37signals – how every company should work
I’ve loved 37signals for years. I’ve used their products, and blogged about how great their products are. I’ve followed their story as they got funding, from Jeff Bezos no less. And today I was reminded why I really admire them.
37signals has announced that they are undertaking a series of “workplace experiments”. They are doing these experiments to make their workplaces a more fun and engaging place. They are trying to make their workplace – in their words – “one of the best places in the world to work, learn, and generally be happy”.
So what are they doing? First they’ve introduced shorter work weeks – 4 day weeks, no work on Friday. Second their funding people’s passions (hobbies, interests, curiosities), the examples they’ve given are cooking lessons, learning to fly, woodworking classes. And third they’re giving discretionary spending accounts, with the simple requisite that people are reasonable with their spending.
If you’re asking what’s so great about that? Who are you Scrooge McDuck?
Seriously though, they’re trying to make their workplace, rewarding, engaging, dynamic, and responsible and in a two way dynamic. They’re responsible to their employees and in return I bet their turnover is minuscule. Plus they’ll get some more pub/press about being really cutting edge in how they run their business. I can’t see other organisations picking up this, it’s too risky, doesn’t show financial returns easily, and… well it’s just too good.
But I do know that if/when I do the “start up thing” I’d like to follow their lead. Hopefully, other companies will too, and when businesses that my generation have started are the norm, maybe this will be the norm too.
AMEN!!
“I can’t see other organisations picking up this, it’s too risky, doesn’t show financial returns easily, and… well it’s just too good.”
Don’t know about this, if turnover is low, your employees are more satisfied etc, there’s definitely a business case in there. BUT as I’m writing this, I’m realising how stupid that sounds. A business case? For treating people like responsible adults? You shouldn’t need a business case. It should be self evident. If your employees can make any other decision in their lives themselves (they go out and buy property, get mortgages, fall in love, get married, raise kids, all things that I would think require some level of maturity and responsibility), then why not treat them like the adults they are at work too?
March 5th, 2008 at 4:00 pmThe problem is it’s too obvious a means to employee satisfaction. HR and other sections of companies are so focused on other retention methods they overlook the obvious. Small companies can make the obvious changes. Bet 37signals doesn’t have an HR department.
March 5th, 2008 at 4:15 pmFarhan
March 6th, 2008 at 3:01 pmWe tried some of these things at Getfrank a few years back and clients were generally positive as I recall
We tried open books internally, personal projects on friday, complete flexi-time.
From experience I’d suggest a manifesto from the outset as there were some different interpretations within the team as to what we were trying to achieve by working in such ways.
Hope life’s treating you well.
Jim
Great points Senor Byford. Definitely would help to set the objectives ahead of implementation.
March 6th, 2008 at 5:49 pm