The Right to Disconnect for Public Relations practitioners : possibility or pipe dream?

Abstract

The proliferation of information and communication technologies (ICTs) such as smartphones and laptops for work purposes has given rise to discussion about the use of these technologies to conduct work outside of working hours. While technology confers advantages, some scholars say ICTs make everything seem urgent and tether workers to the office. Several countries have established a Right to Disconnect from ICTs although in Canada, only Ontario has done so to date. This research in progress is part of a doctoral thesis on the experience of technostress of public relations (PR) practitioners; how they resist or emancipate themselves from work technology; and, what this means for PR practitioners and public relations. The Right to Disconnect for public relations practitioners in Canada was examined from the point of view of PR practitioners themselves, who build relationships between organizations and their publics in a 24/7 world. PR Practitioners respond to issues and such crises that are not limited by working hours. Mixed methods research was completed via a survey and semi-structured interviews. Practitioners believe an organization’s views on the Right to Disconnect in PR would depend on several factors – such as the type of organization and whether employees are unionized. They also feel organizations expect and should have some support outside regular hours from their PR team, especially to respond to crises and other urgencies. They suggest the ability to disconnect resides largely in the realm of managerial decisions (such as additional resources and staffing) rather than within the control of practitioners. Some PR practitioners are able to free themselves from work technology after hours through various strategies, for example, turning off notifications. This research adds to existing research on the Right to Disconnect and provides context on the lived experience of PR practitioners.