How accessible are you - really?

Who is the real winner when the employee is handed a Blackberry? Is it the employee as they have been given a great tool to make the more productive? Or is the company that gave the employee the Blackberry to make them more productive?

The employee starts to get emails 7/24, they become addicted to the technology and have a tendancy to use it more and more and more over time.

Does the company start to have a "We Own You" mentality raising their expectations and expecting prompt email response?

When I speak to clients - it is amazing how many companies are creating the culture that Blackberry use is the 1st priority.

Here is a great article from the Globe and Mail outlining how the Blackberry has become a Hot Labor issue. You can read it here.

Let me know your thoughts.