Mandatory Work Participation?

[Mary B.]

Feel free to leave your comments and thoughts below!

[hesterkw]

This is one of the things I'm interested in, as we will have to form policy on this soon, before we move in. My feeling is that as we are relatively large (42 units) keeping on top of whether everyone is doing their part becomes a job in itself! It just seems like a recipe for argument and recrimination, and doesn't really solve issues like some people feeling over-worked and under-thanked.

I'm already a volunteer in a number of organisations, and some people just do more than others. Why use limited time on insoluble problems?

A large group possibly also has more space capacity - but is there also more work?

[Mary B.]

At Sonora Cohousing, where I lived until recently, there is a policy of putting in 4 hours a month, but it is not enforced, nor was it ever considered necessary. The atmosphere in the coho is so cheery that most people want to participate, and most are involved for far more than 4 hours. They have work teams that you can join (using the cohousing.site software) and occasional work parties. Everyone finds their own comfort level, and everything, miraculously, gets done!

I think of participants as falling into a bell curve with five categories:

* curmudgeons - low participation, but they can be coaxed out with an extra sweet or a glass of wine
* introverts - solid participation, but they prefer solitary or unsung, quiet jobs like cleaning the laundry room, dog park, or pool
* introvert-extroverts - type of participation may vary depending on their mood and happiness level on a team
* extroverts - like working with large teams and work parties, social interaction and acknowledgment is important to them
* extrovert-swans - low participation in actual work, but they like to be visible and engaged socially

Of all these types, I only find the swans annoying -- they are often the first to start ambitious projects, but when it's time to start hammering or scrubbing, they will suddenly remember they need to "get something" and wander off never to be seen again. They are often vociferous in meetings and policy discussions as well, but will not take personal responsibility for taking action or enforcing rules. However, once you recognize someone's tendency to swan, it's easy to just accept them for who they are and honor their opinions while still keeping tongue firmly in cheek.