How Many Hours Should it Take?

As I work with management and staff, a common question I get is, "How many hours should I expect my associates (employees) to work? Or, "How many hours should I have to work to get my job done?" As usual, this is a complex issue, and also a simple one.


First the complex part. The starting point is a job description. There has to be one, however I still find situations without them. So spend the time to put it together; it should be a positive experience for everyone.

With this in hand, then the job must be rated & then fit into a pay scale, exempt & non-exempt, that hopefully also is in place. This should also be accomplished so that all are on the same page in terms of "an honest days' wage for an honest days work". This is also an excellent exercise to determine where you stand as a company, against your competition, in paying your people.

The pay level decision is a decision that each organization has a right to make. It just needs to be realized that the decision will have consequences which you should think through. For example, if you choose to pay higher than average, you will be able to hire & retain a better calibre of people (assuming you treat them well), but will also experience a higher cost to do so. Similarly, if you pay lower than average, you will save the cost difference, but may have difficulty attracting competent associates & have higher turnover.

Now that the more complicated portions are done, it gets less complicated for the associate. If they are paid fairly, treated well, and held accountable for performing their job, as described, then the simple answer becomes, "whatever it takes."

OK, OK, it can't literally be "whatever it it takes". However, if you have a well intended employer treating a well intended associate, then there should be a spirit of give and take. Things like covering for each other to make sure the job gets done & the customer gets served should be automatic. So should arrangements be made by management to arrange for someone to see that piano recital for an hour on Thursday afternoon.

It's simple: Just do it. One hand washes the other, what goes around comes around, yadda, yadda, yadda.