Overtime as a Form of Waste

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The end of the 9-5 mindset can be interpreted in two ways. Employees and employers may associate this idea with the ability and willingness to work outside of traditional office hours e.g. nights and weekends, and beyond the confines of office walls (telecommuting). The second way of digesting this concept involves acceptance of performance measurement on the basis of achieving quality results rather than the number of hours worked.

I believe in flexibility where job requirements and advancements in technology allow. In fact, as mentioned in a previous post, I am currently on a partial work-from-home arrangement due to a pregnancy-related health condition (Hyperemesis Gravidarum).

I am also willing to work extra hours when needed, like to help cover for a coworker or to meet an unplanned and urgent client deadline. However, a recurring need for overtime, as learned from my past experience in Supply Chain, is a symptom of chronic inefficiency. If employees are rewarded for regularly working excessive hours – whether the reward is in the form of money or recognition, the employer is cultivating a culture that encourages waste.

Overtime may be a sign of working harder but with insane frequency, becomes the total opposite of working smarter. If people are expected to put in more hours all the time, the underlying reasons should be investigated. The usual suspects are: poor planning by management (why not hire more people or reallocate tasks?), weak/inconsistent worker performance (could tasks be finished in less time?) and systemic issues (could methods be further simplified/automated?).

Time is a valuable resource that companies should invest with the same thinking as they do money: why spend more, when you can get more – for less?

A New Era for the Traveling Bears

Your father and I love to travel. We are usually away on trips during Memorial Day weekend, and holiday weekends in general. We love to eat and travel great distances to seek good food.

On Memorial Day last year, it was the day after my big sister’s wedding in the Philippines. We visited my Alma Mater and treated ourselves to my favorite tapsilog place in college – Rodic’s.

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Two years before, we were concluding a New England trip with a stop at Shady Glen Dairy in Connecticut. The show “Best Thing I Ever Ate” on Food Network had recommended its uniquely unforgettable cheeseburger (which I still think of up to now).

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This year is different.

Because I am still sick from Hyperemesis Gravidarum at 15 weeks, and because I still can’t eat a lot of different things, your father and I stayed at home doing mostly this:

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And eating mostly an ordinary tasting spinach topped Brooklyn-style pizza delivered from close by.

I do miss seeing new places with your father and discovering the tastiest foods with him. But this long weekend has been both chill and fun. I will probably want to go on a getaway one more time before you come out. However, if that can’t happen, I don’t mind. All it means is that we have to wait a little bit longer (maybe avoid plane rides until much longer). Then, we can take you with us on our adventures.

The Responsible One

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 When we were kids, my older sister and I didn’t used to get along as well as we do now. But mostly because she was the responsible no-BS eldest child who expected a lot more from me, the immature BS-loving middle child.

As we got older, we did end up having more things in common and I guess my maturity had somewhat (maybe) caught up with hers. I value and respect her a lot more now… for everything she’s been and everything she’s become. If there is anything I admire the most about her, it would be how she goes after what she wants. I think it’s what made her very successful in her career, personal life and various interests.

To my Ate, I was such a punk to you when we were younger even when you were just trying to teach me to grow up. But I love you and thank you for being someone I could look up to. Happy Birthday and I wish you an even more awesome life!

Why your Mother is a B

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I grew up in a culture that highly values saying “Yes”. There is a popular Filipino saying: “Kapag gusto, may paraan. Kapag ayaw, maraming dahilan” which basically means if there’s a will, there’s a way and where there’s no will, there’s nothing but excuses.

I’m all for finding solutions. And up until the more recent years of my life, my can-do attitude has led me to believe that saying “No” is a bad thing. There is always a way, I can always take on more.

Baby, you are making me a lot better at saying “No” and I don’t care if it comes off wrong. Some people will abuse your can-do attitude and your willingness to help. When you choose to not enable their behavior by saying “No”, the same people might dislike you or call you names behind your back.

I don’t mind being a B anymore. Doing what’s right is more important than being liked. It’s better to say “No” than to make commitments you can’t keep. It’s better to say “No” than to do something that contradicts your values.

I want you to have a mother that can say “No” and in the future, teach you to say “No” when required by the situation. I enjoy learning by testing my limits but I need to find balance and do a better job of looking after myself, looking after us.