{"id":2516,"date":"2016-03-15T12:56:48","date_gmt":"2016-03-15T12:56:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.bournemouth.ac.uk\/etourismlab\/?p=2516"},"modified":"2016-03-15T12:56:48","modified_gmt":"2016-03-15T12:56:48","slug":"epsrc-balance-network-event-going-off-the-grid-can-employees-really-switch-off-during-travel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/microsites.bournemouth.ac.uk\/etourism-lab\/2016\/03\/15\/epsrc-balance-network-event-going-off-the-grid-can-employees-really-switch-off-during-travel\/","title":{"rendered":"EPSRC Balance Network Event: \u201cGoing off the Grid\u201d Can employees really switch off during travel?"},"content":{"rendered":"

EPSRC Balance Network Event: Digital Work Life Balance:<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u201cGoing off the Grid\u201d Can employees really switch off during travel?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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9th<\/sup> March 2016, DepTH, Bournemouth University<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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Do we ever switch off our phones? Are we constantly checking emails while we are on holiday? Do we pay more attention to our online social networks that our current surroundings? Should we take a rest from 24\/7 connection?<\/p>\n

These were just some of the questions that were raised and debated during a recent half-day seminar exploring the implications of technology on our work-life balance.<\/p>\n

Organised by Dr. Barbara Neuhofer and Professor Adele Ladkin from the Department of Tourism and Hospitality, the seminar was funded by the EPSRC\u2019s \u2018Balance Network\u2019, a network of researchers interested in understanding and exploring work-life balance in the digital age. The event specifically sought to understand how technology affects our ability to take a rest from work, and how we might better understand the implications of the 24\/7 culture for both individuals and organisations.<\/p>\n

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Dean of Faculty of Management, Prof Keith Wilkes with Event Organisers Dr Barbara Neuhofer Prof Adele Ladkin<\/p><\/div>\n

Leisure travel, grounded in the motivation of escapism and a break from the mundane, has traditionally had the purpose of relaxing and refreshing our minds and bodies, however, are we still able to do this? Could it be that the switching of from technology has become the greatest luxury of the 21st<\/sup> Century?<\/p>\n

The seminar consisted of two activities.<\/p>\n

First, seven expert speakers were invited to present on a range of different topics, as listed below:<\/strong><\/p>\n