THOUGHT

26
SPECIAL REPORT
SPECIAL REPORT
27
t “Although employers can’t dictate an
individual’s use of their own devices outside
work, they can help empower them to take
responsibility for their own actions whilst
working.”
She adds: “When used well, information
and communication technology aids flexible
working and can contribute to a healthier
work-life balance.
“However, research is now showing that
technology is making many people actually
work longer hours. This has been described
as a contributor to the ‘dark side’ of flexible
working.”
The latest Chartered Management
Institute survey of UK managers found 77
per cent working at least an additional hour
each day.
Up to 10 per cent of managers admitted
to putting in more than three extra hours a
day and 61 per cent of those interviewed
blamed their increases on technology.
The CMI study also reported a link
between managers working longer
hours and them suffering from increased
headaches, irritability, insomnia and early
symptoms of mental health problems.
There is also an unwritten expectation
that staff will be prepared to return calls and
texts from their employers during scheduled
holidays – because they are afraid of what
bosses might think of them if they don’t.
The average employee sends or
receives more than 130 emails every day,
and that figure is only forecast to rise.
Kay says: “People’s access to too
much information, or cognitive overload, is
also widely known to impair the ability to
think clearly, learn new things and make
decisions.
Technology can contribute to a healthier work-life balance according to Kay Heald
“Britain is known for its long hours work
culture, but our productivity levels remain
well below that of other G7 countries –
nearly 20 per cent lower, according to the
Office of National Statistics.
“If a long hours work culture is not good
Dyke Ruscoe & Hayes
LIMITED
Chartered Certified Accountants & Registered Auditors
for the health and wellbeing of workers and
it’s not contributing to increased productivity
levels of businesses, owner managers need
to take action now to break bad habits and
introduce smarter and more effective ways
of working.”
• Accounts • Audit • Tax • VAT • Payroll • CIS
• Business Projections and Forecasts
• Inheritance Tax Advice • Company Secretarial
• Incorporation • Business Tax and Planning
• Tax and VAT Returns • SAGE Specialistssl firm prices
Call or visit us at: 110 Corve Street Ludlow Shropshire SY8 1DJ
Telephone 01584 872 421 Fax 01584 877 603
email ludlow@dykeruscoe.co.uk Internet dykeruscoe.co.uk
Also at Tenbury Wells 01584 810 322 Craven Arms 01588 672 776
Large firm experience - small firm prices - first meeting free
Maura Thomas says one absent-minded glance at your inbox can quickly turn a relaxing evening into a few more hours of work or worry
Kay, who has more than 20 years
of experience in human resources and
management development, says it’s vital
that Shropshire companies set clear
boundaries and codes of conduct regarding
communication, for the sake of both parties.
“Make guidelines explicit and clearly
define acceptable and unacceptable in-work
and out-of-work communication – such as
reasonable time periods for responding to
emails,” she says.
“Ensure managers, staff, workers
and sub-contractors are made aware of
company rules and how they can make
complaints if rules are broken.
“And lead by example – make sure that
senior managers abide by the rules both for
themselves and those they manage.”
Maura Thomas, an award-winning
productivity speaker, and author, doesn’t
mince her words. She says one absentminded
glance at your inbox can quickly
turn a relaxing evening into a few more
hours of work or worry.
“I’ve seen over the past decade how
after-hours emails speed up corporate
cultures,” she said.”That, in turn, chips
away at creativity, innovation, and true
productivity.”
Still need more convincing? The
National Sleep Foundation says: “Reading
a work email at 9:30 pm can keep you up
with stress.
“The blue light from the screen mimics
daylight and stimulates you; and you
can wake up feeling tired, anxious, and
depressed.”
And researchers from the acclaimed
Harvard Business School say the light
exposure from smartphones, specifically
blue light, prevents sleep because it
suppresses the sleep-inducing chemical,
melatonin. So that late-night inbox cleanout
may feel like a head-start for the following
morning, but all the evidence points to the
fact that it causing more harm than good.
Kay Heald says Shropshire companies need to set clear boundaries and codes of conduct
Next time you feel pressure to send or
read a few more emails before crawling
into bed, or while you’re out with family and
friends, stand firm and hold off.
You may find it incredibly liberating if
you can avoid such temptation.
• What do you think? Can you relate
to these issues? Send an email (during
working hours!) to editor@shropshirebiz.
com. To watch the video made by Kay
Heald’s daughter, see Kay’s channel on
Youtube