People feel most productive at work during the heart of the workweek
Tuesday is the most productive day of the week—or at least it’s the day perceived to be the most productive, according to Associate Professor of Organizational Behaviour Jean-Nicolas Reyt in an interview with Radio-Canada. Most individuals work from Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to -5 p.m., and perceive Monday to be less productive because they are still catching up on their work from the previous week.
Remote work brought unfair performance metrics – and employees are gaming them
According to a survey by the Vancouver-based AI human resources firm Visier, more than four out of five workers have engaged in “fauxductivity” – performative work that makes them appear to be working more time than they actually are. The problem, however, isn’t the workers– it’s the way their performance is measured according to Jean-Nicolas Reyt, Associate Professor of Organizational Behaviour.
When wedding planning clashes with work commitments, communication is key
Weddings are planned many months–or even years–into the future, and that can clash with other aspects of the couple’s lives. When taking on a new job in the months leading up to such a major life event, it’s tricky to know when to tell your new employer that you’ll need time off in the first months of your tenure.
Companies seeking savings in employee wages might spend more in the long run
Inflation has stretched the budgets of individuals and companies alike, and some firms have sought to find savings in the wages they pay their employees. A recent report from the Robert Walters recruiting agency found that Canadian firms are increasingly hiring underqualified employees. But that can backfire, says Professor Jean-Nicolas Reyt in interview with Canadian HR Reporter.
Greece increases length of work week, bucking broader trends
While some countries contemplate shorter work weeks, Greece is heading in the opposite direction. Seeking to boost economic growth, the country recently passed a law allowing employers to implement a six-day work week, though the change is not mandatory. Greece faced a debt crisis in 2010, and its economy has long been among Europe’s laggards.
Top employees will gravitate to companies that implement four-day workweek as it becomes more common
Some of the Toronto companies that tested a four-day workweek are sticking with it, and cite higher productivity and better work-life balance as the reasons for the change. McGill Desautels Professor Jean-Nicolas Reyt thinks it will eventually become the norm, and companies that resist it risk losing talent. “The best employees will leave,” Reyt told Radio-Canada.
New federal union contract is an historic advance in for workers’ rights
The potential for office work to be performed remotely has been evident since the advent of email and the web, but for decades, most employers allowed only very limited remote work. The pandemic let that genie out of the bottle and finally granted employees what many had been advocating for in vain, writes Associate Professor in Organizational Behaviour Jean-Nicholas Reyt in an opinion piece for the Montreal Gazette.
McGill Desautels undergrads take 2nd at Baylor University’s Negotiation Competition
McGill Desautels undergraduate students Aaron Anandji (BCom’25) and Zacharie Faucillion (BCom’23), Co-Executive Directors of McGill Ventures, took second place at Baylor University’s Hankamer School of Business’ National Undergraduate Negotiation Competition (NUNC) this April.
Hybrid work arrangements give employees the flexibility they need, but leverage benefits of in-person interaction
One of the biggest names in tech thinks the move to fully remote work is a big mistake. According to Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, everyone needs to be together to create a cohesive and productive work environment. And that’s partly right, says Jean-Nicolas Reyt, an Associate Professor of Organizational Behaviour at Desautels. “The vast majority of the economy has switched to hybrid work, and not fully remote,” says Reyt.
Case-by-case evaluation of remote work vulnerable to managerial discretion
Office workers adopted remote work on a massive scale during the pandemic, and many of them only want to return to the office on a limited basis. This was a major issue in the spring 2023 strike by the Public Service Alliance of Canada. In the union’s new contract, remote work requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. This makes an amount of sense, according to Desautels Prof. Jean-Nicolas Reyt.
Majority of companies in 4-day work week study make shorter week permanent
The results are in, and the four-day work week isn’t only good for workers – companies like it too. In a six-month UK study, 61 employers trialed a 4-day work week that asked employees to perform the same work in less time, and at the end of the trial period, 92% of participating employers chose to make the shorter week permanent. “This is in line with previous study we’ve seen before,” said Prof.
Employee monitoring software could alienate remote workers
Remote work promised office workers more freedom and flexibility, but digital surveillance tools are already eroding that. Some employers use digital surveillance tools that monitor employees’ computer activity by logging the keystrokes on their keyboard, and even taking web cam photos to ensure that they are dutifully staring at their screens.
The four-day work week can reduce turnover, reduce recruiting requirements
About a year ago, Poche et Fils conducted a trial of the four-day work week that has since become permanent. Employees at the Montreal-based clothing companies receive the same pay as when they were working five days a week, and the company has sought to maintain the same productivity too. The first step was identifying tasks that were time-consuming and useless -- and eliminating them. But there are other ways that a shorter work week can save time too.
When wages don’t keep pace with inflation, companies risk losing their top performers
It is no secret that inflation has sent costs soaring, but wages are going up too. In a recent survey of US small businesses, more than two-thirds said they had increased the wages of their employees. Companies that don’t match inflation are essentially asking their staff to take a pay cut, says Prof. Jean-Nicolas Reyt in an interview with BBC Worklife.
Celebrating excellence in teaching at Desautels
Across programs and subject areas, the Desautels Faculty of Management recognizes the vital role that teaching plays in enriching the student experience and in inspiring the next generation of leaders.
