SLunionisland » In the news

Dress codes for virtual workers

Johninnit Ni — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:41:58 +0000

We’re having enough controversy with RL dress codes after a motion to the TUC’s conference called on employers to stop mandating their female staff to wear high heels, even if it might cause them health concerns. But it seems that could be pretty tame now compared to virtual world avatar dress codes!

IT analysts Gartner have predicted (on what evidence I’m not entirely sure) that by 2013, 70% of employers will have dress codes for their staff when in avatar form. This does sound pretty likely I guess. People want to make their avatars into extensions of themselves – possibly as augmentations or fantasies based around their self-image and feelings. As people start to work more and more in virtual worlds, issues of how they represent their (possibly squeamish) employer with clients are likely to arise.

I remember several tech firms making people turn down more unusual avatars whilst at work years ago, but there are going to be issues when people feel comfortable online in a certain way, potentially happier, liberated and more natural – will the company that insists on a grey suit and flexi-prim tie be helping employees feel as confident and connected to their work as they might by giving their employees the leeway?

Have you been told to take off the spacesuit in meetings, keep the Gor gear to the back office, or even just to turn down the bling on your Blackberry?

Union Island comes to the TUC

admin — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 11:28:54 +0000

It’s the UK union movement’s annual convention this week, in Brighton on the UK’s south coast. TUC Congress is the policy making body for the Trade Union Congress, and sets the priorities for the union movement’s work over the coming year.

This year, there’s a focus on online organising, with a fringe meeting on Web 2.0 and unions, promotions for new communities for different groups of union stakeholders (including Union Island), and a makeover for the Congress Guide – the magazine format programme of business that all attendees use.

We were able to stage a little photoshoot on Union Plaza. The buildings designed for us by Matthaios Aquacade of Citrus Virtual make a very nice backdrop, but the stars are some of our users – Many thanks to our glamorous models for helping out!

The final frontier?

Unionisland Republic — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 12:20:48 +0000

Nice article from Union Island partner union Unison, who have written a round-up of new web techniques being used by unions around the UK and in other countries. You can read “Cyberspace – the final frontier” at the Unison site here.

Also for our Japanese readers, here’s an article on our Tanabata action from Japanese SL news service The Second Times.

May Day in the news

Unionisland Republic — Thu, 01 May 2008 13:21:32 +0000

A nice bunch of mentions in the blogosphere about us. Here are some of the sites and blogs talking about Virtual May Day.

Blog roundup

Johninnit Ni — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 12:10:38 +0000

Here are some links to a couple of the blogs that have picked up on what we’re doing, and written about it so far:

International Unions Organize in Second Life: New World Notes – one of the most established and interesting blogs on Second Life (definitely a recommended read!)
Unions plan their own place in the virtual world: XpertHR - UK human resources blog with a lot of experience of union matters
A second life for trade unions?: Workblogging - a UK academic leading some innovative research into blogging and work issues
SL Unions, unión de sindicatos en Second Life: Tecnolives - Spanish language Second Life blog