The purpose of Fishman's article is to persuade you to consider how the workplace can change to support employees' work-life balance. Employees benefit and the employer benefits by having happy and productive employees. Whether you are aware of it or not, you are surrounded with messages that try to convince or persuade you all day long. Whether it is a TV ad for a certain product, an editorial or letter in your local paper, a speech by a politician, or your mom telling you to put on a sweater, these messages bombard you constantly. You, as well, use many techniques in order to convince people to do or think certain things.

Most persuasive communication includes a more definite statement of the author's views and more emotional language than the writing found in "At Work, Less is More." In strong and convincing communication, the basic process at work is logic. Text creators use facts and logical reasoning to get their point across. However, in persuasion, sales, and politics, the basic process at work in convincing someone to think or act in a certain way is called emotional transfer. If text creators can make their audience feel something, especially feel better, then those emotions are a more powerful force than intellectual logic. If people understand that a healthy work-life balance is possible, they are more likely to work towards that goal.

There are many techniques writers or speakers can use when they want you to buy into a particular way of thinking or acting. An understanding of these techniques can help you understand flaws in arguments that are presented to you, and they can help you do a better job of persuading others. Fishman's article may persuade employers to consider changing the working conditions for their employees.