In the workplace, it is common to always state the reason for your leave when you request it. But not all bosses want to know why their employees are taking time off, as long as it's business as usual. Tom Hunt, founder and CEO of digital marketing company Fame, recently shared on LinkedIn that he never asks employees why they're taking time off. In his now-viral post, he wrote: “A new team member asked me to approve their leave, which I quickly did. I went on to explain my reason for taking the leave. I don’t need to know. I hired you to do a job and I trust you to get it done.”
The CEO further added, “I don't need to know you're going to be late for a dentist appointment or leave early to pick up the kids. I'm not one to watch the clock. I trust you to get the job done.'' How do I keep my customers happy? I'm happy. Flexible working is the future.”
The post received over 86,000 reactions on LinkedIn. While many supported Hunt's flexible approach, a few warned against its abuse.
Agreeing with Hunt, a LinkedIn user wrote: “This is great. In most cases, bosses don't have remote work issues, they have trust issues. My team works across four different time zones, and we've worked together for years. We feel like we're a very connected team. Your boss – you may even be working remotely yourself.”
Those who do not agree with this write: – And what if it’s not? Just fire them and move on to the next person? I think providing some guidelines and discipline may be helpful to some people. Not everyone can succeed in full-blown anarchy. ”
Others wrote that workers sometimes want employers to know the reasons behind their absences because it helps them feel connected to the workplace. Pointing out this point, a LinkedIn user wrote: Were team members trying to increase their sense of solidarity by sharing? Increase their sense of belonging? Did you need to ask? Just a thought. “
First published: March 21, 2024, 16:25 IST
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