EDITORIAL: Addressing productivity

IN a recent address to the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Freundel Stuart suggested that productivity has to be a permanent agenda item for this country; making the point that the issue is one that is often only looked at when the local economy is facing challenges. With this assessment we have to agree. Indeed, over the last eight or so years as this country and the wider world has battled the effects of the recession, productivity has been the buzzword on the lips of many across the society.

 

To some extent, these difficult economic circumstances have caused employers, public and private sector alike, to demand more of employees, but with the cost of living rising and income remaining stagnant in many cases, it is almost unconscionable to ask more of the workforce without some reward. And it is a bit of a conundrum to say the least, as it is also recognised that for the country to advance and move past this difficult time, the matters of productivity and by extension output, have to be addressed.

 

It is hoped that given that 2017 has been designated the Year of Productivity and Prime Minister Stuart has been named the Productivity Champion, that the matter is truly one that will be placed on the front burner this year, with considerable thought given to what steps can be taken, and measures put in place, to raise the level of productivity in Barbados.

 

Prime Minister Stuart also said that every Barbadian should take the issue seriously and determine to give of his or her best to the country’s efforts to increase its output and he noted that it is a matter of the utmost importance for the private sector, labour and Government. In that respect, we feel that in addressing the issue, one cannot approach it in a conventional way, as these are not conventional times in which we live. Our modern society is ever-changing and this fact requires us to not do business as usual.

 

For instance, the rigidity of the public service and to some extent the private sector of an 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. workday has to become a thing of the past. This in many respects impacts on productivity, as workers often have to take time away from the workplace to do personal business, such as pay bills or even go to the doctor. It is even worse when they have to go to the bank, as most commercial banks still close at 3 p.m. and while a few do open past that time and on weekends, one could argue those are not nearly enough to meet the needs of the Barbadian public.  

 

Some have suggested that perhaps the time is ripe for the introduction of wide-scale flexitime in this country, as a means of improving productivity in the workplace. It does not necessarily require that additional staff be hired, but would call for a shift system to be introduced to successfully achieve the longer work day.

 

Greater workforce flexibility, moving away from traditional hours of work, to a 24-hour workday could result in increased productivity, and help to make Barbados the best it can be. However, such an initiative would have to be fully ventilated, with adequate input from the full Social Partnership and Barbadians in general, before it could be implemented.  

 

What must also be addressed going forward, are the issues of absenteeism and presenteeism in the workplace – two underlying causes of low productivity. These factors can often be a reflection of what is, or is not taking place in the work environment, and should be carefully examined by managers to see what can be done to get both under control.