Your company is considering introducing a system which enables particular jobs to be shared between two members of staff.  You have been asked to advise the company whether this scheme should be introduced.

Discuss and decide together:

l        Which types of jobs this scheme would be suitable for

l        Which types of people would be most suited to working in this way

A: You know our company is considering a job sharing system.

B: Yeah, a system that allows some jobs to be shared by two staff members.

A: So if we introduce this scheme, which types of job do you think it would be suitable for?

B: Not many, I’m afraid.  Obviously most of the managers cannot work on a job-sharing basis.

A: That makes sense.  It would be difficult to split a managerial task between two managers.

B: But I think this scheme would be perfectly suitable for some clerical work.  For example, two clerks can share a typing task. And two customer service reps can share one job in the call center. Or we can hire two different drivers for the morning and evening shuttle buses.

A: Right.  Then what kind of people do you think would be most suited to sharing jobs?

B: Mostly working mothers, who need to take care of their babies while working with a company.

A: And also employees who hope to pursue a higher degree.

B: Yeah, they can share a job with a colleague so that they can afford some time to attend lectures in colleges or universities.

A: Anyway, do you think this scheme should be introduced in our company?

B: Well, there are quite a lot of young people in our company, who are thinking of a higher degree, an MBA or something.  If they are allowed to share their jobs with others, they can have more flexibility in arranging their time schedules.

A: And then they’ll have more chances to get a higher degree.

B: Exactly.