Volkswagen AG recently announced that employees (excluding senior management) will be blocked from receiving work emails on company BlackBerrys after work hours, according to a report in the Financial Times, reportedly to prevent employee burnout. Would you support this initiative in your company?

Yes, it’s a good way to prevent burnout: 55%

No, a global economy requires working during so-called off hours: 42%

Other: 3%

Comments

“I don’t even own a BlackBerry (and never will!). Any work-related email can certainly wait until the next day’s normal working hours! If something is really all that urgent, there’s always the phone; if you call after normal work hours, please leave a message! For gosh sakes, all you other companies out there who expect employees to be available 24/7, get real! Employees should never have to feel that they are owned by any company. Congratulations to Volkswagen!”

“Let them receive them and they can choose if they require an immediate response.”

“Those crazy Euros already don’t work enough. They take the entire month of August as a holiday. No wonder there are economic problems over there!”

“No. I don’t think we need six weeks of vacation, either. I can manage myself, thank you.”

 “Causing more pressure on employees in a 24/7 world in which there is not enough time to complete a job in eight hours.”