Working conditions
Working hours
Working hours in emergencies are far longer than normal.
There are risks involved for staff members, they may:
- fall ill through overwork
- become far less efficient and therefore have to work even longer hours to achieve the same results
- lose any sense of perspective and start to waste time on unimportant or even counterproductive work
- become convinced that unless they are constantly working and exhausted, then they are somehow failing
Setting an example will be important.
How many hours can you work in a day, for more than a day or two at a time?
| Hours per day | Comment |
| 7 to 9 | The normal range for non-emergency work |
| 10 to 15 | May be sustainable for a limited period but efficiency will suffer |
| 16 | Assuming you need to eat and sleep, this leaves no time to relax and reflect – essential for many people. |
| 16+ | Burn out |
Working week
Similar considerations to hours.
How many days continuous working are possible and useful?
| Days off | Comment |
| 2 days off per week | Unaccompanied international staff may find this unnecessarily luxurious, national staff with family may find it quite normal and necessary |
| 1 day off per week | May be sustainable over a number of months |
| 1 day off every two weeks | May be sustainable for a month |
| 1 day per month or less | Danger zone |
Working environment
Minimum
Every staff member who:
- has to work at a desk regularly, has their own desk with lockable draws for important papers
- has to use a computer regularly for their work, is allocated a computer solely for their use (and all computers are networked to any shared resources such as internet connections and printers)
- has need of transport, has access to a vehicle and driver on an equitable basis if vehicles have to be shared (you, as programme manager, will not see this problem personally – others will, and will become quickly frustrated)
Office, staff need:
- space – it is arguably less important whether this is in a tent or a building
- calm – areas where there is public access or frequent meetings need to be separated from areas where people are expected to concentrate
- the minimum of comfort – air-conditioning may not be a 'luxury' if it is very hot and humid – fans and shade may be an alternative
This page was last updated by Phil Wilks on 28 April 2010 at 12:14:45 (2 years ago).
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