Smartphones Upset Work-Life Balance
May 12, 2008
The incredible pace of technological change continues to have a profound effect on the lives of working Canadians. For some it’s hard to remember going on a business trip without a laptop computer or a cell phone. And over the last few years more and more BlackBerry’s have become essential items for many members of Canada’s workforce. While they certainly have beneficial effects with regard to increasing productivity, there is another side to the issue as well.
The ubiquitous BlackBerry has helped change the nature of the workplace. Work now happens when and where it needs to, which is often not in the office. Employees are increasingly dealing with work matters remotely and at all times of day – early morning, late evening, even on weekends and in the middle of the night.
And organized labour is taking note. The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), in a move that could spread across the work world, believes that it’s time to make the ubiquitous portable communications device an issue at the bargaining table and for employers to pay for their growing intrusion into the private lives of workers.
Canada’s largest union has recognized that employees with BlackBerry’s or other smartphone devices are basically expected to be on call 24-7.
According to PSAC, BlackBerry use, and how to compensate people required to use them, will be inserted into the next round of contract negotiations because they force employees to work after normal business hours. PSAC was expected to table recommendations recently for six of the seven bargaining units that are currently in contract talks.
One of the downsides of this increasing round-the-clock availability of workers is that is disrupts the work-life balance and increased stress that comes with it. Although not directly linked to smartphones, a recent Canadian study has shown that more and more workers are depressed on the job. 9 in 10 workers believe that stress-related problems are on the rise. Mental health claims – mainly depression – are the fastest-growing category for days lost to disability in Canada, according to the survey.
Some organizations have taken the positive step of not only recognizing the downside of being available all the time, but also of doing something about it. Earlier this year, Citizenship and Immigration Canada took a step to restore the work-life balance by asking employees to implement a BlackBerry “blackout” between 7pm and 7am and on weekends and holidays. They were also asked not to use them during meetings.
So while these devices seem to have liberated workers from the office and given people much more latitude in terms of getting away from the traditional 9 to 5 workday, they have also compounded the problems of those that are overworked or feel like they’re falling behind already.
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