Forget notions of the latest handheld device creating a nation of savvy time managers - 82% of UK workers use portable technology as part of their working life but, for the first time, gizmo technology is now seen to be more of a hindrance than a help.
New research from American Express Insurance Services reveals that 67% of Brits who use portable technology consider it to be a hindrance and one in seven (15%) said that it fills them with dread to be contactable 24/7.
As the lives of British workers continue to become increasingly busy and social lives become increasingly precious, Brits are faced with a work-life juggling act. The fact that workers are able to carry their emails and texts around with them even when they're not in the office means that mobile technology is not necessarily saving time, it is in fact extending the work load. At a time when Britain is among the countries with the longest working hours in Europe, people are increasingly relying on their portable technology to keep up with their agendas 'on the go'. However, this non-stop service is cultivating a nation of workaholics who can't switch off.
The survey carried out by American Express Insurance Services asked a GB representative sample of over 2,000 people how modern mobile technology affected their lives as part of a probe into busy Brit's increasing difficulty to strike the right work-life balance. The results have unveiled people's key gripes with this culture of 24/7.
Key gripes of those who used portable technology:
Over one in seven (15%) people with BlackBerrys said they find it difficult to switch off and 18% claimed it got in the way of their social life.
The research also dashes the stereotype of older people being those cautions of the digital revolution. The backlash is happening with the iPod generation - those that have grown up on the tech curve. Just 34% of 25-34 year olds say the technology is intrusive. The over 55 age group were the most likely to claim technology helped them do their job better the most (37%). This is compared to just 22% of the under 25s.
Chris Rolland, Head of American Express Insurance Services commented: "For busy Brits today there never seem to be enough hours in the day. The use of mobile technology would seem an obvious way to keep up with the increased pace of working but there is evidence of it all too often eating up precious personal time. Understanding these pressures on our customers, we have tailored our approach so people can save time by simply clicking online to get peace of mind."
Posted to the site on 20th March 2008
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