Why Work Sucks and How to Fix It_ The Results-Only Revolution - Cali Ressler [7]
We agree that these kinds of stories are ordinary and even mundane, but we doubt that you could find anyone who would argue that they are evidence of a workplace that is ideal. And we bet you could find a lot of people who might wonder how much longer we can go on like this. At this level of stress. In this toxic atmosphere. At this relentless pace toward a goal that no one can see because no one has defined it. We’ve gotten used to the working world, but does anybody like it? Is anyone truly benefiting? Few individuals are giving their best. Few companies are getting the best from their people. The fact that we get time wrong in corporate America may seem small, but those small moments add up to big problems both for employee and business.
One of the most recognizable consequences of our misplaced faith in time is Presenteeism. Let’s take Bob, for example. Bob has mastered the politics of corporate America. Now in his late fifties he has seen it all—downsizing, outsourcing, rightsizing. But he has continued to rise through the ranks because he knows how to play the game. He gets in before everyone else, scoring that sweet parking spot by the front door, the one where everyone who comes in later can note with a mixture of envy and resentment that Bob outdid them again. During the day Bob goes to every meeting. He eats lunch at his desk. He turns the lights out at night. His bosses describe him as “a workhorse” and “a rock.” You can’t deny that he’s working, right? He puts in so much time. He must be doing something!
No matter that Bob doesn’t really do anything. No matter that Bob hasn’t contributed meaningfully to the bottom line in years.
At some time in our lives, most of us, whether we like to admit it or not, are guilty of Presenteeism, which is any time you’re physically present and putting in time, but you’re not really doing your job. Your body is in the building, but your mind is somewhere else.
Presenteeism is when you’re at your computer playing World of Warcraft or shopping on eBay or keeping tabs on the NCAA tournament. Presenteeism is when you’re on time for work but then spend an hour online reading the paper. Presenteeism is when you’re constantly telling people that you’re there for them, that you’re available, that you have time for their concerns, but you’re not doing everything you can to solve the problem at hand, often because you’re not exactly sure what the problem at hand even is. Presenteeism creates a mentality that leads to statements like this:
“I finished that project a day ahead of time, but don’t tell anyone. I don’t want to hand it in early or else the boss will just dump more work on my desk.”
“Team, we’re giving Jan the Employee of the Month award today. She put in some really long hours last month, and I have a feeling she was even here on the weekends. We’re lucky to have such a dedicated, committed player on our team. Let’s give it up for Jan!”
“Paul, I’ve seen you leaving before three pretty often lately. You know, as long as you’re putting in your forty hours, it doesn’t bother me if you leave early. There have been some complaints from the team, though. Some folks have seen you putting in twenty-five to thirty hours in the office. Let’s step that up. As you know, we have a lot of work to do.”
But this mentality begs some important questions:
If you are getting your job done, then why are you punished by having to fill your time?
If you are adding value to the company, if you are performing, then who cares if it takes you forty hours or forty seconds to do it?
If you are skating by, filling the hours, watching the clock, then what are you doing with your life?
We’re not calling out individual employees. In fact, just the opposite. Presenteeism doesn’t happen because people are lazy or unfocused or not dedicated to their work. Presenteeism happens everywhere, every day, because the way we measure