Toronto Estate Lawyer : Hull & Hull Law Firm : Trust Mediation and Succession Planning : Serving Ontario, Ottawa, Mississauga, Hamilton

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Blackberries and iPhones have been in the news a lot lately. These communication devices seem to have become irreplaceable for many Canadians and their frequent use is having an impact on the work place.

This past Monday, the Globe & Mail carried a story about the potential health impacts of the chronic use of these devices. Problems such as Blackberry Belly, caused by slouching when you hunch over to read your screen, and Blackberry Thumb, caused from excessive texting, were just two of the many afflictions cited by a physiotherapist and researchers quoted in the article. Aside from these physical ailments, frequent Blackberry use may also contribute to anxiety.

The use of Blackberries after regular work hours also has the potential of becoming a pertinent employment issue with employees seeking compensation for their use outside office hours. Late last month, the Globe & Mail carried a story about the writers’ union for ABC News, the Writers Guild of America. The Guild was challenging a long standing contract waiver that prevented employees from collecting overtime pay for work that was be done after work hours and facilitated via communication devices such as Blackberries.

It will be interesting to see if the changing technology will have a long term impact on employee’s work environments, or if this is much ado about nothing.

Have a nice day,

Diane Vieira

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A few weeks ago, in the face of a snowstorm, I decided to work from home and avoid the messy commute to our downtown Toronto offices. I’m happy to report that I was quite productive that day, notwithstanding the lure of hot chocolate, pajamas and a good movie.

With the advent of Blackberrys, high-speed Internet, e-mail and remote computer access, more and more lawyers are changing the way they work, including where they work. More lawyers are learning to operate from home-based workspaces, at least some of the time. This allows lawyers to be more flexible and juggle the competing demands of work and family. You can get home for dinner with the family, and then catch up on e-mails and get a head start on the next day’s work. I personally telecommute every day, thanks to my Blackberry.

Is there a telework revolution afoot in the legal profession? Many studies show that teleworking two to three days a week actually increases productivity. It certainly leads to increased flexibility and mobility. However, my own view is that it would be difficult to work 100 percent of the time from home. The practice of law involves personal contact, with both colleagues and clients.

It is likely too early to tell whether a revolution is taking place. However, there’s no denying that the telework age is here, and lawyers are reaping the benefits, at least some of the time.

Have a great day!
Bianca