Last week’s SmartBrief on Workforce poll: Do you consider employer-paid mobile devices (such as a BlackBerry) a perk or a curse?
- Perk — 52%
- Curse –48%
As a group, you’re about evenly divided. My answer would depend on which day you asked me. Sometimes, I see my BlackBerry as little more than a glorified tracking bracelet, provoking me with every little buzz at all hours of the day and night. Other days, I appreciate the way it allows me to stay in touch without being chained to my desk. Whether you voted in the original poll or not, I would love to hear how you feel about these virtually ubiquitous devices.
Image credit, edans
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Dude, hated mine. So glad to have gotten rid of it, it was a leash I didn't want. I remember the day before I left for France on vacation and the CEO gave me the "good news" that she took it upon herself to have IT set me up for international service.
No lie, the next vacation I took was to the rainforest, where no technology could reach me.
We're just considering extending the mobile device "perk" to a much broader group of staff members and are debating the following questions: Who should have one and what are management's expectations? If an email is sent out on Friday evening and an employee doesn't respond until Monday morning do they now have a mark against them? Does having a mobile device which allows you to be more efficient in a standard work day (and others times if you choose) mean you are now automatically a 24/7 employee? I also have a concern about setting up expectations with clients. Do they now expect that you are available to them 24/7 so when they send you a request on Friday evening they expect work complete by Monday morning? In this fast-paced world it seems there are some things that could benefit from slowing things down and setting appropriate expectations. On the other hand, life and business doesn't operate 8-5 and in this economy, especially, we need to do everything we can to keep clients happy. Does anyone have any company policies associated with the use of mobile devices? Obviously I have more questions than answers but I'd love to hear some feedback.
Since you posed this interesting question last week, I've been conducting a little informal poll amongst my friends. Those who love their jobs seem to find the BB a perk. Those who just aren't that into their jobs use words like 'manacled' and 'ball and chain' with respect to their mobile device.
As for me, perk all the way. Otherwise, I'd be sitting at my desk right now!