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FROM CRACKBERRY TO "LAX" BERRY
Yahoo! HotJobs survey uncovers a relaxed attitude toward wireless devices and an increased incidence in user faux pas
SUNNYVALE, Calif. - April 23, 2008 - So long to the days of the "crackberry" curse. No longer are employees stressed by their wireless devices and made to feel harnessed by a corporate e-leash. According to Yahoo! HotJobs' (
http://hotjobs.yahoo.com) annual virtual workplace survey, 37 percent of employees feel more relaxed than stressed when they are connected to work by a wireless device, and another 42 percent are altogether indifferent to their wireless device, feeling neither relaxed nor stressed by it.
Along with the widespread acceptance of wireless devices may come a lapse in proper etiquette. Of those surveyed, 18 percent admit to being reprimanded for having bad manners when it comes to their wireless device. This behavior extends in and out of work with another 39 percent saying that they respond almost instantaneously when they receive a professional email or call outside of business hours.
"The gravity of leaving the house without your wireless device has become synonymous with that of leaving your keys at home, if not worse," explains Tom Musbach, managing editor of Yahoo! HotJobs. "As the wireless device becomes more ubiquitous for personal and professional reasons, many employees develop a psychological need for constant connection. While this connection can be a positive from a professional standpoint, it's important to remember that the use of wireless devices needs to be managed and certain missteps avoided."
Boardroom Security Blanket
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 - leaving employees to choose from where they'd like to work;
- Almost one in three, 28 percent, respondents say that having the freedom of remote access via wireless device helps them work more effectively than when they are in the office; and
- 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.
Disconnect: Wireless Faux Pas
As wireless devices become further cemented into corporate culture, a spectrum of acceptable and unacceptable behavior has emerged:
Inappropriate wireless device etiquette (in order of least to most reprehensible):
- Answering a work call or email during personal time after work hours
- Talking on the phone while in close quarters (i.e. train, plane, bus)
- Talking on the phone while in the bathroom
- Answering the phone or emails while at a business dinner
- Accepting a personal call while in a meeting or presentation
Keep Your Device in Check
Moderation is key. Here are a few tips from Yahoo! HotJobs' Tom Musbach for keeping your wireless device habits within bounds:
- Keep your device on vibrate to avoid interrupting others near your workspace.
- Take personal and any other conversations that might make your coworkers uncomfortable into a conference room or other closed off area to avoid being overheard. Only answer absolutely necessary calls when in close quarters.
- Don't interrupt business meetings or dinners with calls or emails unless it is an emergency.
- Use text messaging and emailing when possible-it's less intrusive.
- Let the person you are communicating with know that you are on a wireless device and that the conversation must be kept brief.
- Some buildings don't allow wireless device use. Adhere to the signs and be respectful of the building's wishes.
For more advice on making your wireless workplace work for you and other tools for managing your career visit Yahoo! HotJobs at
http://hotjobs.yahoo.com.
About the Surveys
Data was collected from more than 1465 currently employed professionals in the United States who use a wireless device to stay connected to work. The survey was distributed via an online survey questionnaire across the Yahoo! and HotJobs networks. Respondents to the survey represent all 50 states. Fifty-four percent of respondents were male and 46 percent were female. The results reflect only the opinions of the professionals who chose to participate.
About Yahoo!
Yahoo! Inc. is a leading global Internet brand and one of the most trafficked Internet destinations worldwide. Yahoo! is focused on powering its communities of users, advertisers, publishers, and developers by creating indispensable experiences built on trust. Yahoo! is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. For more information, visit
pressroom.yahoo.com.
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