Skip to main content

Work Life Balance in the Mobile world

Five years ago, businesses were starting to talk about e-strategy, and not just about whether they should allow staff to access Facebook.   Now an e-strategy is becoming an essential.

While businesses are grappling with productivity levels, a difficult economy and the expectations of employees, the question remains whether we are achieving balance between people, processes and technology.

The rise of the mobile office and the mobile professional is part of this.  Visit any local coffee shop that offers free wifi, and there will be people working on laptops and mobile devices, holding meetings and conducting business.   I do wonder whether it makes sense for the coffee shops, as they sit at choice tables, order lots of coffee, and very little else..

As many South African entities, both companies and individuals, are active in the global economy, the traditional business discipline of ‘supply and demand’ compels companies to virtually remain open for business, 24/7.   Not the coffee shops, though, so the coffee shop professionals must have an evening alternative.

There really is no easy escape from the  ‘always-on’ scenario and the impact is shared by the employer and employee. People need down time, and without it an increase in sick leave, absenteeism, a drop in productivity, impact on general focus and core operations, as well as higher staff turnover rates can be the result.

All these factors have an influence on levels of achievement and efficiency. 

Laptops, tablets and smart phones have promoted a situation in which people are, to a greater or lesser extent, constantly connected to the job, even when at leisure, but also constantly connected to family and the outside world, when working.

No surprise that work / life balance is constantly on the table for discussion.

It is also true that many people are scared to have the conversation, as they are worried their level of commitment to their jobs will be questioned, which could impact on career path.   But it does need to be discussed.   I am starting to feel that busyness is the new black.   We compete as to how busy we are, almost as if our level of importance is tied to not having enough time to just chill.

There is no question that home encroaches on work, and work encroaches on home.   It does come down to discipline, and sometimes just to old fashioned good manners.   Not Now works.   Tell work or family that you can listen for a moment because you are in a meeting or with a friend, and commit to a call back time.    If that’s not possible, excuse yourself, manage the situation and then return.  


Mobile professionals need to be disciplined around  time management. There should be a policy in place to serve as a guide in terms of availability and connectivity.  The new technology coming in is allowing more and more flexibility.   At +Accsys, our new PeopleWare Mobi allows both management and staff to handle leave applications and approvals, time management and payslip viewing from your smart phone.   It comes down to using the power of mobile to integrate your work and personal life effectively, and yes, sometimes in a coffee shop.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

3 things to do BEFORE you resign

or sign a new contract… 1.         Confirm your notice period ·          A lot of companies allow 30 days from date of resignation, but many ask for a calendar month 2.        Check your restraints ·          If you are joining a competitor ·          If you are joining a client 3.        Find out when your last payment will be transferred ·          Companies have been burned by paying over on the 25 th , and people not returning, so they may delay payment transfer until the last official working day, or even the first day of the following month.  You may need to make special arrangements regarding debit orders …. Both your current company and your new one deserve to be fairly treated.   Knowledge of ...

When did having it all become doing it all?

Or being all things to all people… Ruth Bader Ginsburg , U.S. Supreme Court Justice: “You can’t have it all at once. Over my lifespan, I think I have had it all. But in different periods of time, things were rough.” As a mother, a wife and a business woman, I have thought a great deal about this.    My article about #OutsideWork generated some personal mail that asked me, inter alia: “How?” “What do I need to do to satisfy everybody that needs my full attention when I am with them?”  My children, my boss, my partner – they all need me to be the best that I can be, and I am barely keeping my head above water.” “I don’t want to be selfish, but there is no time for me.” And a poignant comment: “This article made me remember that there must be time for “self” but I am not finding it.  I am mentally and emotionally exhausted and nobody seems to care” There is no one answer.  It’s different for those in a committed partnership, compared to sing...

Employment Tax Incentive Bill (ETI) - Q & A (3)

The last part of the article on ETI, and we are still waiting for some finalisation, which I will post when I receive it. How does an employer deal with part pay periods? The incentive must be pro-rated to match the calculation of remuneration.  For example, if an employee starts on the 15 th of the month, and earns R2000 in the first month with the company: His remuneration must be grossed up to R4000 per month The ETI on this value calculated (R1000 in the first 12 qualifying months of employment) This results in a R500 ETI for the employer on this employee for this month Does it run for 24 Months from Date of Employment? Confirmation of this is required, but it appears that the Employer may claim for each employee for up to 24 months, even if they are not consecutive (ETI qualifying months, not months of employment) What happens if an employee leaves the organisation? Assuming all other qualifying factors are in place The next employer can start ...