Take the day off... from email

There was a great piece on NPR Friday morning about how U.S. Cellular, a company based in Chicago, has instituted email-free Fridays.

According to one veep at the company, the staff loves it--even those who initially balked or said it would never work. Not only do employees get more work done, they actually are forced to--gasp!--talk to each other on the phone or in person when they have a question or contribution to a project in progress.

One exec even recounted calling up a colleague and being shocked at the discovery that the two were in the same building, on the same floor, and yes, even a few offices down the hall from each other.

Kind of makes you pine for the good old days, back when workers stepped away from their monitors every few hours, doesn't it?

Freelance writer Michelle Goodman is the author of "My So-Called Freelance Life" and "The Anti 9-to-5 Guide." E-mail her at ninetothrive@nwjobs.com.