Down Tools Week 2016

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Down Tools Week 2016

Steve Jones - SSC Editor

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Points: 734444
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September 14, 2016 at 12:14 am

#313225

Comments posted to this topic are about the item Down Tools Week 2016

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Gary Varga SSC Guru Points: 82166 More actions · Answer 1

It is this sort of thing that has me longing for from the freelancers world that I live in. That none of my clients have yet to do anything close to this type of thing, ever, leaves me with the sense of it being an urban myth. _[1]

_{[1] Clearly it isn't. I believe you Steve. :satisfied:}

Gaz

-- Stop your grinnin' and drop your linen...they're everywhere!!!

Eric M Russell SSC Guru Points: 125522 More actions · Answer 2

Gary Varga (9/14/2016)
It is this sort of thing that has me longing for from the freelancers world that I live in. That none of my clients have yet to do anything close to this type of thing, ever, leaves me with the sense of it being an urban myth. _[1]
_{[1] Clearly it isn't. I believe you Steve. :satisfied:}

As a freelancer, I'm sure you have the occasional "down week".

"Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Instead, seek what they sought." - Matsuo Basho

Jeff Moden SSC Guru Points: 1003863 More actions · Answer 3

From the Article:
An organization wouldn't need to cater food every night.

Night? Free brainstorming for the company and it's at night?

I've heard of "Down Tools" or "Down Weeks" before but there's no way I'd force people to do it at night. Have them do it during the day instead of their normal jobs... which is where the "Down" word comes from.

--Jeff Moden

RBAR is pronounced "ree-bar" and is a "Modenism" for Row-By-Agonizing-Row.
First step towards the paradigm shift of writing Set Based code:
________Stop thinking about what you want to do to a ROW... think, instead, of what you want to do to a COLUMN.

Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.

Helpful Links:
How to post code problems
How to Post Performance Problems
Create a Tally Function (fnTally)

Gary Varga SSC Guru Points: 82166 More actions · Answer 4

Eric M Russell (9/14/2016)
Gary Varga (9/14/2016)
It is this sort of thing that has me longing for from the freelancers world that I live in. That none of my clients have yet to do anything close to this type of thing, ever, leaves me with the sense of it being an urban myth. _[1]
_{[1] Clearly it isn't. I believe you Steve. :satisfied:}
As a freelancer, I'm sure you have the occasional "down week".

Ignoring all other tasks that I did that were non-chargeable, in 2015 I charged for more days than there were weekdays (i.e. Monday to Fridays) regardless if they were holidays or not. And yes, I did have a weeks holiday.

Bear in mind that in the UK the IT industry typically gives out 25 days holiday and there are 8 bank holidays (if I recall correctly). In theory, a person should work 33 days less than there are working week days.

I implore everyone to please see this as a work/life imbalance. What I have been doing is ill advised. There are those who work even more. This is not something to replicate!!!

Gaz

-- Stop your grinnin' and drop your linen...they're everywhere!!!

Gary Varga SSC Guru Points: 82166 More actions · Answer 5

Jeff Moden (9/14/2016)
From the Article:
An organization wouldn't need to cater food every night.
Night? Free brainstorming for the company and it's at night?
I've heard of "Down Tools" or "Down Weeks" before but there's no way I'd force people to do it at night. Have them do it during the day instead of their normal jobs... which is where the "Down" word comes from.

I am also unsure of brown bag sessions because it also can lead to worker abuse.

Too busy to attend a vital meeting that is valuable to the company? Stop having lunch and your desk and working though what should be a break and attend this "essential to the company" meeting!!!
_{Don't worry as it's all on you.}

Gaz

-- Stop your grinnin' and drop your linen...they're everywhere!!!

akljfhnlaflkj SSC Guru Points: 76202 More actions · Answer 6

Jeff Moden (9/14/2016)
From the Article:
An organization wouldn't need to cater food every night.
Night? Free brainstorming for the company and it's at night?
I've heard of "Down Tools" or "Down Weeks" before but there's no way I'd force people to do it at night. Have them do it during the day instead of their normal jobs... which is where the "Down" word comes from.

Agreed. My down time is when I'm away from my normal job, even it that means digging up weeds in the yard, just something different than what I normally do.

