Tuesday, February 15, 2005

Give your employees two years off!

People are living younger, so we picture them spending more time in retirement. That's the wrong way to look at longevity according to cultural anthropologist Mary Catherine Bateson in this month's HBR.
Instead, you should give your employees in midlife a year or two to renew their energy and pursue new passions.

Many will return to their jobs motivated to embark on a second stage of high performance. The few that don't would be gratefull for their new direction. Also this would help to decrease the toll burnout is taking on companies' productivity and morale.