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Emails While Commuting 'Should Count as Work', Researchers Say (bbc.com)

Posted by msmash on from the modern-world-work-life-tussle dept.

Commuters are so regularly using travel time for work emails that their journeys should be counted as part of the working day, researchers say. From a report: Wider access to wi-fi on trains and the spread of mobile phones has extended the working day, a study from the University of the West of England says. The study examined 5,000 rail passengers on commuter routes into London as wi-fi became more available. "I am a busy mum and I rely on that time," one commuter told researchers. The study, to be presented at the Royal Geographical Society on Thursday, found that 54% of commuters using the train's wi-fi were sending work emails. Others were using their own mobile phone connections for work emails.

3 of 130 comments (clear)

  1. Why wouldn't it be counted as work? by dfn5 · · Score: 5, Funny

    But more importantly, what difference does it make? Who gets paid for every hour of work worked? So it means I work 70 hours in a week instead of 60. I'm still only getting paid for 40.

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    -- Thou hast strayed far from the path of the Avatar.
  2. Re:Researchers Say! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The research results boils down to establishing that "work" is work. Great conclusion indeed.

    Research time would be better spent trying to establish why employees would want to work while commuting knowing they won't be compensated for that.

  3. Cynical answer... by sjbe · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Here's my hypothesis: Wage increases and job security.

    An old axiom about why buy the cow when you get the milf for free comes to mind...

    Guess which one gets the raise. Guess who gets laid off when business is slow.

    My guess would be neither and both respectively.