Are you available 24/7? Are you expected to be? Should you be?
At a recent networking event we were asked two questions:-
- Would you get an implant that enabled you to work without needing to sleep….ever?
- What if your peer got one?
Wow, that caused us all to rethink work life balance!
Where is this all heading?
Is there something here that we need to be aware of?
Will Corporations soon take control of our lives, our freedom, our choices?
Have they already?
I can’t speak for anyone else but I am glad that I am not entering the workforce at this moment in time. Whilst I am confident that as humans we will work it out, there is a huge pressure being placed on individuals, particularly professionals and leaders, to be available to their employers anytime and anywhere. Work life balance is fast becoming a figment of imagination.
Think globalisation and managing remotely being part of teams or organisations located throughout the world. Think technology and the possibilities that will be opened up that we don’t yet know about.
I know a manager who was promoted to manage not only his department in Australia, but also businesses in China, Brazil, and the USA. He now reports to two different Directors, both who are located in Europe. Most days he starts his day at 7am and works a normal 10 hour day here in Australia. He then has between 2-4 teleconferences most week nights, sometimes not finishing until midnight.
Should we push back or is this the new normal?
I really don’t know.
If people started using implants to boost their productivity how would that change the expectations of an employee?
Should we still be demanding work life balance or have we gone past this now?
Sorry no tips or techniques with this post, just sharing something on my mind and lots of unanswered questions.
What are your thoughts? How do you see the world of work evolving?
