To Blackberry or Not Blackberry

Ok, the boss just announced in the meeting that the head office has approved his request for every one of his staff to be given a spanking new Blackberry Storm!

He is overjoyed!

You are depressed! Why? Because you instantly remember your friend Jean who now works 14 hour days and not 8 hours since she got her Blackberry a few months ago.

Jean constantly complains that her boss is now free to contact her at any hour - even in the middle of the night when he is on business trips and the time difference is of no consequence to him!

So, you are in a quandry. Torn between blurting out 'Hell no!' and saying with all the false joy you can muster... 'Oh! Cool!'

Just then the phone rings and your boss has to step out of the room for a few minutes. You take the opportunity to ask your co-workers what they think of the idea.

Debra thinks 'That new Blackberry model is so cool! I can finally ditch this retarded Nokia they gave me 4 years ago!'

Kevin is in his typical nonchalant mood - 'Whatever. I don't care, I won't be answering it after 4pm anyway.'

And so it went. At the end, half of the workers wanted it because of the 'Cool Effect', the other half either did not care or did not want it outright.

However, all were in agreement that if it meant being in touch with the boss or even each other on work related matters - they did not want it at all!

Just then Tom, the boss, returns. 'How we doing?' he asks with an expectant smile on his face.

'We don't want it.' I said.

'What? What is it you all do not want?'

'The Blackberry. We don't want the Storm, Curve or any model to be honest.'

'Oh, really? Well, Zoe it's not up to you or anyone else in here, except me of course, to dictate whether you get the Blackberry or not. And, since I am the boss, and I have decided upon it we are all getting them by the end of the week. You good with that?'

I looked around the room for moral support from those whom only moments before were so passionate about not getting the device. No support was forthcoming, only straight expressionless faces were seen, and none looking at me.

'Well I guess since you are the boss...', and my voice trailed off into silence.

'That's it then. Oh, and you all know that as managers you are expected to respond in a timely manner even when we contact you at night after you leave the office?'

I looked at Kevin quickly, and suddenly he was animated. As the union Shop Steward there was no way he would agree to this.