Federal department's BlackBerry blackout gets mixed reviews

A decision to ban employees of Citizenship and Immigration Canada from using aBlackBerry PDAbetween 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. has been hailed by a management researcher and some public servants, but not all.

Department employees received a memo Thursday notifying them of the ban, the Ottawa Citizen reported.

It was sent by Richard Fadden, deputy minister of the department, who said he wanted to helpreduce work stress.

Linda Duxbury, a professor at Carleton University's Sprott School of Business, said the use of personal digital devices such as the BlackBerry increases employees' workload dramatically.

"It increases our ability to work anytime, anywhere, immediate answers expected, be available 24-7, on the road, at home, on weekends, on vacation," she added Friday.

Duxbury believes Fadden's move responds to a serious issue faced by middle and senior management.

"I think this guy's showing real courage and real leadership," she said.

She added that it's up to the department to make the policy work and show others that "being on the BlackBerry 24-7 doesn't really increase productivity and efficiency. All it does is decrease balance and increase stress."

Some public servants surveyed in downtown Ottawa Friday, such as Brian Jonah, welcomed the BlackBerry blackout.

"I think it's a good idea," he said. "I do enough work during the day on the computer and BlackBerry and other communication devices. I think everybody needs to take a break."

But he acknowledged that some of his colleagues might be more addicted to the devices sometimes known as "crackberries" and have trouble letting go.

Susannah Riggs said she was open to some new rules.

"Maybe there would be merit in curbing BlackBerry use and reinforcing Blackberry etiquette," she said.

Alex Lekas, who doesn't have a BlackBerry, wasn't sure thatthe devicewould necessarily add that much stress.

"I think it keeps you more in tune to what's going on on a daily basis, like family, home, work," he said.

A man who only identified himself as Dan said he sees people using BlackBerrys at bus stops and in grocery stores, and doesn't know how the government would enforce a ban.

"They're becoming a way of life," he said.

And at least oneman didn't have much time for the policy.

"I think they've got more time than I do to think about these silly policies,"he said as herushed by too quickly to leave his name.