'Workaholic' Britain Puts In A Six Day Working Week Says MORI Technology And Toshiba

Survey provides insight into 'Mobile Britain' as UK moves into a wireless world

A nationwide survey from MORI Technology, sponsored by Toshiba, has revealed that mobile computer users work longer hours than the average worker and believe they are more productive. Despite laptop users working an average six day week, the research highlights enthusiasm for flexible working practices, due in part, to the freedom of being able to work anywhere, at any time.

The report, which focused on laptop users in Britain, discovered that:

• Mobility can mean more hours - 44% of working laptop users work 45 hours or more per week (and their average working week is 5.6 hours per week more than the national average of 37.9¹)
• Productivity benefits - 64% believed that their laptop has made them more productive but 28% admit they have worked longer hours since using the technology
• Lack of use - despite having a laptop, 4 out of 10 (39%) laptop users who work never work from home indicating that the benefits of mobile technology are not being utilised
• Inflexible employers - 1 in 4 laptop users (26%) are prevented from working from home more regularly by employers
• Technology not utilised - just over half of laptop users use their PC to access the Internet (54%) and email (57%) and 62% admit to not using all of the functions on their laptop that could be of use to them
• More work not stress - only 1 out of 7 (15%) of laptop users who work felt that having a laptop increases stress

"With an estimated 1632 billion being spent on notebooks in 2001² and with 64% of the adult population using a mobile phone³, we're on the verge of a wireless revolution," said Con Mallon, general manager, marketing at Toshiba UK. "We're still concerned that mobile technology is not being utilised fully. Businesses seem to think that by giving employees a notebook PC and flexi-time that they are a somehow enlightened - we feel that the solution it's more complex than that."

Despite working more hours than average, nearly nine out of ten (88%) laptop users who work say that they believe in working hard and playing hard. Four fifths (81%) say that although they enjoy their work, their private life is more important to them. The majority of laptop users who work are motivated in their jobs - only 57% said they would give up work if they had the money.

"It is the responsibility of businesses to look at their flexible working strategies in a holistic way across the organisation. Our survey shows that, though employees enjoy the flexibility to work out of the office they are still working much longer hours," said Con Mallon. "Better hours should not equate to longer hours. It's the responsibility of Toshiba as a mobile innovator and other vendors to outline sensible best practice for businesses, and their employees, in using their technology."

Toshiba has today published a Flexibility Manifesto, a document giving practical advice to businesses as they enter the wireless world. The manifesto provides simple guidelines, backed by industry research, to help businesses improve working practices covering training, transportation, health and safety and HR policy. The manifesto is supported by the Institute of Management (IoM), HOP Associates, a leading flexible working company and the National Society for Clean Air (NSCA).

Laptop users who work are positive about the mobile revolution. 70% agree that developments in mobile technology will offer them more freedom in their working lives. The report also shows that workers with laptops believe they are effective at managing their time and balancing work and home life. Only 20% said that they found it more difficult to separate home and work life since getting their laptop and only 10% felt they were 'too dependent' on their laptop.

Commenting on the survey, Mary Chapman, director general of the Institute of Management (IM), Britain's leading organisation for professional managers, said: "These findings tally with our own research on work/home balance. In our latest annual Quality of Working Life report - published on 1st February, 2001 - the number of executives who saw their home life as more important than work grew from a quarter to nearly a third over the past four years. The fact that many of them are still working even when at home - with their laptops and their mobile 'phones - indicates a desire to reduce the long hours spent at the office away from their families."

Peter Hutton from MORI Technology said: "It is clear that workers with laptops enjoy the flexibility of being able to work where and when it suits them. There is a significant minority who have worked longer hours since getting their laptop, but most find that laptops do not intrude on their home life."

Professor Richard Scase, one of Europe's leading business forecasters and author of 'Britain in 2010: the Changing Business Landscape', said: "We are beginning to see a big change in the attitude of corporate leaders to remote working. More of them now recognise the cost savings and the productivity gains to be gained from encouraging their employees to work from home. As family life styles become more flexible with both partners in careers and sharing the child rearing responsibilities, both men and women expect their employers to recognise the need for flexible working practices. The outcome is that remote workers are more productive, more capable of putting in longer working hours at home but, at the same time, experiencing less stress than their desk-bound colleagues."

Richard Mills, Secretary General of National Society for Clean Air (NSCA) said: "The innovative use of mobile technology has the potential to offer significant environmental benefits. The reduction in the number of work trips associated with home working, particularly at peak times, will mean lower vehicle emissions and improvements in air quality in our town and cities. Mobile workers who spend less time in congested traffic will also be exposed to reduced amounts of air pollution. Mobile technology means your office travels with you, and employers should encourage travel by train, where work can be done, rather than by car, where it cannot."

Bob Crichton, managing director of HOP Associates, a flexible working consultancy, added "Working at an office desk involves, for many people, a long and costly commute journey. In our experience, the freedom of staff to work wherever and whenever is most effective and can improve productivity and give people more time with their families. However this does not happen automatically. Employers need to adapt their business processes, management cultures and working practices to take full advantage of the opportunities presented by mobile technology. Those that do will be rewarded by a more productive and motivated workforce."

The study, conducted by MORI Technology in August 2000, surveyed 300 laptop users to provide an insight into the trends developing in 'Mobile Britain'. Details of the research report, titled Choose Freedom, and the Flexibility Manifesto are available from the Toshiba website at www.toshiba.co.uk/computers or from Bite Communications on 020-8741 1123.

1. Labour Force Survey, Spring 2000
2. Dataquest, March 2000
3. MORI Technology Tracker, January 2001

Technical details

MORI Technology was commissioned by Toshiba to conduct a study among laptop users in Britain. 300 interviews were conducted by telephone between 17 - 30 August 2000. Data have been weighted to match known population profile.