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Chattanooga: Gizmos let executives work on vacation

By: Amy Williams
(Contact)

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G. Larry Wells

Jeff Cannon and wife Danna recently took a much-needed vacation to New Mexico.

The director of the Greenspaces initiative in Chattanooga and Mrs. Cannon, an executive at EPB, relaxed during their time in Santa Fe, enjoying the city and their vacation.

But they also got a little work done.

“There is no question for either one of us — we would not have been able to go on that vacation had it had not been for technology,” Mr. Cannon said. “So it’s a love-hate relationship.”

For people like the Cannons, staying connected to work is an important part of life in and out of the office.

The widespread availability of high-speed data connections such as wireless Internet and 3G — third-generation mobile communication technology — makes it easier. The BlackBerry, the Palm Treo and Apple’s iPhone 3G can synchronize with business e-mail applications and offer other features designed to appeal to professionals who want to work from anywhere.

While construction is wrapping up on the new offices for Greenspaces, Mr. Cannon has been able to work from various places nearby such as Niedlov’s Breadworks on Main Street that offer wireless Internet that he can use to work. He sets up his laptop and iPhone and gets to work answering e-mails and creating presentations.

Because he owns a laptop computer and uses an iPhone, he was able to work just as if he was in the office while Mr. Cannon was traveling in New Mexico.

“Unless you were expecting to see me face to face, work continued as normal, and there’s a huge advantage to being that connected,” he said. “You can afford to do things like that. Back in the day if you went out of town for a week, you were sunk.”

CareerBuilder.com released a survey this summer that showed one in four workers planned to work on vacation this year.

Of those who responded, 14 percent of people working in the financial industry and 12 percent of those in professional and business service jobs said their bosses require them to check e-mail or voice mail while they are away.

Staff Photo by Meghan Brown
Jeff Cannon, director of the Greenspaces initiative, types on a laptop as he works with colleague Anj McClain at Niedlov’s Breadworks.

The report also showed that, as a result of requirements by their employers, 7 percent of people reported lying about their access to phone or e-mail on vacation.

While there are distinct advantages to being connected to their jobs, some people say they occasionally feel the need to cut the cord — if only for a little while.

G. Larry Wells, president of Wireless Properties LLC in Chattanooga, depends on his BlackBerry to help him run his business and stay in touch with his seven employees.

But there are times when he does not want to be disturbed, so he leaves his BlackBerry in the car when he goes out to a restaurant for dinner.

He said if people don’t unplug for at least a little while, they can get burned out.

“It’s just like having three or four TV channels on at all times; it’s information overload,” Mr. Wells said. “You’ve got to have some down time.”

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