Is a Virtual Workplace Blurring Your Personal Reality?

April 4, 2007; 06:39 AM
As more Americans use wireless devices like laptops, mobile phones and smartphones to stay connected, the line between personal time and professional time is increasingly blurred. According to new data from Yahoo! HotJobs, 75 percent of respondents say that they use their wireless device equally for both work and personal purposes. In fact, only 8 percent report that they are completely offline when away from the office and 27 percent admit to being so attached to their wireless device, they only leave it alone when they’re sleeping.

“Wireless devices are powerful communications tools,” says Susan Vobejda, vice president of marketing at Yahoo! HotJobs. “While they were intended to provide convenience and flexibility for workers’ lives, they have changed the physical parameters of the workplace and extended the work day. Professionals can work from anywhere and connect at any time.”

Nearly half (47 percent) of the professionals surveyed reported that they volunteered their “virtual” accessibility for work purposes with little external influence. Eighty-one percent stay in touch with a mobile phone, 65 percent use a laptop and a growing 19 percent have adopted smartphones – full-featured mobile phones with personal computer-like functionality.

Footloose and Fancy-Free

The wide acceptance and flexibility that wireless devices offer may be attributed to the notion that these tools can enhance a professional’s work-life balance. Of survey respondents:

• The majority (61 percent) agree that wireless devices make them feel like they have more freedom;
• Sixty-five percent say wireless devices allow them to work remotely and have a more flexible schedule;
• Almost half (48 percent) report that wireless devices allow them to spend more time with family and friends; and
• An overwhelming 70 percent agree that they are more productive thanks to a wireless device.

Ball and Chain

While the majority of survey respondents had favorable reactions to the value wireless devices offer, they also expressed the challenges of remaining constantly connected:

• A quarter (26 percent) of respondents feel that wireless devices keep them on a permanent corporate leash;
• Twenty-three percent say that they are easily distracted by work-related emails and calls during personal time; and
• A third (33 percent) find it more difficult to get their point across through electronic communication than a live conversation.

“Wireless devices have become a professional reality,” continues Vobejda, “so it’s important for people to set limits on when and how to disengage in order to maintain work-life balance. With 67 percent of respondents admitting to having used a wireless device to connect with work while on vacation, signs indicate that the American workforce may be facing burnout.”

Work Your Virtual Workplace

Since wireless devices can sometimes make it difficult to maintain a balance between personal and professional time, it’s important to take proactive measures to control your wireless office and make it work for you:

• Don’t be afraid to say no: Sometimes being accessible to work via wireless devices makes it hard to say no to activities that may fall outside the scope of job requirements or a client relationship. Draw the line when necessary.
• Speak up: Tell your boss if you feel you are overworked. Discuss options for making your workload more manageable and drawing a line between work hours and personal hours.
• Prioritize: It’s easy to get caught up in the little things when your personal digital assistant (PDA) buzzes every time you get a new email. Set your priorities and then stick to them. Only answer emails related to the task at hand until it’s time to move on to your next priority.
• Don’t overbook: Don’t be a hero. Be realistic about how long an activity will take and then try to stick to your schedule.
• Plan fun and relaxation: Since you use a wireless device to help you schedule work activities, why not use it to help you schedule some free time for yourself.

Employees can visit the Yahoo! HotJobs Career Advice section at (http://hotjobs.yahoo.com) for additional tips on how to balance their work and personal lives. They can also use the newly integrated Yahoo! Answers tool to share advice with other busy workers on how they stay balanced.

About the Survey

Data was collected from more than 900 office professionals who use wireless devices via an online survey questionnaire across the Yahoo! network. Respondents to the survey represent all 50 states. Sixty-five percent of respondents were male and thirty-five percent were female. The results reflect only the opinions of the professionals who chose to participate.

About Yahoo! HotJobs

As a leader in the online recruiting industry, Yahoo! HotJobs (http://hotjobs.yahoo.com) has revolutionized the way people manage their careers and the way companies hire talent. Yahoo! HotJobs' tools and advice put job seekers in control of their careers and make it easier and more cost-effective for employers and staffing firms to find qualified candidates. In addition to its popular consumer job board, Yahoo! HotJobs provides employers, recruiters, and staffing agencies with progressive recruiting solutions.