Most of us who work (or once worked) full-time would define the schedule as 40 hours per week, typically from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with an hour off for lunch, Monday through Friday. There may be a few variances, but, for many Americans, this has been considered typical.

The COVID-19 pandemic changed this with millions of people suddenly working from home. It was a pleasant conversion for most employees. The employers? Not so much, and that is evident in the requirements many companies are now making to get their employees back into the offices. Maybe not surprisingly, some of the employees are rebelling. My guess is this won’t make much of a difference, as employers are giving the ultimatum of get back to the office or go find another job — and those work-from-home jobs are not as easy to find now.

Employers and employees will hopefully find compromises, at least in the transition. Some employers are now providing hybrid options where employees come to the office a few days and work from home a few days. This is seemingly working for some but causing systemic headaches for others. Time will tell.

Meanwhile, one has to wonder what a “model workweek” will look like in the future. Will hybrids continue? Four-day workweeks with longer hours? Different times for lunches or other breaks? Starting earlier? If more schools convert to year-round, what impact will this have on employers? Will Sundays still be sacred?

My dad left for work before I was up in the mornings, but he was typically home for supper by 6 p.m. He also worked Saturday mornings, but he was home in the afternoon. This changed a bit based on the season, as summers were busier in his line of work. Sundays, though, were sacred in our household. They were for faith and family and friends, at least in Dad’s eyes. I don’t ever recall him working on a Sunday.

In the rural parts of our state, and in the construction trade, too, many people are used to working from sun up till sun down. Again, this makes for long days in the summer but short ones in the winter. CPAs and tax-preparers live a similar life in their own busy seasons.

At our offices, we are open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. That’s 37.5 hours a week for those who take an hour lunch, and 40 hours per week for those taking a half-hour. It works for us, although some past employees thought working 37.5 hours per week was too much. They have found other jobs.

All this makes me wonder what the work schedules of the future will be. How will employers and employees make it work? And what will this mean to the people who buy the products or services from these companies? Have some thoughts? Send them my way.

Have a meaningful Monday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
President and Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305
www.thedailyumbrella.com 

SOUND CIRCUIT

Dixon honored

Performed thousands of concerts.

Recorded and wrote for 300-plus albums.

Taught hundreds of student music lessons.

Played in dozens of bands, including a local favorite, Standing Hampton.

Add it all together for an outstanding accomplishment for Doug Dixon — an Iowa Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award. ...

Giving back in all forms
Volunteering impacts Wyatt’s personal and professional lives

By Lindsey Giardino

Melissa Wyatt knows Dallas Center well. She has lived in town since 2009 when she and her husband decided to plant their roots in the community.

In the 15 years since, she’s given back to Dallas Center in numerous ways, primarily by serving as the leader of the Sugar Grove Clover Kids Club in Dallas Center and volunteering with her older daughter’s 4-H clubs.

“4-H is an opportunity for children to learn so many skills — leadership, animals, STEM and more — and I feel that it is wonderful for my kids and others to have those experiences while building important social skills,” Wyatt says. ...

Happy Birthday to Brian Buethe!

These celebrities were born on this date: Matthew McConaughey, Ralph Macchio, Kathy Griffin, Bethenny Frankel, Jeff Probst, Laura Bush, Chris Greene, Curtis Stone, Gregory Porter, Loretta Swit, Delbert McClinton, George Huff, Heather Tom, Markie Post

SUBMIT: Send your birthday greetings and congratulatory notes to: tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

The answer to Friday's riddle: If pilgrims travel on the Mayflower, then what do college students travel on? The Scholar Ships!

Today's riddle: Where did they take the Mayflower when it was sick?

Have a guess? Email tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

To advertise in the Guthrie Center Times, Panora Times, Lake Panorama Times or Guthrie County Times Vedette, contact:

KERRY JACOBSEN
Account Executive
Office: 641-755-2115
Mobile: 515-619-2788
kerry@gctimesnews.com

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