Job sharing helps create a more humane work-life balance and allows careers to flourish while more work is done from home. It’s not just two people working separate part-time jobs to complete a single task. The division of labor consists of two individuals, through shared responsibility, identity and accountability, occupying one position, as a unit.
When executed correctly, job sharing can benefit everyone involved. Employees get the personal time they need while keeping their positions and employers can retain high performers and gain value from having two valuable personalities on their team.
While some employers already have work-sharing options in place, others are not familiar with the idea and may need to be enlightened about how the arrangement could benefit everyone.
The following are some valuable tips for setting up effective job sharing options that everyone can benefit from.
1. Prepare
Before you propose job sharing, work out the details. Make details of how the day should go.
Detail how everything, from morning meetings to weekend emails, will be executed. Emphasize to the team the commitment they must make to create a prosperous situation for everyone and outline how the benefits are ideally divided. Like the division of labor itself, clear and detailed preparation and communication are the keys to a successful promotion.
2. Familiarity
If possible, choose a partner who you have experience with and are sure fits the way you work. Of course, it could work out to randomly assign a person to their partner, but the odds are much better if you and your partner choose each other.
Hiring a consultant is a good way to find other perspectives on how individuals end up working together.
3. Communication
Define exactly how you will share information and update each other on related issues. Communicating via email, phone calls, and face-to-face meetings will ensure that work is divided smoothly, covers all duties and responsibilities of the position and does not affect other employees.
An element of trust needs to exist between partners, as well as flexibility with respect to the communication required during breaks, and respecting each other’s time off without unnecessary distractions.
4. Workspace
Sharing work means sharing space. Respect the work space by not littering it, leaving food or drink leftovers, or otherwise creating an unpleasant work environment for your partner.
Workspace personalization should be kept to a minimum, as your family photos and personal memorabilia can distract others.
All work should be cleared away and desks cleared when your shift is over. Clear and concise notes and instructions should be available for your partner to update if there are pending or priority items.
5. Consider impact
Other employees should know the details of job sharing arrangements to enable them to know who to approach with questions. Both partners should be cross-trained in all aspects of the position to reduce calls to the other during breaks and to deal with any problems and questions that may arise.
The employer wishes to hold regular reviews of the work-sharing arrangement with both partners present. If this doesn’t happen of your own accord, you should periodically request such meetings to ensure everyone is on the same page and that friction or misunderstandings don’t arise due to lack of communication.
Job sharing can be an effective way for two equally qualified individuals to find job satisfaction, working at their choice, without having to adhere to a 9 to 5 schedule, five days a week. Some participants in the division of labor worked every other day, some half days; his schedule varies greatly depending on the job.
With skilled planning, organization, and communication, job sharing can be beneficial for employers, and employees who agree to use innovative methods to get this job done. Consider these tips for the well-being of your future job-sharing arrangements.
Image Credit : MvpHealthCare
