Micro shifts. Shorter hours. Some split their schedule throughout the day. Some work multiple jobs. Not applicable for all but, this looks like a shift from the regular straight 8 hours a week.
Flexibility is what everyone is looking for. It is not just employer’s demand but the work must also meet the employee’s requirements.
The article in the link above talks about a new trend of doing short hours of work between different kinds of jobs. It could be 4 hours doing office work then 2 hours driving a Grab or Uber then another 2 hours as a bartender and so on. It is like a multi-job or an approach in today’s gig economy.
In my perspective, this can also be done with just one work and splitting the hours, instead of straight 8, to do other things in between not to mention that those hours could be spent better and more effectively depending on the nature of the work.
“Wait. Let’s leave at 3. I have to work first.”
It was around one in the afternoon on a Wednesday. I always schedule my work from 1pm to 3pm to finish my daily reports so that by 9pm. When our office opens, the reports are ready for everyone and I don’t have to do anything.
Yeah. I work at night. Graveyard shift for the past 20 years.
That day, we had to go to my daughter’s therapy. It was scheduled at 4pm and it takes us about 30 minutes to get there. So, I got to work first and finished it then took her to her session.
“She’ll be out by 230pm. Be here by then.” It was my wife telling me this over a text message. She was in school waiting for our daughter’s class to end.
“Yeah. I’ll be there.”
I’ve been lucky to have this job. I started this in 2022. An offer to work from home. No physical site. Everyone works remotely. And depending on the work, we can slide our schedule or divide the 8 hours. The only caveat is no work is to be left undone.
Before, I had to leave home at 3pm. Get into the office around 5pm or 6pm and left around 5am. I get home 6am. Sleep. And when I wake up, it is time to leave for office again. A life spent in the confines of office walls and busy street traveling back and forth.
Now, I get to split my hours and do what I want to do. I spend most of my time with my family. It is easy for me to play my guitar in the church for masses. I get to see our friends whenever. All of these without a huge impact on my work.
And I guess this micro shifts is something we can all benefit from. Of course it not applicable to everyone. A call center agent follows a strict schedule and they can’t split their hours. Those in the fast food too. Or for some others that do regular office jobs in the office.
But maybe it is doable. And maybe some are doing it without them realizing it.
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