15 July 2008
Blackberries are a "lawsuit waiting to happen"
Should 24/7 availability be discouraged for legal reasons?
If you find yourself reaching for the Blackberry as soon as you wake up, your organization could soon be demanding that you stop, according to reports from the US.
In what's surely set to become an unworkable situation, US lawyers are "fanning the flames" regarding the issue of answering emails out of work hours, suggesting employees that do so could be eligible for additional pay or leave.
Blackberries confiscated at broadcaster
This latest report follows news of a dispute at ABC News in the US last month, during which employees had their Blackberries confiscated due to concerns from unions, as 3 new employees were asked to sign a non-compensation waiver in relation to after hours emailing and availability.
The devices were eventually returned on staff insistence, but legal experts cited on CNBC are warning the situation is "a lawsuit waiting to happen," and "Anything done on such a device after hours that benefit the employer is considered work."
US lawyers are 'fanning the flames' regarding the issue of answering emails out of work hours.
Does it make a difference?
Despite the developing issue and 24/365 availability, a report last week suggested after-hours work is a waste of time. CNBC, citing a survey conducted by Cohesive Knowledge Solutions, says employees spend an average 50 minutes per day sending emails after work.
Have your say
Are your colleagues complaining about the time they spend on their Blackberries, or are after-hours communications simply an accepted fact of life in today's workplace?
Discuss these issues with fellow communicators by joining the Internal Comms Hub members' group on the Communicators' Network.
Recommended resources:
Working after hours is pointless, says new report
A hazardous year for communicators
Melcrum report: How to get started with podcasting in your organization
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