Citizen and Immigration Canada wants its employees to break their BlackBerry habits.
The hand-held, Canadian-made electronic devices that let workers send and receive emails day or night have become a staple of professional life. Many workers -- and their bosses -- say they're an easy way to stay connected to the office without actually being there.
But there are concerns that rather than giving employees more flexibility and freedom, they've actually tethered them to their work. Critics say that could lead to worker dissatisfaction.
So, Immigration Canada's Deputy Minister, Richard Fadden, has sent out a new directive to the department's employees: no more BlackBerry use overnight, weekends, or holidays. He's also asking that BlackBerries be banned from meetings.
"Work/life quality is a priority for me and this organization because achieving it benefits us both as individuals and as a department," Fadden wrote.
An expert on work-life balance who researches alternative work arrangements at Carleton University's Sprott School of Business welcomed the move.
"(It's) a voice of reason within government," Linda Duxbury told CTV Ottawa. "I think it shows real leadership."
Duxbury said that being constantly connected to work can sometimes do more harm than good.
"Depending on what (you are) asked to do, it can increase your stress, it can increase your worry, and it might mean you have to actually stop what you're doing in terms of your life."
Employees at Immigration Canada say they like the new directive. Some said given a choice, they would rather enjoy their private lives at home rather than be constantly thinking about work.
"We're feeling the pressure trying to get a lot of stuff done in a short period of time and the fact that they're recognizing our families are suffering the consequences of it, I think it's a great idea," said one employee.
Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty has banned the devices from meetings.
"It's really hard to receive information and be thoughtful at the same time," he said.
But McGuinty said he is not sure if his government will want to adopt a similar policy that Immigration Canada is trying to implement.
