{{B}}GETTING THE BEST FROM YOUR STAFF{{/B}}
Ed Smith, a senior manager for Trustco Ltd in Worcester, used to work a minimum of 70 hours a week. He travelled regularly between the UK and USA and began to feel he had become almost a stranger to his wife and his two young sons. Realising that he was putting himself under too much stress, he decided to try to change his working hours. This idea worked.
These days, he still goes to work very early but he also leaves early. He now sees his children before they go to bed and then does about an hour's work by computer from home in the evening, keeping in touch with American colleagues. {{U}}(8) {{/U}}The key to Ed Smith's changing his hours was persuading his employer that he and other staff were more productive when they worked the hours that suited them. This is easier said than done, of course.{{U}} (9) {{/U}} Many of them are slow to realise the benefits of letting employees work fewer or more flexible hours.
A recent survey of five thousand senior managers found that nearly half of them always worked more than their contract hours, while many worked evenings and weekends. A majority thought that this not only had a negative effect on their family relationships and their health, but also reduced their productivity. {{U}}(10) {{/U}}It seems that it is job satisfaction that is the deciding factor when it comes to employee productivity.
However, the good news is that more employers are now starting to realise that they are only going to get higher output from their staff if those staff are happy and want to be at work. {{U}}(11) {{/U}}His company have brought in changes partly for competitive reasons. The research and development part of the business employs highly trained scientists, who are expensive to replace. {{U}}(12) {{/U}}The employees seem to be very happy with the new arrangements and, as a result, productivity rates have gradually but consistently increased and staff turnover rates have fallen dramatically. According to Ed Smith, many companies would benefit from a similar scheme, and everyone, from directors to employees' families, would have something to gain.
A. Ed Smith's new working hours are just one example of the attempt to alter corporate culture.
B. This adds to the increasing evidence that long hours are not necessarily useful hours.
C. They are often willing to accept that happy employees produce more.
D. He admits to feeling much happier, and believes he has established a balance between work and home life.
E. It can be difficult to persuade organisations that a change of this type is in their interest, too.
F. To keep them happy, 'trust time' has been introduced, where the company trusts employees to do what is required, in whatever time it takes.
G. Realising that he was putting himself under too much stress, he decided to try to change his working hours.