Do you ever clock off?

It seems the days of clocking on and clocking off have given way to a generation that never clocks off. People may be physically present at their work place for set hours each week but that’s not the full story.

Today’s technology is amazing but with all the advantages it brings, there’s a down side. Being available 24 hours a day now means that the lines between ‘work time’ and ‘personal time’ have been blurred. It’s great to be able to occasionally shoot off a work email after hours when needed but the ‘occasionally’ has become ‘regularly’ and in many cases expected and required.

Now, from the country that adopted the 35 hour week back in 1999, comes a new way to ensure that the free time of its citizens is not eroded by their smart phones or computers. The Australian has reported that a new labour agreement in France is ensuring that workers switch off when they clock off.

The legally binding deal, signed by employers’ federations and unions representing almost one million workers in the digital and consultancy sectors, stipulates that employees should be left alone when they are out of the office.

Staff will be ordered to switch off their professional phones and avoid looking at work-related emails or documents on their tablets and computers.

Businesses will be required to ensure that workers are under no pressure to check their messages. – The Australian

So how about you? Do you ever clock off completely or are you constantly connected? Is the expectation to be on call at all times robbing you of being totally present with the ones you love?

A study suggested that 39 per cent of workers and 77 per cent of managers used their smartphones, tablets and computers for professional purposes in the evenings, during weekends and on holidays. – The Australian

When we combine the call of constant availability for work with the ‘demands’ of social media, is there ever a time when we disconnect fully? Are we destined to become more and more immersed in our electronic worlds and become less and less connected to those around us? I know it’s an issue that has been raised before but I think we need to keep looking at it until we find a suitable balance. Maybe the legislation in France is part of that answer.

Have you put anything into place that guards your time against the invasion of technology? Have you managed to find a way to use technology without technology using you?

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