Eric M Russell SSC Guru Points: 125522 More actions · Answer 7

Iwas Bornready (9/15/2016)
Jeff Moden (9/14/2016)
From the Article:
An organization wouldn't need to cater food every night.
Night? Free brainstorming for the company and it's at night?
I've heard of "Down Tools" or "Down Weeks" before but there's no way I'd force people to do it at night. Have them do it during the day instead of their normal jobs... which is where the "Down" word comes from.
Agreed. My down time is when I'm away from my normal job, even it that means digging up weeds in the yard, just something different than what I normally do.

My mind is plenty active when I'm performing some repetitive manual task. I've come up with a lot of good ideas while mowing the lawn or hiking.

"Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Instead, seek what they sought." - Matsuo Basho

Steve Jones - SSC Editor SSC Guru Points: 734444 More actions · Answer 8

Jeff Moden (9/14/2016)
From the Article:
An organization wouldn't need to cater food every night.
Night? Free brainstorming for the company and it's at night?
I've heard of "Down Tools" or "Down Weeks" before but there's no way I'd force people to do it at night. Have them do it during the day instead of their normal jobs... which is where the "Down" word comes from.

It's all day. People are excused from normal work to join a project during the day. Food is catered for dinner around 6 (we do lunch normally every day). Many teams like working into the early evening. A few drinks are provided, and people don't have to stay at night.

Jeff Moden SSC Guru Points: 1003863 More actions · Answer 9

Steve Jones - SSC Editor (9/15/2016)
Jeff Moden (9/14/2016)
From the Article:
An organization wouldn't need to cater food every night.
Night? Free brainstorming for the company and it's at night?
I've heard of "Down Tools" or "Down Weeks" before but there's no way I'd force people to do it at night. Have them do it during the day instead of their normal jobs... which is where the "Down" word comes from.
It's all day. People are excused from normal work to join a project during the day. Food is catered for dinner around 6 (we do lunch normally every day). Many teams like working into the early evening. A few drinks are provided, and people don't have to stay at night.

Ah. Got it. Thanks, Steve.

--Jeff Moden

RBAR is pronounced "ree-bar" and is a "Modenism" for Row-By-Agonizing-Row.
First step towards the paradigm shift of writing Set Based code:
________Stop thinking about what you want to do to a ROW... think, instead, of what you want to do to a COLUMN.

Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.

Helpful Links:
How to post code problems
How to Post Performance Problems
Create a Tally Function (fnTally)

Rod at work SSC-Dedicated Points: 33900 More actions · Answer 10

(We've been having network problems this week so am late in reading any email.)

I just read this. WOW, I am almost salivating reading about this Down Tools Week. I'd love to work someplace that did something like that.

Kindest Regards, Rod Connect with me on LinkedIn.

Eric M Russell SSC Guru Points: 125522 More actions · Answer 11

Rod at work (9/16/2016)
(We've been having network problems this week so am late in reading any email.)
I just read this. WOW, I am almost salivating reading about this Down Tools Week. I'd love to work someplace that did something like that.

Honestly, most of us maintain a small scale side project or two that we switch to during slow or "down" periods. To one degree or another, depending on the organization, that's actually how a lot of automation and system refactoring gets done. What the "Down Week" concept does is acknowledge and codify the practice, directing employee efforts in a collaborative way to maximize it's business value.

"Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Instead, seek what they sought." - Matsuo Basho

Gary Varga SSC Guru Points: 82166 More actions · Answer 12

Eric M Russell (9/16/2016)
...during slow or "down" periods...

What? Does not compute!!!

Gaz

-- Stop your grinnin' and drop your linen...they're everywhere!!!

Rod at work SSC-Dedicated Points: 33900 More actions · Answer 13

Gary Varga (9/16/2016)
Eric M Russell (9/16/2016)
...during slow or "down" periods...
What? Does not compute!!!

That really is my point; slow times aren't all that often.

Kindest Regards, Rod Connect with me on LinkedIn.

Eric M Russell SSC Guru Points: 125522 More actions · Answer 14

Gary Varga (9/16/2016)
Eric M Russell (9/16/2016)
...during slow or "down" periods...
What? Does not compute!!!

I'm not a freelancer, so I don't have the option of context switching to another client. So, when there arn't any deployments coming up, and "funding" for new development projects has been put on hold, and the Service Desk queue is empty, then I'll tinker with automation and performance tuning tasks. Granted, there really are no down weeks, just occasional down days with a handful of hours here and there in between.

"Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Instead, seek what they sought." - Matsuo Basho