it will not work well in healthcare. The article highlights that caring for those in need cannot be restricted to set hours on a time clock. We need more credentialed healthcare workers in the Permian Basin and the United States. Personally, my cousin is in his 70s and is still the only Pediatric Rheumatologist in a large U.S. city that ranks in the top ten in size. He works part-time, is available for emergencies, and supervises a physician’s assistant, who sees the patients.
Ultimately, it is not a perfect world; a one-size-fits-all solution will only work for some organizations. Do what is best for your bottom line and your employees, which can be a difficult juggling act. Be flexible with your employees; your high performers will always be your best.
“Your employees are the heart of your organization.” Dr. Michele Harmon is a Human Resource professional, supporting clients in Texas and New Mexico that range in size from five to more than 3,000 employees. Email: micheleharmon1@gmail.com