Weekends are supposed to be a time when individuals can relax and not think about whats going on at work. However, with the invention of email, text messaging, and other forms of interactive technologies, our ability to escape to our homes for a work-free weekend is becoming harder and harder to do. To combat this problem, a new company, Pearce Global Incorporated, has instituted a new policy discouraging employees from emailing individuals on the weekends. If an employee of Pearce Global Incorporated attempts to send an e-mail on Saturday or Sunday, they are greeted with the following pop-up message. It does not prohibit the message from being sentit just reminds them to try to work during the week:

Its the weekend. We here at Pearce Global Incorporated stress a work-life balance and would encourage you to send this message at the beginning of the work-week.

Please answer each question

• The pop-up message is a form of downward communication related to communication flow. Do you think this is an effective way to prevent weekend emails?
• Do you think people are obligated to respond to emails they receive during the weekend? Does it matter if it is upward, downward, or horizontal communication?
• With the invention of new technology, has the idea of the workless weekend disappeared forever?