The Pajama Effect [Paperback]

Increasingly available new technologies and ways to connect have caused radical changes in the ways humans communicate, blurring the lines between different aspects of life. The Pajama Effect is the result of these changes. It describes a psychological and behavioral shift human beings experience when working in a physically detached and virtually connected world. This change puts them out of their element and vulnerable to a new environment, isolation and other challenges. The economics of the 21st century has inspired companies and organizations to embrace the virtual environment to both increase productivity and lower costs. Digital technologies have given us increased speed, connectivity and independence. These advances offer us a more flexible and mobile way to work and live, yet the impact of these technologies on human beings is only beginning to be understood. The digital age came upon all of us with excessive speed. The rate of change and adaption is unlike anything we have ever seen, and that rate of change is increasing. The 9-to-5 day no longer applies in a 24/7/365 world. It is difficult to know when work stops and play starts, or when to call it a day and say, Enough is enough. People work from home, cars, hotels, and just about anywhere in increasing numbers. The tools that connect us, and how we use them, are limited only by our imaginations. This ability to connect from anywhere with anyone is now part of our social fabric. This affects every facet of our lives. Thanks to these technologies, the norms governing how we interact with coworkers, friends, family and society are also changing. The Pajama Effect has altered the expectations and approaches that came with us from the industrial age. There are conscious and unconscious elements at play in the virtual world. It is quite possible for virtual workers to be more productive, more relaxed and more in control of their lives but it is also possible for the exact opposite to occur. It all depends olƒ