Cohousing-L Mailing List: Rotating Tasks -- Work Requirements

[Sharon Villines (sharonvillines]

 Ruth's post from Cantines Island raises another subject under discussion
here -- rotation of tasks. Rotating tasks is seen as positive because then
everyone develops new skills, no one is dependent on anyone else, no power
struggles ensue from "job ownership," no one gets stuck with an undesirable
task "forever."

The opposite side of the coin is that when tasks are rotated, no one learns
anything well, one is always having to teach and learn another job, there is
no sense of accomplishment in doing a task well,  people who work hard just
rotate into a job where they clean up after someone who does not, and much
energy is expended figuring out who is going to do what next.

Because some jobs require too much transfer of information and are too
sensitive to rotate some jobs are exempted from rotation because they are
specialized or require constancy (keeping the books, contact with the
management company, handler of the HVAC, etc.).

I'm not a rotator believing person so rotation in any job seems less than
productive. Periodic change based on interests and variety, yes. Automatic
rotation of all people into all or even most jobs, no.

The primary reason for this is that I value a feeling of accomplishment. It
takes the development of skill to be truly accomplished at something and to
feel that you have done it well. It is a false assumption that anyone can
mop a floor. It also a false assumption that mopping a floor is "just"
mopping a floor.  While "anyone" may be able to learn, not everyone will
ever do it well or gain satisfaction from doing it.

Mopping a floor is preservation of the health of the community. It means
understanding what germs, bacteria, and mold are and how they are prevented.
What dangers they involve. It requires a love of shining clean surfaces. It
means paying attention to corners. It means cleaning without destroying.
Using the right cleaners and polishers. Noticing when a tile needs repair
soon enough to prevent having to replace the whole floor.

I loved living in a condo where the staff took pride in their work this way.
The building was "theirs" and they would show it off to anyone who would
look. Part of buying a condo in Manhattan was a tour of the basement. I'm
sure not everyone does this but I've seen some of the greats. Polished brass
in the boiler room. A linoleum floor so well polished you could slide from
one side of a building to the other. The jobs are very competitive and well
paid. A doorman earned more than I earned as a university professor.

Sharon
-- 
Sharon Villines
Takoma Village Cohousing, Washington DC
http://www.takomavillage.org




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