It can be frustrating when employees do not appreciate management practices aimed at enhancing employee work/life balance. If, however, we step back and look at some of the ramifications of this decision, we may be better able to understand why employees are not happy, and perhaps forestall potential dissatisfaction with future initiatives.

Start by asking the complainers to articulate the exact nature of their concerns. Are they unhappy because they are members of a religious group for which Friday or Saturday is their Sabbath? Are they unhappy because their family members work on Sunday, or for other reasons that may be understandable? Or are they chronic complainers in search of an issue? Answers to these questions may yield some effective solutions.

For those employees whose concerns focus on the fact that Sunday is not their Sabbath, we are now looking at respecting religious diversity and possibly providing religious accommodation so these employees may observe their Sabbath. As our marketplace becomes more diverse, so must our approaches for managing talent. We can no longer depend on the old adage that “one size fits all.”

In the United States today, Muslims, Seventh Day Adventists and Jews recognize Friday or Saturday as their Sabbath. Therefore, we will want to consider how closing on Sunday may affect them. Furthermore, as more companies replace the traditional Monday through Friday 9-to-5 work schedule with 24/7 operations, the need for flexible or alternative scheduling becomes more pronounced not only to our employees’ work/life balance but also to better serve our customers.

Next we will want to consider the feasibility of various scheduling options. How will remaining open on Sunday with shorter business hours affect both business and employee morale? Perhaps we can use focus groups and climate surveys to see what our employees and customers want. This will provide information and give our employees and customers confidence that their concerns and ideas are important to us .

Chronic complainers are less likely to find issue with management initiatives if the complainers have been involved in recommending and implementing solutions.

Please Note: This material is provided as general information and is not a substitute for legal or other professional advice. National members may contact the Knowledge Center.

Express Request
SHRM’s Express Request (ER) service allows members to request and receive resources on over 100 timely HR topics via e-mail. Available Express Requests are listed on the web site, and responses are sent immediately.