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posted by janrinok on Sunday August 03 2014, @04:49AM   Printer-friendly
from the moderation-in-all-things,-including-moderation dept.

An interesting writeup on Harvard Business Publishing blog by Michael Harris, discusses what most of us have already known, but each of us have colleagues (or worse, bosses) who still don't get it:

"In early April a series of reports appeared online in the United States and the United Kingdom lamenting the "lazy French." A new labor law in France had apparently banned organizations from e-mailing their employees after 6 p.m. In fact, it turned out to be more a case of "lazy journalists" than "lazy French": as The Economist explained, the "law" was not a law at all but a labor agreement aimed at improving health among a specific group of professionals, and there wasn't even a hard curfew for digital communication.

Like all myths, however, this one revealed a set of abiding values subscribed to by the folk who perpetuated it. Brits and Americans have long suspected that the French (and others) are goofing off while they the good corporate soldiers continue to toil away. They're proud about it too. A Gallup poll, released in May, found that most U.S. workers see their constant connection with officemates as a positive. In the age of the smartphone, there's no such thing as "downtime," and we profess to be happier and more productive for it.

Are we, though? After reviewing thousands of books, articles and papers on the topic and interviewing dozens of experts in fields from neurobiology and psychology to education and literature, I don't think so. When we accept this new and permanent ambient workload checking business news in bed or responding to coworkers' emails during breakfast we may believe that we are dedicated, tireless workers. But, actually, we're mostly just getting the small, easy things done. Being busy does not equate to being effective."

 
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  • (Score: 2) by frojack on Sunday August 03 2014, @09:50PM

    by frojack (1554) on Sunday August 03 2014, @09:50PM (#76987) Journal

    But you are retired.
    Different thing, than having to sit around 3 days and go to work 4. Not enough time to get away. Too much time to stay.

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  • (Score: 2) by ticho on Sunday August 03 2014, @11:22PM

    by ticho (89) on Sunday August 03 2014, @11:22PM (#77013) Homepage Journal

    Sure, you can't go on a vacation abroad during those 3 days, but nothing is really stopping you from using those days to relax and pursue your hobbies or whatnot. Incidentally, I am taking every Friday off this summer, so I'm talking from first hand experience.

  • (Score: 2) by SlimmPickens on Monday August 04 2014, @12:55AM

    by SlimmPickens (1056) on Monday August 04 2014, @12:55AM (#77040)

    having to sit around 3 days and go to work 4

    Well that's what I have (and short hours) and I consider it optimal. Enough money to do all the things I like. Plenty of time to ride my motorbike, read, tinker with my network, explore math.

    My freind just offerred me a job in bc/dr and despite the higher earning potential and the enjyoment I would get from working in larger and better resourced teams I'm really struggling with it from a quality of life point of view.

    • (Score: 2) by SlimmPickens on Monday August 04 2014, @02:45AM

      by SlimmPickens (1056) on Monday August 04 2014, @02:45AM (#77067)

      I have to add making bacon to the list of things that I like. Some of you may remember I've already been encouraging people to make bacon.