IPR Trustee Keith Burton brought to my attention research reported in The New York Times and characterized by New York University Professor Dalton Conley as showing that “giving workers time to chill helps ultimate long-term productivity.”
Harvard Professor Leslie A. Perlow, author of “Sleeping With Your Smartphone” (Harvard Business Review Press, 2012), surveyed 1,600 managers and professionals. She found that, even on vacation, only two percent of them turn off their networked devices. Her experimental work with a major business consulting firm suggests that employees who take an organized, mutually supportive approach to disconnecting are more satisfied with work and seek other ways to improve it.
It’s too early to predict a trend. But Burton is not just saying that here is justification for letting go in our own business lives (of course, I am writing this while I sip Sunday morning coffee). More importantly, Keith asks: “What is the role of the employee communication strategist in deciding how organizations can better moderate the reach of technology in communication and employee engagement?”
Let’s have your ideas about that.
Frank Ovaitt is President and CEO of the Institute for Public Relations.
Good plan, Brenda!
Great topic! I plan on taking a vacation soon and NOT responding to any work e-mail.
I check my e-mails morning and night for personal messages and have my phone on for family calls, but that’s it. Took me a while to get used to not jumping at every message, but if you’re calling it a real vacation, that means a vacation from the stress of feeling the need to respond immediately!