QUICK POLL: Which day of the week do you spend doing the least work? For me, it was always Friday. It’s a running joke that in Cape Town nobody gets anything done on a Friday after 12pm, but it’s not just Cape Town; trying to get hold of anyone at work after 3pm on a Friday has always been tricky. The fact is, none of us is 100% productive every single hour of every day. So why not trim the fat?
‘These ideas of working smarter have been around for ages, but the pandemic has pushed us to the point where we’ve decided to start challenging the way we work and see if there’s a better way to do it,’ says Professor Charlene Lew, associate professor and director of internationalisation at the Gordon Institute of Business Science, University of Pretoria.
With burnout on the rise and productivity losses costing companies money, there’s an argument to be made for allowing employees more time off. Case in point: countries around the world are experimenting with a four-day working week, with the view that it not only boosts employee wellbeing but also improves productivity and staff engagement. Spain is set to become the first country to officially trial a four-day working week, starting in September, and the Japanese government has proposed the same (this from a country that has a word for ‘worked to death’: karoshi). New Zealand, the UK and Germany are considering it too.
The four-day working week
Denne historien er fra September/October 2021-utgaven av Fairlady.
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Denne historien er fra September/October 2021-utgaven av Fairlady.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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'DESIRE IS NOT WHAT MATTERS'
Emily Nagoski wrote the book on women and desire - literally. And then her own sex life dried up. Here's what a prolonged sex drought (and a load of research) taught her about maintaining intimacy in a long-term relationship.
'We have to tell HARD STORIES'
Theatre director and playwright Yaël Farber is spending time in South Africa after her critically acclaimed run of King Lear at the Almeida Theatre in London. We chatted to her about the importance of the pursuit of truth.
THE WHY, THE WHICH & the wardrobe
We really got into it this month! Read on for more on the allure of a loosey-goosey jumpsuit, vintage-hunting and jingle-jangling jewellery, the best places to find quality African design and short-girl styling tips.
LIFT your GAME
Thought weightlifting was just for bodybuilders and powerlifters? Not so. In fact, 'lifting heavy shit' may be the secret to longevity, hormone regulation and mood for women through perimenopause and beyond.
TREATMENT PLAN ON YOUR MARKS
Armed with a six-month programme from Dr Nerina Wilkinson + Associates, Jennifer Morin set about tackling her sun damage and melasma.
PLAYING YOUR CARDS RIGHT
Here's how to get the most out of loyalty cards.
BIG SKY Country
Namibia. Twelve friends, five vehicles, 4000 km, thirteen days. Eight punctures, one angle grinder. One martial eagle, one full moon, one ghost town. Plenty of top-quality braais, maybe not quite enough oysters... and the best time ever.
IS YOUR HOME MAKING YOU SICK?
Leaks, damp and poor ventilation in old or poorly built new homes are being fingered for a growing health concern: mould.
HOW TO REALLY GET TO KNOW SOMEONE
The Korean word 'nunchi' describes 'the ability to be sensitive to other people's moods and thoughts'. It's an underrated skill that we seem to have lost.
How to write a memoir
Whether you want to share your experiences and insights with the world, leave a legacy or track pivotal experiences for yourself, writing your memoir can be a grand and worthwhile adventure. Here's some advice on how and where to begin.
