Work Design and Measurement

Reduced Work Week and Productivity

A recent global study by nonprofit 4 Day Week Global found that participants in a 32-hour reduced work week experiment were very pleased with the results.

Employees were paid their normal 40-hour pay, but they only had to work 32 hours each week. While not all participants responded in the follow-up survey, employees who did rated the experience very highly, as did the companies they worked for.

Video Spotlight:

Should we move to a four-day workweek? (Aug 5, […]

By Lisa M. Spencer|2023-01-04T06:40:05+00:00January 4, 2023|Tags: efficiency, job design, productivity, working conditions|

Chick-fil-A’s Three-Day Workweek

A Chick-fil-A restaurant in Miami has gone to a 3-day workweek.

As Chick-fil-A restaurants are not open on Sundays, they have created 2 groups—referred to as pods. Each pod works 3 consecutive 13- to 14-hour days, and then has 4 days off. They also have one seven-day stretch of time off per month, and rotate weekends off.

In addition to the employees that are in the pods, they have other employees that follow more traditional schedules.

The 3-day workweek appeals to many workers. While […]

By Ross L. Fink, Ph.D.|2022-11-27T21:13:20+00:00November 27, 2022|Tags: job design, lean operations, productivity, scheduling, waste reduction, work force scheduling|

Railroad Employees Demand Changes in Operations

A major railroad strike has just been averted.

Employees complain that efficiency gains have resulted in demanding schedules and policies that penalize them for taking needed time off. Over two centuries, the railroad industry has had to reinvent itself multiple times to remain relevant and competitive. Changes in demand, supply, and competition have forced the industry to adjust to new realities and seek new paths to profitability. However, when these paths anger both customers and employees, it is time to consider […]

By CMKaruppan|2022-09-29T16:16:50+00:00October 12, 2022|Tags: competitivness, JIT, job design, lean operations, logistics, productivity, transportation|

Is Amazon Pushing Its Warehouse Workers Too Hard?

Fast delivery can be taxing for Amazon workers.

The Feds are investigating possible safety issues and failure to disclose injuries at Amazon. Their findings could spell legal trouble for the company. One of the safety hazards allegedly involves an unrealistic pace of work, which resulted in physical injuries. Work pace is often tied to performance standards. Is Amazon guilty of setting an unrealistic work pace or is it unrealistic to assume that all employees can achieve the standards?

Video Spotlight:

By Corinne M. Karuppan, Ph.D.|2022-08-03T19:03:59+00:00August 6, 2022|Tags: competitivness, delivery, job design, lead time, productivity|