Not opposed

Executive Director of the Barbados Employers’ Confederation (BEC), Sheena Mayers-Granville, says the members of that organisation are open to the idea
of a 24/7 economy.

She made the point during a press conference at the BEC’s offices yesterday morning during the launch of ‘Employment Compass’, the fourth edition of the BEC’s annual magazine, which this year is helping to launch the organisation’s discussions in the business community and wider society on the future of work initiative. Her comments came, however, as she explained that the decision to embrace the growing concept is solely for individual companies to make.

“There is no concern in terms of the concept of a 24/7 economy, the concern would relate in terms of how would this then translate into practice. So even though there is the opportunity for businesses to open later or at different times, then businesses would then individually determine what is most beneficial to them and how would that work in terms of their operating structure. So it is just a matter of, on the business level, what your needs are and then you work to suit,” she stated.

It was further noted that, “They are receptive, they are not against it; it is just a matter of does it work for my business. So on an individual level – Should I open to 10 p.m.? Is that economically viable for me, because longer hours means additional overheads, etc.”

Mayers-Granville said that while the 24/7 concept has been around for some time and the BEC is now seeking to start the discussion, it does not mean that Barbados is lagging behind, as she explained that economies develop at different rates and in different ways. Fortunately for Barbados, she suggested that coming after others who have already started on that journey, means that we do not have to reinvent the wheel.

“We can learn from their mistakes, we can see their examples and then we can use those, not necessarily wholesale, but we can tweak them to suit our environment,” she stated.

Adding to her comments, Labour Management Advisor with the BEC, Brittany Brathwaite, also noted that a 24/7 economy does not necessarily require businesses to be physically open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but is really about ensuring that they are accessible.

“We also want to drive that concept, being accessible to different time zones. We have England who is five hours ahead, if we are sleeping at 3 a.m. and somebody wants to do business, are you accessible via your e-mail, do you have somebody on call, not physically in office, but on call?” she stated. (JRT)