Alleviating the “dark side” of smart phone use

Technology offers great potential to reshape our relationship to work, but the form of that reshaping should not be allowed to happen haphazardly. As work and technology use become increasingly intertwined, a number of issues deserve re-examination. Some of these relate to work intensification and/or longer hours and possible exchange for flexibility. Recent research on use of employer-supplied smart phones offers some insight into employee perceptions of why the company supplies this technology and whether there is risk to declining the opportunity. Because dangers are more readily apparent, current limitations of technology use have been approached more often through laws related to driving than through general policies or regulation about the work itself. However, there are other concerns that may translate into employer liability beyond the possibility of car accidents. A variety of these concerns are covered in this article, along with related suggestion for actions by employers, their advisory groups, technology companies, government and employees themselves.