30.         According to this statement, companies would be well advised to discourage
employees from working overtime or from taking projects home, since employees are
more productive when they return to the job after a break from their work. While I agree
with this policy in general, on some occasions the company stands to benefit more from
asking employees to forego leisure time than from insisting they be rested and refreshed
when they come to work.
      In the normal course of business operations, companies benefit when they
discourage employees from putting in long hours or from taking work home. Breaks
from work provide opportunities to enjoy outside interests and activities, and to spend
important time with friends and family. Employees who make time for relationships and
leisure activities will find that they return to the job refreshed and with new perspectives
on the challenges they face at work. Both of these factors contribute to clearer focus on
the task at hand and greater efficiency.
      At the same time, every organization is familiar with the press of crucial deadlines
and other crisis situations. At such times a company should call upon employees to
work overtime, and even to take projects home, especially when doing so might make
the difference between the business' success or failure. Moreover, it is in the company's
best interest to reward the devoted worker accordingly—not in order to encourage
workaholic habits but rather to foster good will and loyalty.
      In sum, I agree that encouraging employees to make a habit of working after hours
or taking work home is generally counterproductive for an enterprise. Nevertheless, in
exceptional situations, especially where the company is at great risk, calling on
employees to forego their ordinary schedules and to work overtime is well justified.