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Sir Kier Stammer (left) was criticized for implementing a strict 6 p.m. clock-out time for himself to spend time with his children after rising to the top step of Prime Minister on Thursday. (Photo by Stefan Rousseau/PA Images via Getty Images)
PA Images via Getty ImagesWhat time do you log off on Fridays? If you’re part of the lucky crew of employees that works for a company with “Summer Fridays” or early office closures during the warmer months, it may be a 2 p.m. close. Or, if your company has “no-meeting Fridays,” then your departure time is likely up to you.
But if you’re Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of the British Labour Party and newly elected prime minister of the U.K., Fridays have a strict 6 p.m. clock-out time. After 6 p.m., he said in a radio interview, is “protected time” to spend with his family, particularly his 16-year-old son and 13-year-old daughter, save for a few exceptions.
“I don’t believe in the theory that you’re a better decision maker if you don’t allow yourself the space to be a dad,” he said.
The comment got quite a bit of pushback from political opponents and the British tabloid press alike, who called Starmer a “part time Prime Minister.” His predecessor, Rishi Sunak, went on air with Sky News to say he’d “never” finished at 6 p.m. during his time at 10 Downing.
But it brings up a good question: Should leaders have a strict log-off time?
Research has shown that, on average, workers who stay later are less productive than their colleagues who log off at the traditional end of the workday. And leaders do have certain privileges when it comes to setting their schedule: Whether that means signing on for very early mornings, or taking midday workout breaks, being at the top step of the company—or in Starmer’s case, premier of an entire country—comes with some scheduling advantages. But I can also see how, as the leader of one of the largest economies in the world, Starmer has come under fire.
What do you think? Where is the line between accessibility and work-life balance when you get to the top of your career?
Happy reading, and to everyone in the path of Hurricane Beryl––I hope you’re staying safe!
WORK SMARTER
Practical insights and advice from Forbes staff and contributors to help you succeed in your job, accelerate your career and lead smarter
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CAREERS Q&A: Arvind Jain, CEO of Glean
"I want to actually see your respect for people," says Jain.
Glean. AIBefore starting Glean in 2019, Arvind Jain had already made his name as a software engineer and tech founder. He famously made Google Search “faster than a blink of an eye” before dedicating his time to his AI startup. I sat down with Jain, who made our Future of Work 50 list in 2023, to talk about his own career, what he looks for in new hires and his favorite tell-all interview question. Our conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
Tell me about a time that you faced rejection and what happened, and then the first thing that brought you comfort after it.
It was very hard for me to find my first job. Most people would say no to me. I think I was probably not a good engineer. But I was also not a good communicator, and I had no internships on my résumé.
How important is it for people to not only learn how to do certain things, in your case engineering, but also learn how to communicate that they have those skills?
Well, it’s really important. If you can’t communicate what you’re good at, how will the rest of the world know? I’m an introvert by nature, and over the years everybody gets better. But when I started my career, I was extremely introverted. I don’t think anybody could teach me how to be a better communicator. The more I get reminded that I’m bad at something, the worse I get.
So how did you get better at it? What advice do you have for folks who may be struggling with those communication skills?
Don’t overthink it. Just feel free and tell people what you know how to do. It’s not boasting. You should be comfortable with your skills.
What’s the most revealing interview question you ask of candidates looking to join the company?
I feel like the more accomplished somebody is, especially early on in their career—like if they went to MIT or Stanford and had some early success—they may have a superiority complex. Because they feel like others are not as good. So I ask them: “Tell me about who you worked with?” And I try to learn from them and ask them: “How was the team? Were they good? Did you enjoy working with them?”
For me it’s a red flag if somebody says “You know, I’m trying to actually work at a place where there are smart people, good people.” It's good to have that ambition to want to work with people who are smarter than you, but I want to actually see whether they have respect for their colleagues.
So it’s more about how they talk about their past than what they say?
Yeah. I want to actually see your respect for people.
TOUCH BASE
News from the world of work
A federal court in Texas temporarily paused the FTC’s ban on noncompete agreements on Wednesday, concluding that in implementing the ban, the Federal Trade Commission exceeded its authority. Though the ruling only applies to the defendant in the case––Ryan, a global tax services and software provider based in Dallas––the motion could be the start for a wider nationwide halt of the ban. The final ruling is expected by August 30.
The Hershey Company, Microsoft and Adidas topped Forbes’ annual list of Canada’s best employers for diversity, a list of the 200 companies in the country that attract top talent from diverse backgrounds and also prioritize retention.
If you’re looking to switch jobs, you may not be getting as much of a salary bump as those who moved around during “The Great Resignation” era of 2021 and 2022. A new report by the Bank of America Institute found that, on average, job-to-job moves only saw a median of a 10% raise, compared to 20% during the Great Resignation.
Don’t be too surprised if you’ve noticed an increasing number of your colleagues leaving work. About half of surveyed employers in a new report by insurance firm Gallagher experienced a turnover rate of 15%.
NUMBER TO NOTE
70,000
That’s the number of federal jobs added to the job market in June, making up more than one-third of all jobs added, according to Friday’s jobs report from the Department of Labor. It marked another bleak month for the labor market, as unemployment rose to a 31-month high despite adding 206,000 new jobs.
VIDEO
QUIZ
What state saw the largest decrease in remote job postings in the first six months of 2024?
A. New York
B. California
C. Washington D.C.
D. Massachusetts
Check if you got it right here.
