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Pew Survey: Tech Increases Productivity, But Also Time Spent Working
An anonymous reader writes: A survey of American workers conducted by the Pew Research Center found that email was their most indispensable tool, topping even broad access to the internet. 46% of workers say their productivity has increased thanks to email, the internet, and cell phones, while only 7% say those technologies have caused it to decrease. While many workers say technology has created a more flexible work schedule, they also say it has increased the total amount of hours they spend working. Almost half of the surveyed employees say their employer either forbids or explicitly blocks access to certain websites at the office. How have these technologies affected your work environment?
Email is an anathema. It sucks the life blood out of creativity, focus, and productivity. Unless you are in a job that is all about processing a series of tasks there is no way you could think email increases your productivity.
Not a reasonable expectation, and to "remember" someone for not responding to an email that could wait until the next day is beyond draconian.
People have lives that start at the close of business. Yes, yes, I realise that for some people, there is no close of business, but I have told every boss I've ever worked for that when I walk out the door, I'm unemployed until I walk back in the following work day. I do not give out my personal mobile number to colleagues, only to the boss -- on the understand it's for emergency use only. I don't want to be "online" at all hours as I've got a family, and they come first. Work for me is a means to make money and do something I find relatively interesting -- it's not the be all and end all. I don't live to work -- I work to live. Try it. Get a girlfriend, have a beer, go see the sights with said girl. Getting off the grid is healthy and let's you enjoy life.