Stop the mobile madness. Seriously
Summary: We're spending less time than ever in the office. We're spending more time than ever working.
Scary stuff this morning from my former colleague Ina Fried, who writes of a new survey that shows just how much we're in denial about "not working."
That's right, the Good Technology survey in question is all about mobility, and we worker bees simply cannot put our mobile devices down when we're not at the office.
Your suspicions were right: you're working more than ever, even if you haven't seen your desk in a week.
The average American worker is on the clock, so to speak, to the tune of more than 30 extra hours per month -- that's a month and a half of overtime per year.
All this, just because you decide time and time again that those e-mails and phone calls are worth responding to.
Unsurprisingly, half of workers report that they feel they have no choice in the matter -- it's expected. Frighteningly, half of workers take their phones to bed with them.
(They don't hug back, people.)
More stats to share with your coworkers, via your mobile device, right now:
- 68 percent check their work e-mail before 8 a.m. (7:09 a.m. is the peak time)
- 50 percent check their work email while still in bed.
- 40 percent are still tapping away after 10 p.m.
- 69 percent will not go to sleep without checking their work e-mail.
- 57 percent check work email during family time.
- 38 percent check work email while at the dinner table.
Oy. This is a crisis.
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Talkback
A Few Contributing Factors
Second, the US is transitioning from a job force focusing on the production of goods to one that provides services. When you produce goods, you work where the goods are made, whether that be a farm, an assembly line, a plant or a refinery. When you leave the site, you largely lose you're ability to continue working. When you're a knowledge worker, you don't have the same physical constraints. With connectivity virtually anywhere, you don't HAVE to be at a given location to work. All you need is some type of mobile technology and at least sometimes, Internet connectivity.
Third, it's the economy. Businesses are trying to do more with less, and that includes human resources. During a poor economy, businesses are less inclined to increase the overhead that comes with hiring, so they pay OT to those for which it's required, and even better, "encourage" those who don't require OT pay to work longer hours. For those who have jobs, there's extra incentive to keep employers happy, as there's no guarantee that if you lose your job that you'll find another anytime soon in a poor economy.
Not just poorly performing economies
Last week I went skiing in New Zealand. I was able to keep on top of things in the office and customers via my iPhone. Spending a few hours a day everyone was attended to and no backlog of work when I returned.
For the longest time when I was contracting I avoided a mobile phone, not wanting to be contacted after hours. Management positions are entirely different, smartphones enable a freedom of movement that simply wasn't possible previously - some of us enjoy getting away (physically).
Having been in computers since 1976
Absolutely!
I just enjoy a walk or bicycle ride in the country, with a good book... or a kindle... (can't get away totally!)
Work life balance
One does need to make sure that relaxation and sleep are still regular.
Adi Mishra
CEO
http://lightarrow.com
It is your choice
Just don't open that email box Sunday morning at 8 am, "just say no"