Widespread Use of Wireless Devices Not Creating Anxiety, Survey Finds

A few weeks ago on this blog, I discussed taking a real vacation and allow yourself to disconnect. I found this article from wwj.com and found it relevant.

Source - http://www.wwj.com/Widespread-Use-of-Wireless-Devices-Not-Creating-An/2128632

Does being “too connected” to your boss, colleagues, spouse and others stress you out? Or is your wireless device your lifeline?

A recent survey finds that, for many people, the electronic leash is actually comforting and being out of touch is what really makes them crazy.

According to the Yahoo! HotJobs annual virtual workplace survey, 37 percent of employees feel more relaxed than stressed when they are connected to work by a wireless device. Another 42 percent of those surveyed are altogether indifferent to their wireless devices, feeling neither relaxed nor stressed by them.

With 38 percent of respondents describing their wireless device as a necessity, these gadgets have become exponentially more integrated into workplace culture:

• The majority, 55 percent, of respondents use more than one wireless device to stay connected when outside of work.
• More than half, 55 percent, of respondents say that their office supports a virtual workplace culture – allowing employees to choose from where they'd like to work.
• Twenty-eight percent, of respondents say that having the freedom of remote access via a wireless device helps them work more effectively than when they are in the office.
• Almost one quarter of survey respondents admit to only putting their wireless device down when they are sleeping, and only 5 percent of respondents admit to being 100 percent offline when not in the office – down from 8 percent last year.

What are your thoughts on the article and the gift and curse of being connected 24x7?

Comments

[Stephen Bowers]

Funny . . .
. . . I just spent a week visiting my daughter in a small (tiny) town in North Carolina where "The Network" was absent. I rarely got any signal "bars" on my cellphone.
What a relaxing week it was!