Leno as news anchor? The job-swap appeal

Television personalities Katie Couric and Jay Leno of NBC aren't exactly disgruntled employees. But Monday they will engage in an activity that's known for boosting morale in the workplace: swapping jobs.

The gesture is just for a day - bringing a woman's touch to late-night TV only temporarily. And it isn't even likely to be the best swap of the week: The other host of "Today," Matt Lauer, is trading places with a New York cabbie on Thursday morning. By that time Ms. Couric will be back at her regular job and, presumably, tipping Mr. Lauer's replacement.

Most job swaps aren't so public, but workplace experts say the practice can be much more than a gimmick, helping workers stretch their horizons in an era of career mobility. Employers can benefit, too, when a CEO finds out what life on the shop floor is like. Job swaps, in short, may be just the kind of approach cash-strapped companies should be taking currently.

"If they haven't cottoned to it now, it's certainly something for them to consider, because in a downsized organization, it's a way of helping people broaden their career and hopefully get them realigned and motivated again," says Geof Boole, who is in charge of career transition services for Philadelphia-based Right Management Consultants.

In one typical form of job exchange, management trainees bounce around to different departments to get a feel for the company.

Mr. Boole, who used to have people trade positions often when he worked in human resources for Sears in the late 1960s, says it's not hard to do: Have people in employee relations trade with those who train employees for example, or those in accounts payable switch with those in accounts receivable.

Those kinds of swaps wouldn't demand the kind of skilled deception found in the movie "Catch Me If You Can," where the main character pretends to be a pilot and a lawyer, among other professions. But sometimes the ones that require a bit of winging it are more fun - if the boss can tolerate a misstep or two.

Media-watcher Andrew Tyndall, who tracks trends in network news coverage - and would most like to trade places with a Shakespearean actor - says his idea of a good swap would involve ABC's main news anchor and NBC actor Kelsey Grammer. "You can imagine Peter Jennings as 'Frasier,' can't you?" jokes Mr. Tyndall, noting that Mr. Grammer would make a perfect newscaster with his deep voice and ability to raise an eyebrow.

Such changes can seem like pure whimsy - and may be mere publicity stunts. But they may also be one way to address a significant challenge in today's workplace: low morale.

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