Crackberries

[Aabidano]

As not to clutter up the iPhone spam thread, a question for crackberry owners\users. What real benefit do you get from being able get\respond to emails constantly (during dinner, at the ball game, park, etc...) that couldn't wait until you got home, or better yet the next morning during business hours?

Emergencies do happen, urgent things do come up that need after hours attention, I realize that. If that's the daily situation over long periods of time however, looking at your business practices would seem a better solution.

I've been working with groups from Poland and Germany for a few years now, overtime is seen as a management failure (poor planning) if it occurs on anything other than an infrequent basis. I can agree with that to a certain extent. You almost never see them answering email after business hours.

[Sueven]

Depends on your industry. Can be critical if you're in a service industry.

For instance, you run a catering business. You have different crews taking different piles of food to different locations and serving them in different ways at all hours of the day. You don't have to supervise them 24/7, but you do need to be available in case something goes wrong.

Or you are a lawyer working for a client who's trying to nail down a complicated transaction. You need to be available to provide counsel on his schedule, not your own. If the client is negotiating a purchase over dinner, you need to be available during his dinnertime.

Beyond that, I totally agree with you.

[Canoe]

I would agree - you are comparing two completely different cultures.

I work in an organization that has manufacturing plants all over the world (US, Brazil, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, China, Thailand, Japan, etc etc etc), in addition too three "Headquarters" of sorts - One in the Americas, one in Europe, and One in the Pacific.

One huge difference I see between particularly Europe and the US, is if you are a highly compensated individual (100kish or more), it is basically an expectation that you are able to be reached at almost all times (including weekends, vacations, and some holidays). The only exceptions are usually the "big" ones - Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc.

However in Europe, if someone is on vacation, they generally are on vacation. They will not answer phone calls, they will not answer e-mails, almost without exception. This is not to say some are not hard working, during "close" week, many work long hours into the night to get their work done - but when they are done for the day, they go home and forget about work.

Honestly I think Europe has it right (in addition to generally having better benefits, more vacation, and more public holidays than we do), but it is a culture difference.

I know this strays a bit from your crackberry question, but I wanted to just point out that you may be comparing apples to oranges if you are comparing the need for an American to have a blackberry, to attitudes in Poland towards responding to e-mails after hours or on the weekend.

[Sylvus]

I have a BlackBerry through work because I'm the primary responder if our production system goes down. Zabbix sends an email to my phone, it rings out loud no matter where I am, and I have to make sure that myself or someone else is taking care of the issue ASAP.

[Funkmasterr]

Like outlined by the posts above I think there are many people that have valid reasons to be checking their email all the time.

However, I think some people somehow think it makes them look cool or important or something if they are constantly checking their phone, Blackberry or otherwise, which is hilarious.

[Spang]

However, I think some people somehow think it makes them look cool or important or something if they have a gun, which is hilarious.

Fixed!

[Siji]

Aside from the email factor, they're incredibly awesome phones. Of all the phones I've ever owned my Curve had the best speakerphone and best phone sound quality (even over the iPhone).

[Aabidano]

Sylvus and Sueven both gave examples that I think fall into the acceptable-normal business range. If tickets come in for my systems after business hours I'm expected to take a look at see if it's something that matters. I've no problem with that, goes with the job.

I was mainly referring of run of the mill traffic that people feel an obligation to respond to at all hours and when on vacation. And even more their expectation that everyone else do the same. When I shut down at the end of the day I'm done with "normal" business.

My VP is in Oz, he does not respond at all when he takes a day off or is on vacation, unlike his American counterparts. Really raised some eyebrows the first time he took off for a month, and didn't respond to anyone the whole time.

[Boogahz]

I was mainly referring of run of the mill traffic that people feel an obligation to respond to at all hours and when on vacation. And even more their expectation that everyone else do the same. When I shut down at the end of the day I'm done with "normal" business.

This is actually a major reason why I went back to a land-line at home. I don't want, or need, to be "on-call" for people all day/night. I keep thinking about getting another cell, and backing off before pulling the trigger. I tried getting one last Summer, and I had all kinds of headaches since it was going to replace my home phone.