Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Shutterstock
Home Office

Should you answer work emails from home? Most employers think so

A new survey has shown that 60 per cent of employers expect workers to check emails outside office hours.

NEW RESEARCH SHOWS that over 60% of employers expect their workforce to check emails outside of office hours.

The survey, which was carried out by Fastnet Recruitment, also revealed that almost three quarters of the working population think that technology has a negative impact on work-life balance.

Surprisingly, the proportion of employers citing the negative impact of technology on free time was higher than that for employees. 82% of bosses said it was disruptive, compared to 68% of employees.

More than eight out of ten employees said that remote email access contributes to longer working hours.

Fastnet managing director Niamh O’Driscoll said that the increasing use of smartphones “means that people are constantly connected, whether in or out of the office and indeed outside office hours”.

Recent moves in France have sought to restrict the use of smartphones for work outside office hours, but a slim majority of Irish workers and 75% of employers would oppose a measure like this.

O’Driscoll added:

“Clearly there is a balance to be struck here. Ireland is lucky enough to be home to a large number of highly successful multinational firms and there is no doubt that the flexibility of our workforce and ease of doing business here has consistently influenced positive FDI decisions.”

“However, these survey results show that technology’s influence on flexibility can just as easily undermine the quest for a work-life balance.”

What do you think? Are smartphones hurting our work-life balance?


Poll Results:

Yes (3455)
No (1345)
Just a second, my boss needs something (414)
No opinion (119)

Read: No emails please, we’re French: France lets people stop checking work email after 6pm>

Read: Average employee spends 56 minutes of working day on social media sites>

Your Voice
Readers Comments
44
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.