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In this section you'll find some related links and resources that deal with the themes covered in the TURN IT OFF book. As you may have seen from other sections of this site, the book addresses a range of technical, organizational, and workforce trends and we will be adding to this section of the site to cover those kinds of topics.
Related Links Angus Reid, a Canadian research firm, issued a news release on March 8, 2001 titled "Many Canadians Feeling "Free Time Crunch" which noted that four-in-ten (41%) Canadians say they have less free time - almost a quarter (24%) indicating that they have a lot less, compared with five years ago. "Always on: Wired vacations are becoming the norm" is the title of a September 18, 2000 article by June Langhoff on Trip.com. The article reports on the findings of a survey conducted in September by Andersen Consulting. The survey report is titled "Andersen Consulting Survey Finds 83% of U.S. Workers Stayed Connected to their Offices While on Summer Vacation." NEW! Barbie - yes, the doll Barbie - has entered the mobile-technology age and invites all her friends to join her. Look at the Barbie "Talk With Me" Smart Phone to see how today's children are being invited (or encouraged, trained, or whatever) to adopt the same portable technology their parents are using. Bringing Home the Electric Baby: This is an interesting article from Pauline Hodson. BUSINESS 2.0's January 9, 2001 issue includes the article "In-Flight Dogfight" which describes the research and marketing plans underway for providing high-speed Internet access to passengers on airplanes. NEW! BUSINESS WEEK Online's May 30 edition includes the article "Take a Break -- Please!" which is subtitled "Employees who forgo vacation time are cheating themselves and their families -- and they're not doing the boss any favors, either." BUSINESS WEEK's March 12, 2001 issue includes the article "Revenge of the Managers" that describes how extended work hours are causing many employees who thought they were not eligible for overtime pay to challenge that policy. "Until recently, few people questioned the way salaried employees sweated and slaved, skipping dinners, parties, even vacations, without ever getting so much as a dime in overtime," the article begins. "Toiling longer and harder than anyone else in the industrialized world was simply the price of going for the white-collar gold in the New Economy's office Olympics. Overtime pay was often considered a blue-collar perk for the lowly hourly crowd. But thanks to some recent high-dollar settlements, the reinstatement of worker-friendly labor laws in California, and increased workloads throughout the 1990s, more and more workers are realizing they might be getting stiffed." BUSINESS WEEK.COM's January 29, 2001 online issue included the article "Thinking Outside the Cubicle: No matter whether a business is large or small, a smart CEO reminds workers that life doesn't start and finish in the office." This is an interesting commentary on how one CEO views the dangers of the nonstop workday, and the focus on work above all else. Cell Phone Battleground: The tug-of-war between people who want to be able to use their cell phones anywhere and those who wish they wouldn't is heating up. For example, consider these articles, products and links:
CIO Magazine's January 15,20001 issue included the article "Too Much of a Good Thing" by former Labor Secretary Robert Reich. Drawing on material from his latest book THE FUTURE OF SUCCESS, Reich explains how so many people have managed to find themselves working so hard and for so many hours - and argues in favor of slowing down our relentless pursuit of success. CNN's World site includes two April 6, 2001 essays by Richard Quest: "What Weekend?" and "Weekend Work Piles Up for Execs". NEW! COMPUTERWORLD's May 21 issue includes the article "E-mail, Web Access Arrive on Rail Service" . "Passengers aboard the Royal Canadian Pacific cruise train, which kicked off its 2001 operating season Friday, can relax in the same luxurious staterooms that once hosted British royalty and Winston Churchill. Now, they can also access their e-mail and the Internet, which may be a first in passenger rail service." If cruising by rail across the Canadian Rockies isn't inspiring enough for you, now you can check your latest batch of junk-email instead - just what we were waiting for. COMPUTERWORLD's January 29, 2001 issue included the article "SAS Plans In-flight Wireless Web Access," which describes the Scandinavian airline's plan to give fliers high-speed Internet access from the air - for those people who just can't stand the thought of being disconnected. Darwin Networks, an Internet service provider, has announced a plan to install kiosks with high-speed Internet access at more than 100 campgrounds in the Kampgrounds of America chain. This is one of the more striking examples of how it is becoming possible to work anytime and anywhere - even on vacation. (You'll find more examples like this in Chapter 