The WhyWork crew, Alan, Trajce, and Sara, revel in entertaining stories about novel workplace incentives to motivate staff to return to the office. Thanks to Dr Agustin Chevez for sharing the story about cosmetic Botox booths as a workplace return-to-the-office incentive. Alan cautions, “Take care not to make your workplace incentive look like a contractual agreement.”
Sara shares her angst about the common phenomenon of workplace mediocrity versus innovation. “If you’re free from workplace innovation fatigue,” says Trajce, “call Sara.” She discusses more on Dr. Chevez’s work, a workplace provocateur, who has written signposts reflecting his research on workplace innovation, including the crucial need for solo, reflective time. Additionally, the team distinguish between falling into the path of joy through psychological design versus psychosocial work strategies that make the mechanics of work joyous: aesthetics versus machinery in work design.
This episode mentions Dart Lindsley and his views on workplace change like the ocean waves that lap the shorelines of the industrial landscape, making incremental progress. Also, the team discuss change models like that instituted by a New South Wales Catholic school principal, Greg Miller, who has transitioned his school to a four-day week.