If you’re reading this blog, you are presumably connected to a computer of some sort – desktop, laptop, BlackBerry Pearl, iPhone 3G (I’m jealous!) But where are you – work, home, in class, in the park, on a train, on the bus, at a restaurant? In today’s world, portable wireless technologies allow us to communicate and connect with each other at any time of day, from virtually anywhere. This sounds wonderful, but is there a potential downside? One of the topics I’m researching is how mobile technologies (e.g., wireless email devices and laptops) are changing the way employees connect and communicate with the workplace, and as a result the distinction between work and non-work time is rapidly becoming blurred. We now have the ability to receive and respond to emails at all times of the day, but do we really want to get an email from our boss at 10pm?
As part of my dissertation, I asked employed workers how often they used laptops and wireless email devices to communicate with work-related colleagues during non-work time. In other words, above and beyond “normal” working hours. I found that, on average, respondents logged on for about 30 minutes before work, 1 – 1.5 hours after work, and 1.5 – 2 hours on their days off. Maybe that doesn’t sound so bad at first … but if you consider a standard five-day workweek, this translates into an additional 10 – 14 hours of additional labor that is being conducted outside of the office. It adds up quickly! Evidence that the 40-hour workweek is a thing of the past.
When I first read Kate’s message, I laughed so loud the rest of my family could hear. The sound had to travel some way because I was in the most private of rooms where I enjoy reading. I am not talking about my study. I laughed for at least reasons: 1) my personal answer to Kate’s question was embarrassing, and 2) I realized that work has invaded my private life *way* too much! Rest assured, I am writing this comment from my living room couch.
Tom’s reply says it all. While reading this I literally laughed out loud. It’s completely true and honestly, quite scary. Work is work and shouldn’t have to be brought into our personal time. It’s to the point that its ridiculous how we can get access to the internet 24/7. Dont get me wrong, I love it but professionally its a hassle. Katie’s blog is so true and its sad. When im at home, getting ready for bed at 11 PM, I dont need my boss texting me telling me he needs me to come in an hour early. If he needed that he should have expressed it during work hours, he should not be texting me when I’m going to bed.
I’ve not undertaken an exhaustive study, but I suspect that most technology can be turned off.Perhaps the research should look into the why of “…how often they used laptops and wireless email devices to communicate with work-related colleagues during non-work time.”I’m reminded here is a comment made by Sherry Turkle of MIT.
[1] Sherry Turkle, Diane L. Coutu. “Technology and Human Vulnerability,” Harvard Business Review September 2003 (2003). R0309B.
My sense is that Turkle’s question is to be answered in the affirmative.In A Small View of a Possible World as wonder whether always on, always connected, always transacting is a good thing. Linda Stone, a former executive at Apple and Microsoft has said, “Constantly being accessible makes you inaccessible.”As far as I know, we can still say no. We can turn it off.