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Mobile Workers Work Longer Hours

Posted by timothy on from the but-the-commute-is-great dept.

Qedward writes "Last month it was reported on slashdot that a third of workers at a British telecoms company were 'more productive' working from home during a telecommuting experiment to prepare for the London 2012 Olympics. A more recent study reveals almost two-thirds of mobile employees say they are working 50+ and 60+ hour weeks, with most also working weekends. It also has security implications, with most mobile workers saying they will do anything to get an internet connection, including hijacking unsecure networks. The problem of needing a connection has also led to an increase in workers waking up through the night due to stress."

6 of 117 comments (clear)

  1. What? by war4peace · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "The problem of needing a connection has also led to an increase in workers waking up through the night due to stress."
    Seriously?
    What in the world is this shit? How can someone even attempt to work from home without a solid Internet connection and with no secure method of connecting to the company network? And waking up in the middle of the night because you need a connection to the fucking internet? Man, what a mess we're living in. And I thought I was messed up.
    Just get a fucking solid Internet connection. Surely one could afford it, I mean come on...

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    ...gis sdrawkcab (usually not responding to ACs; don't bother posting as AC)
    1. Re:What? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Even ignoring the connection thing, stress while working from home is a problem. The work is with you all day long and you feel pressured to keep whittling away at it, making relaxation difficult.

    2. Re:What? by dark12222000 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Some people, myself included, can switch "work mode" on and off effectively. It's also at times useful to be able to pick at problems, especially stubborn ones.

      Obviously, your mileage will vary. Working from home isn't for everyone - some people concentrate better at work, some people can't stop working if they work from home, so on, but for some, it's quite advantageous.

  2. "Employees say..." by bryan1945 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Yeah, and I have Bigfoot doing all the server backups. You expect them to say they are doing less work? Or even the same amount of work? No confirmation from their companies on whether the company saw an increase in productivity?
    Now before everyone gets flippy, I have known some people who did the mobile thing and were more productive, mostly because they didn't have people interrupting them every 5 minutes, and actually liked working more (as in hours) that way because it was more enjoyable. I also have known people that did their work in 3 hours and played games the rest of the day (also maybe because they could do 8 hours in 3 because of less distractions.

    Main point- employees are never going to say anything bad about work out of the office.

    --
    Vote monkeys into Congress. They are cheaper and more trustworthy.
  3. They may work more hours, and more productively, by pecosdave · · Score: 5, Insightful

    But having commuted for five hours a day in the past, and worked from home on other occasions, I would much rather work nine hours at home than work for eight in the office with even one hour of commuting.

    Fuel, tires, collisions, stress, bus fair, everything associated with commuting sucks. I would much rather talk on the phone and fill out my work logs in my underwear than that.

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  4. Doubt they work longer... by rgbrenner · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Worked from home for the past 10 years...

    I have no doubt they say they work longer... but it's more likely they just feel like they are working longer.

    With no separation between work and home, it can feel like you are always working, even when you're not. And that is what keeps them up at night.. the stress from never being able to wind-down.