With out question the cost of fuel and the greening initiative is changing the way we live.
In our industry, we clearly see the effect of declining disposable income in our same store sales analysis. Now a new element threatens to take a bite out of revenue.
There is a rapidly growing movement underway to take a new the workweek. Employees all across the country are currently submitting petitions to employers in attempt to gain approval of four-day weeks and telecommuting. They are citing more the just gas savings, here are just a few points that are being laid out very convincingly.
The 4-Day Work Week would mean less traffic congestion.
The 4-Day Work Week would mean fewer auto accidents each year.
The 4-Day Work Week would mean a reduction in absenteeism
The 4-Day Work Week would give us more time for family
The 4-Day Work Week would decrease labor costs
The 4-Day Work Week would decrease operational costs
The 4-Day Work Week would mean a reduction in the cost of childcare
These employee proposals also stress the use of internet as a tool to scrap the antiquated notion we should all be at the office from eight to five on Monday through Friday.
The revenues in the business and industry channelfor food service, vending and OCS will decline in direct proportion to the decreased time employees spend in their traditional work place. This is an iron-clad certainty. I suggest that you keep your ear to the ground at all accounts; you may have to adjust your revenue forecast and identify actions needed to protect the bottom line now.
Tom Britten
Tom Britten is president of Britten Management Services, based in Zephyrhills, Fla. He is a full service consultant to the food and vending industry. He can be reached at 813-469-5437; email: [email protected].