Thursday, September 7, 2006
I Feel A Worker's Comp Claim Coming On
Posted by Ed Hansberry in "THOUGHT" @ 05:00 AM
http://ur.rutgers.edu/medrel/viewArticle.html?ArticleID=5284
"Technology keeps workers connected 24/7. If that sounds like an employer’s dream come true, think again: according to a Rutgers University—Camden researcher, employers who encourage non-stop work connections via technology may wind up with liability for encouraging addiction among their staff. According to Gayle Porter, an associate professor of management at the Rutgers University School of Business at Camden, the fast and relentless pace of technology-enhanced work environments creates a source of stimulation that may become addictive. While addiction to work has been a widespread phenomenon for some time, the Rutgers-Camden scholar suggests that employers may face legal liability for these addictions."
I am not sure addiction is the right word. I know that I don't go anywhere without my K-Jam, and I mean anywhere, but it is because it is such a useful device. Music, ooodles of reading material, from the bible to ebooks to those full RSS feeds given to us by truly blessed people instead of those infernal snippits, games, internet access, email, my to do lists, reference material, etc. What am I telling you for? You know what these things do.
But that isn't an addiction is it? I mean, I could leave it on my desk when I go to get the mail, which is all of the way at the end of my 2 car length driveway, but why should I? I might need to send an SMS on the way, or CNN might fire off an alert that Osama has recorded another video. Clearly this is not addictive behavior. It isn't like I shake or even twitch much when my device is not handy.
And yes, it is on my nightstand while I sleep, but it is muted. Someone that is addicted wouldn't be able to mute the volume. :helpme:
"Technology keeps workers connected 24/7. If that sounds like an employer’s dream come true, think again: according to a Rutgers University—Camden researcher, employers who encourage non-stop work connections via technology may wind up with liability for encouraging addiction among their staff. According to Gayle Porter, an associate professor of management at the Rutgers University School of Business at Camden, the fast and relentless pace of technology-enhanced work environments creates a source of stimulation that may become addictive. While addiction to work has been a widespread phenomenon for some time, the Rutgers-Camden scholar suggests that employers may face legal liability for these addictions."
I am not sure addiction is the right word. I know that I don't go anywhere without my K-Jam, and I mean anywhere, but it is because it is such a useful device. Music, ooodles of reading material, from the bible to ebooks to those full RSS feeds given to us by truly blessed people instead of those infernal snippits, games, internet access, email, my to do lists, reference material, etc. What am I telling you for? You know what these things do.
But that isn't an addiction is it? I mean, I could leave it on my desk when I go to get the mail, which is all of the way at the end of my 2 car length driveway, but why should I? I might need to send an SMS on the way, or CNN might fire off an alert that Osama has recorded another video. Clearly this is not addictive behavior. It isn't like I shake or even twitch much when my device is not handy.
And yes, it is on my nightstand while I sleep, but it is muted. Someone that is addicted wouldn't be able to mute the volume. :helpme:
