Modern technology and a hostile working environment

An article in Personnel Today at the end of last week looks at the introduction of Internet access for staff who work on science bases in Antarctica.

The main feature of the article is how modern communication technology, only recently available to workers stationed for months at a time in an isolated working environment, is having an affect on the quality of relations between workers.

For example, staff spending spare time blogging, using IM, surfing, shopping online, etc.

Modern communication technology is likened to a 'poisoned chalice'.

An interesting way of looking at things, but I couldn't help feeling that new forms of communication technology are just as likely to have an affect on working relations in far more mundane workplaces, much closer to home.

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