A Fortune magazine article on the CNNMoney website titled How flexible work actually works is a great look into how the workplace is changing, and supports the Learning Democracy concept.
A quick overview of the article . . . what if you offer employees control over their schedules - no mandated office hour, unlimited paid vacation and sick leave, with no mandated office hours, optional meetings? Nothing gets done and the company tanks, right? Wrong. According to a new report on effective workplaces, the companies profiled are having different results. One company, MeetingMatrix International, a Portsmouth, N.H.communications firm shows increased sales (in a sagging economy) longer customer support hours, and 100% retention. The message? Focus on the end results, not hours in the office.
At Ryan, LLC, a tax services company in Dallas, employees and teams are measured on performance objectives that truly matter . . . revenue targets, 360 review scores, customer service ratings, etc. The Ryan employees don't have to account for their time, can take unlimited paid vacation/sick days. Results: voluntary turnover went from 18.5% to 6.5% from 18.5%, releasing poor performers increased from 4.3% to 6.9%, profits and revenue hit company record highs in 2009 and 2010.
With leading edge companies moving to workplace sturctures that allow employees more autonomy and responsibility in their everyday work decisions, doesn't doing the same thing with employees and corporate learning initiatives? Of course it does . . . Behold the Dawn of the Learning Democracy!
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