Psychology

The pillow method is a means of gaining and providing empathy to a person with whom the disagreement is with. Empathy is defined as the ability to re-create anothers perspective.

The Disagreement
The disagreement in question concerns work ethics. My co-worker argues that discipline with timing should be maintained at all times especially where it concerns the time to go home whereas I argue that rigidity in work timings with regards to the closing of the office should not be maintained at all times as it may prove risky in matters of urgency. Since business is all about taking the right decisions, the timing seems important and availability of important staff is essential in those stringent situations.

Rendering the Disagreement According to the Pillow Method
My position is correct
Since I work in the customer service department, I consider my colleagues and myself as a team of efficient inter-connected individuals who have to complete tasks assigned within the given time frame. This works well for banks catering specifically to the domestic market alone but since we engage in international business, such as foreign exchange and investment funds, our clients could be international as well. The concern here becomes not just about embodying the decisions of the supervisors but also to match the timings of those abroad. Since the time zones are not always the same when it comes to undertaking global trade between different countries, take USA and Australia for example, we cannot always work 9-5 and also be synced with our partners overseas in real time. This is why having flexible off hours enables employees to be available at hand in case of urgent work at the hands of overseas clients.

Opponents position is correct
If the bank employees are given uncertain work schedules, their personal lives may suffer in that an uncertainty develops as to when the earner gets home to his family. If uncertain work timings are part of the job description, less prospective employees would be willing to work with such a compromise, thereby effectively becoming a cause of concern for the employers involved. As a result, this timing uncertainty in the job description may have to be compensated with a higher payment scheme in order to keep the employees engaged and willing to work, thereby increasing the cost of doing business.

Both positions are correct, both are incorrect
Flexible timings are beneficial to the business owner in so much that he always has his trusted employees at hand who may assist him in those crucial meetings and work related tasks. As such, whatever is beneficial for the Director is better for the business, and if the business is good, it results in better job security for employees like me. Flexible timings may also mean that the office check-in hours could be flexible as well, which allows for me and my co-workers walk in late on odd days when work load had us working late into the night.

On the other hand, flexible work hours tear into the discipline that is required for business in todays world. As a CSR, I am expected to come in on time and leave on time maintaining a strict decorum which pushes clients to maintain a similar schedule when dealing with the bank, thereby introducing a level of certainty into business. This predetermined work schedule makes me work with a plan that does not get in the way of my personal life.

Resolution
The matter at hand can be incorporated into the work cycle without upsetting the decorum of the workplace. Only in some cases should the workers have to stay back or work at odd hours, such as when dealing with my department (Customer Service), and as long as they are informed beforehand, their lifestyle should not be significantly affected. It is thus logical to have flexible working hours on odd days when work load is high.