Fine Print

Think I just made a big mistake. I waited until I got to the office to write this blog post, thus falling within the regular work hours. Damn! Now I can’t claim some juicy overtime! What was I thinking?!

OK — that’s a bit tongue-in-cheek, but this news item got me thinking, again, about productivity in the 24/7 online world we do business in.

First off, I hate this quote in the article from a productivity expert: “I see so much abuse of working hours by employees — personal phone calls, socializing, checking eBay listings, booking personal travel, etc. — that I don’t believe it’s unreasonable for an employer to want a bit of work on personal hours.”

Who’s never made a personal phone call from work? To book the dentist, car mechanic or other type of situation that can only be done during regular business hours? I have. Does that mean that I feel I should then go home, and check my work-related e-mail for five minutes to make up that “company time?” No, it doesn’t.

I have worked evenings before, if things get hectic during the day. I have written articles at the weekend for my magazines if deadlines are tight. Do I come in and bill the company for that. No. It’s just what needed to be done at the time; I take great pride in my work and career, and anything I put my name to will be the best I can make it.

So, if I then decide to spend 10 minutes checking out cottage listings for a weekend break — shock! horror! slacker!

Please. We’re adults, we work hard, we have a professional ethic. Give us some credit.

~ John Carson, Senior Digital Media Specialist, GCI Canada