9 of the book.) NEW! East Bay (California) BUSINESS TIMES' May 28 issue includes the article "Remote Work Arrangements Can Backfire" with a review of the book and related commentary. "Enough is Enough" is the title of a September 18 article by Kathy Foley on Nua Internet Surveys. The article challenges the assumption that we all need an "omnipresent Internet," and asks, "Is there to be no escape from this pesky, pervasive, invasive Internet?" ESCAPE Magazine is sponsoring a "Work to Live" campaign, noting that "it's time to do something about skyrocketing burnout and America's most hazardous work-related illness, Vacation Deficit Disorder. We're the most vacation-starved country in the industrialized world. By far... We've formed Work To Live because enough is enough. We hope you will join us in our campaign to change the insane burnout track we're all on and get the time we need to travel, explore, find your family, yourself. FLEXIBILITY, a UK-based newsletter published by HOP Associates, includes the article "Workaholic Britain Puts In A "Six Day Working Week" in its February 2001 issue. The article summarizes the results of a survey showing "that mobile computer users work longer hours than the average worker and believe they are more productive. Despite laptop users working an average six day week, the research highlights enthusiasm for flexible working practices, due in part, to the freedom of being able to work anywhere, at any time." The same issue also includes a "Flexibility Manifesto". "Subtitled "Guidelines for Businesses in the Wireless World", the Manifesto urges businesses of all sizes to develop strategies to adapt to a wireless, flexible world with changing models of work." NEW! France Telecom is working on a number of items in the "wearable technology" category, including a communicating jacket , with a built-in cell phone, for people who want the latest in high-fashion technology with them at all times. Getalife (tm) is software "that fights computer addiction by humorously trying to keep the user away from the computer for any desired period of time." Give Me a Break: Guru.com's site includes an entertaining article called "Take time off without guilt or remorse" that has some good advice about how and why we should allow ourselves a break now and then. HOME OFFICE COMPUTING's January 2001 issue included the article "Dare to Disconnect: Why vacationing teleworkers take their offices with them," which explains why many people end up taking their technology with them on vacation - and offers suggestions for avoiding doing so. HR.com's November 27, 2000 online newsletter includes the article "Survey Finds Shift in Workday Encroaches on Workers' Personal Time," summarized as follows: "Leaving work at the office is no longer possible for many American workers, according to a recent survey. Forty percent of employees put in overtime or take work home with them at least once a week and 75 percent take care of personal responsibilities while they are on the job, according to the November 2000 Xylo Report: Shifts in Work and Home Life Boundaries." The Luddites and Technology: Many people use the term "Luddite" to describe people who are anti-technology, and who ascribe many of society's problems to the spread of technology. You can learn more about the Luddite movement by reading the entertaining "Ballad of Ned Ludd" and also by exploring the links on this site. "Make It Work" is a free online newsletter written by Gene Glatter. Contact her to be added to the subscription list. Making Family Time A Priority: Radcliffe Public Policy Center released a study on May 3, 2000 that indicates how the preferences and values of young men are changing. "Having a job schedule that allows for family time is more important to young men than money, power or prestige," notes the Center. "Eighty-two percent of men ages 20-39 put family time at the top of their list, keeping pace with 85 percent of women in those age groups." NEW! Online Airlines: Boeing announced on June 13 that it has partnered with several airlines to introduce its "Connexion" system for airborne Internet and email access. Rival airplane manufacturer Airbus announced similar plans on June 14. Soon you'll be able to surf the Web, check email, and perhaps even have live voice-over-IP phone calls on your laptop at 33,000 feet. Boeing's Connexion site opens up with the tagline "Elevation should not mean isolation" - the implication being that a few hours of unencumbered isolation is bad. I doubt that sentiment is universally held by all airline passengers. Oxford Health Plans released the results of a January 2001 survey about vacation practices. "Overworked Americans Can't Use Up Limited Vacation, Raising Health Concerns," the release is titled. "One in six U.S. employees is so overworked he/she is unable to use up annual vacation time, despite the fact that Americans have the least vacation time in the industrialized world, a landmark national survey released today reveals," it continues. So, not only are we working more while on