The weekend wake- up call
Don McQuaig arrives at work each morning at 7:45 after dropping his daughter off at her job. This is a full 11⁄ hours later than the time he used to unlock the offices of MICA Consulting Partners. As president and chief executive of the strategic talent management firm, Mr. McQuaig is no stranger to putting in an average of 50 hours a week. But his later arrival time is part of a conscious effort to shift some of his focus away from his job and on to other matters.
“Sometimes the more you work, the less you get done,” he says. “I used to work at least 60 hours a week, sometimes up to 70. But now I’m trying to be smarter about how I spend my time.”
According to a recent survey in the United States, he is typical of mid- to- upperexecutives who are finding an increased desire to enjoy life outside the office. In 1997, Steelcase North America found 73% of office workers came in on weekends and 53% consistently put in more than 40 hours a week. Today, the number of weekend workers has dropped significantly to 56%, and fewer than half of survey participants claim to work more than a 40- hour week.
While there have been no recent studies tracking working habits of Canadian executives, some experts contend the U.S. findings are an accurate reflection of the situation in Canada. Maria Rotundo, associate professor with the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, says it is one of many trends in which Canada mirrors the U. S.
“Labour patterns tend to be similar for Canada and the U.S.,” Ms. Rotundo said. “Downsizing, talent retention, and job mobility patterns have all been quite close over the years.”
The Steelcase survey results were no surprise. She says advances in technology, an ageing population and more cynical generational attitudes can account for the decrease in extended hours.
“ The younger generation grew up watching their parents working longer hours to hold on to a job, bringing work home with them thanks to technology, only to get downsized thanks to that same technology down the road. People will still work long hours and put in overtime, but there has to be more in it for them.”