Camelot
has ended its experiment of e-mail-free Fridays because some parts of the
business found it impractical.
The
three-month trial, which finished in June, was designed to encourage staff to
speak to each other rather than rely on electronic communication.
At
least two-thirds of Camelot’s 850 employees participated in the e-mail ban,
which was discontinued after the firm’s staff-elected forum reviewed the
project.
Steve
Thompson, Camelot’s HR director, explained, “We found that it wasn’t really feasible
for staff in the call centre part of our business as they have to have certain
things recorded to leave an audit trail behind.”
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Camelot
removed the e-mail ban on Fridays but the company is looking at other
initiatives to promote communications within the office, including "chill-out"
zones, more open-plan offices and reviewing working practices.
