I just got back to Oregon from a trip down to see family in California. I’m pretty lucky to not be required to hurry back, since I don’t have a real job.
I got coal in my stocking! (It’s gum, really):
While I relaxed with my family, I kept in daily touch to make sure everything was a-okay with my work. This sort of flex time takes the new human resources trick of floating work hours a step farther. Rick Turoczy calls it unlimited vacation for everyone. Of course, it’s not really unlimited, but the idea is to set up a system where people work on their projects, not just put in their time.
That’s how I work. If I didn’t produce, it would be obvious. My stuff wouldn’t get done. Of course, this sometimes means that I work into the evenings, or go into the office for half a Saturday. I think it more than makes up for itself with the flexibility elsewhere.
Some people won’t want to work this way, but many superstars will. If I was in HR, I’d be talking to department managers to see whether they’d be willing to try it out.