Blackberry black-out, the answer to work-life balance?
A Canadian governmental agency is asking it’s workers to not to use their Blackberries (or other work communication devices) at night and on weekends and holidays in an effort to re-establish a balance between work and home life.
Is that really the answer to a world where work and home life can blur together?
While there are some people who are addicted to their forms of work communication, this rule assumes that this is the only way people bring work into their home lives.
Though I’m sure the rule is largely symbolic and meant to draw attention to work stressors, people who are going to let work spill into home (for whatever reason) will find other ways to do so. In many cases, it can be attributed to an attitude, or, the wrong job rather than a device.
Additionally, the rule assumes that any work done at home causes stress, and, is detrimental to personal life.
I actually find that in some instances, checking e-mail or voice mail on the way to work, or, even late in the evening reduces my anxiety because I know more about what I’ll be facing the next day, and, I’m less likely to snap at the kids or something in the morning when we’re getting ready to go out the door.
Tags: Blackberry, Blackberry blackout, Canada, Career and Kids, work-life-balanceRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Work and Life
6 opinions for Blackberry black-out, the answer to work-life balance?
Work From Home
Feb 10, 2008 at 11:16 am
[…] eyeearn wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptA Canadian governmental agency is asking it’s workers to not to use their Blackberries (or other work communication devices) at night and on weekends and holidays in an effort to re-establish a balance between work and home life. … […]
Loth
Feb 10, 2008 at 12:00 pm
Yup, I agree. My husband sometimes has two Blackberries at home (if he is “on duty” at the time and has the duty Crackberry as well as his own) and is much more relaxed because he KNOWS what is happening at work rather than worrying about what might be happening. And the Blackberry means he can come out for a walk or to the park, secure that he is in touch. The alternative is that he is chained to his laptop or fretting so much he can’t relax.
DBN
Feb 10, 2008 at 6:54 pm
I have the Palm equivalent of the blackberry and generally speaking I love it… what I don’t love is the expectation that some people have regarding my use of it. Sometimes, I leave it in the car. SOMETIMES, I FORGET it by accident. Sometimes, I have a life. Yet, because I have one, people expect me to return their email within minutes.
Draco
Feb 10, 2008 at 8:40 pm
Same here. It is better for me to learn about what is happening at work so I would be ready for tomorrow.
You might want to know about the Young Entrepreneur Society from the http://www.YoungEntrepreneurSociety.com. It has many interesting business stuff in the site.
W
Feb 11, 2008 at 11:18 am
My experience has been that the work/home life balance is much more the other way. But then I’ve only been a dad for a month.
BlackBerry blackout - not just a suggestion anymore
Feb 11, 2008 at 10:03 pm
[…] it looks like BlackBerry made the work-life balance decision for […]
Have an opinion? Leave a comment: