“Blackberry blackout” has become the new theme for the Canadian Immigration Department. What does this blackout mean? In the hopes to create a better work and personal balance, it means the staff is prohibited from using their blackberry devices from 7PM – 7AM and on weekend and holidays. It’s not that they’ve used their blackberries so much on their off time, it is just to provide good quality of life on the staff’s personal schedule.
Other government agencies and companies might follow the Canadian’s government’s lead. It is very easy use handhelds, such as blackberries, all the time since it is part of our culture. Text messaging, Internet access, and e-mailing is very accessible when having a handheld, but it might be a good idea to give it a rest when not working. The only concern is how does Canada account for emergencies during non-working hours?