Having a job is not only about hard work and endless hours. Let’s look at the employment from a different perspective.In October Harper’s Bazaar online issue I have answered a few questions about employment and in what ways we look at it in an old fashioned way. I believe that if we change our approach to the employment just a little bit, we can gain more free time and we can be much happier whether at work or out of work.

Why are the fixed working hours, fixed working place, precisely defined job scope and specific benefits such as meal tickets or company phone still so much preferred in the Czech Republic?

We have been living this way for many years, even decades. Most of us don’t know any other way and we don’t realize that the there is another approach available and it has many benefits. In general, people prefer security and safety in their lives and they are afraid of change because of the unknown ahead. There are only a few countries – The Netherlands, Denmark, Norway – where they were able to change their attitude to employment and people in these countries have much more flexibility when it comes to flexible working hours, part-time employment options and they are not so focused on benefits. Or the benefits are offered with an individual approach.

It is even more complicated when it comes to the job scope. People need to have their limits and borders set in stone. Fortunately, there are already some enlightened leaders who have understood that the job scope can be adjusted to individuals according their strengths and talents. It’s only a few of them but there are some.

Why are the benefits so important to us when they are not directly connected to the job scope as such?

I have to repeat again that people like their securities in life and they look at the world with the same perspective over and over. They want things to which they are used to and don’t want to change them. Within time they just want more of it. However, they do not realize that the endless working hours will not allow them to use the benefits because when they are actually available, people are either in a business meeting or have a confcall or they need to serve a costumer.

We often put a lot of emphasis on people around us, and how they are going to judge us.

Are we afraid of changes and improvisation? What is the role of mutual trust in this?

People are afraid of unknown and are afraid of failing. We have this fear in our genes since ancient times. Nowadays people are also afraid of shame and that they will make fools of themselves. We often put a lot of emphasis on people around us, and how they are going to judge us. And on the other hand we are very comfortable with status quo.

People should be more confident and trust themselves and each other more. A lot of employees (mainly women) don’t request part time employment or work from home because they lack confidence, they are afraid of being rejected and don’t believe that they are worthy. They prefer to stay in the unpleasant situation and complain about it rather than to think about what might help their situation.

On the other hand if employers trust their employees that they will deliver desired results, it will provide more opportunities for part time employment. And employees won’t have to spend in the office eight or more hours and pretend to work.

How is this situation going to develop in the near future? Will employers and employees get used to having some kind of flexibility in employment?

I believe that this is one of the few options to solving the current job market situation. We already have Gen Y and Z who require certain flexibility and for them it is obvious part of their lives. We can even see it with quite a few individuals from Gen X. They realized that they don’t want to spend so much time in an office and they prefer to spend time with their families, doing their hobbies and working on their self-development. Eventually they will also aim for more part-time jobs that will offer time flexibility and broader experiences.

We can already see now that there are some companies that had to reduce their activities and growth because of a lack of employees. If they just looked at their situation creatively with a wider perspective and offered part time jobs, they would be able to solve their human resource issues and other problems.

Who has more influence to change the status quo – employees with their demands, or their bosses?

I feel that the employees are the ones to change it. The traditional market rule – the demand affects the supply – will be the steering factor. We can already see it nowadays. The lack of employees and the demands of the new generations affect employers’ strategies regarding benefits, working tools and working environment.

One day these demands will also finally affect employers’ views on part-time employment and individual approach to job scopes. There is still a long way to go but I believe it is closer than we think.