vacation but we are also vacationing less than we could be. NEW! Palm Power Enterprise Edition's May issue included Gil Gordon's article "The Double-Edged Sword of Mobile Technology". Priority Management's September 25, 2000 online newsletter includes the article "We're Tech Rich But Time Poor" which notes that a "new survey finds our love for technology may contribute to a loss of productivity and increased stress." Public Broadcasting's "Livelihood" show has covered the issue of the expanding workday/workweek in a feature titled "The Workday That Wouldn't Die." Radcliffe Public Policy Center issued the results of a study that finds the "new generation of young men focusing on family first," noting that "71 percent of men ages 21-39 said they would give up some of their pay for more time with their families." NEW! SERENITY TO GO is the title of Mina Hamilton's book, which offers practical advice for people who are stressed out over anything from annoying drivers to annoying e-mail. "Using Mina's simple, calming techniques, you'll learn to change your experience of angry, irritating, or ho-hum moments so they become a place of calmness and serenity, a place of interest and, quite possibly, beauty," notes the author's site. The book is a lot cheaper than replacing your cell phone after you throw it out the window, or after smashing your monitor with a brick. Social Consequences of Net Use: A study conducted at Stanford University and released in February, 2000 raises some interesting questions about the effect of Internet use on our social contacts. "As Internet use grows, Americans report they spend less time with friends and family, shopping in stores or watching television, and more time working for their employers at home - without cutting back their hours in the office," the report begins. So THIS Is Why We're In Such A Bad Mood: According to author C. Leslie Charles, two of the top ten reasons why we're all so cranky have to do with the pace of work and our schedules. Read about her book "Why Is Everyone So Cranky?: The Ten Trends That Are Making Us Angry and How We Can Find Peace of Mind Instead" and visit her site, where you'll find her answers to the question about why everyone IS so cranky. Stress Directions markets an individualized stress-management survey and recommendation service. Their site includes free information about the effects of stress on organizations and on individuals. NEW! TRAINING Magazine's web site includes a "Talk Back" bulletin board with reader responses. The topic for May was "How do you maintain a healthy work/life balance?" - note the prevalence of "turn it off" comments in the responses . "Trend Alert" (an online newsletter from The Herman Group) includes the article "Work-Life: Sharp Line or Fuzzy?" in its May 2, 2000 issue. U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORTS' January 15, 2001 issue featured the cover story "Overwhelmed by Tech: Gadgets were supposed to make life simple. But some just make people crazy" with a good analysis of how many of us have become too immersed in, and frustrated by, all the technology that surrounds us. USA TODAY's April 23, 2001 issue includes the article "Singapore Airlines Offers E-mail On Flights Over Ocean" which describes how this and other airlines are equipping some of their planes for real-time email access. The article begins, "In what could be a boon for workaholics, Singapore Airlines ushered in the age of in-flight e-mail and Internet on transoceanic flights Sunday." A Singapore Airlines spokesman is quoted as saying, "Passengers, for the first time, can send and receive e-mail no matter where they are in the skies." Yes, this is exactly what we all need.... WebFamilies.com is described as "the premier online service for families who want to share their most important life events with family and friends ... Using either the tools available on our Web site, or by using our QuikWeb (tm) system available on the maternity ward of many hospitals, families find it easy to build and share photos and news ... Our QuikWeb(tm) system is available in all WebFamilies affiliate hospitals and allows parents to take multiple photos and instantly share their newborn experience with loved ones from their bedside. This proprietary system consists of a portable computer, digital camera, wireless Internet connection and is powered by WebFamilies' custom software." Perhaps it's never to early to get someone connected to the Web... Workaholics Anonymous: This is the unofficial Web site for this organization. It includes numerous links to other sites and resources that explain the concept of workaholism and offer suggestions for how to cope with it. How Gil Gordon "Turns It Off": Each year I take two or three trips to the Southwest for some hiking and photography; that's how I get away from phones, faxes, e-mail, and everything else to do with work. Take a look at some of my photos in the current and archived months of the Natural Escape section of my main site. All Rights
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