| THE COLLECTIVE MODEL | | Print | |
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We all walk dogs, and we all pitch in to keep the administrative side of the business running. No bosses--or all bosses, depending on how you look at it. We share in the successes while laying the failures at the feet of whoever isn't at that week's meeting (just kidding...we share the failures too). Through the extremes of District summers and winters; the weird hours; and the occasional, devastatingly compromised poop bag; the reward is ownership of our labor--an experience we share with far too few people around the globe. What It Means For Us The nature of our business model requires communication and coordination with each other on a daily, sometimes hourly, basis. Sharing information and planning ahead are essential. The result is that each of us has a broad understanding of all aspects of the job; and while every collective member possesses a unique set of skills and interests, all of us function as both owners and workers. So when one of us decides to avail him- or herself of a slice of our generous annual paid vacation, that person can confidently and honestly vouch for whichever coworker is shouldering his or her workload during that time. What It Means For Our Clients First, and most importantly, our model establishes a direct relationship between client and walker (or sitter). You provide instructions and request scheduling changes with that person, who in turn will keep you updated on your pet's status (upset stomach, burgeoning superiority complex, etc.). On days when your primary walker can't walk your dog, you can rest assured that the walker covering has an ownership stake in the company--as opposed to, say, a my-college-break-is-just-long-enough-to-get-a-job-and-I-tooootally-love-dogs stake. Additionally, our clients can take comfort in the knowledge that we do what we can to make the seemingly innocuous task of dog walking a socially meaningful endeavor. We bike instead of drive. We give financial support to local organizations working on the front lines of progressive change. And--maybe; hopefully--we offer an example of workplace democracy that encourages others to take control of their livelihoods. |
| Last Updated on Saturday, 03 October 2009 01:24 |
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