Employees today are under enormous
pressure to be "online" 24 hours a day, which is driving them to risky
behaviors and underscoring the importance of email reliability and
availability for businesses, according to a new study conducted by
Osterman Research and commissioned by Neverfail.
The report,
"Mobile Messaging Marketing Trends," finds that worry over being
available during non-work hours has led employees to email addiction,
causing them to take unnecessary risks with their health, their
relationships, and even the welfare of others.
Email Addiction and Unnecessary Risks
Underscoring the reliance on 24x7 email reliability and the intense
addiction employees have developed, mobile device users admit to
engaging in risky or inappropriate behavior to access and respond to
email during off hours. This behavior is greatly affecting employees'
work-life balance, potentially leading to problems with their health
and general well-being. A staggering 94 percent of end user respondents
use their phones to send email or text messages during work nights or
on the weekends, and nearly 80 percent never leave their phones at home
when they go on vacation.
Em
ployees are also taking risks with their relationships to remain
connected, with 11 percent admitting to sending email messages while
engaged in "intimate behavior." Email addiction has driven people to
send messages from their mobile phones from just about anywhere,
including in some dangerous and just plain bizarre scenarios or
locations:
- 40 percent while on commercial flights when the plane is in the air
- 77 percent while driving when the car is moving
- 79 percent while in the bathroom
"The study uncovered a constant pressure for employees to be available
at all times through their mobile devices. This will only worsen with
the economic downturn as employees take on more responsibility because
of budget and headcount reductions," said Michael Osterman, president
of Osterman Research. "The resulting addiction to email is driving
people to unnecessary and sometimes dangerous risks."
Email Reliability Affects Productivity
Osterman Research also surveyed IT directors, managers and CIOs across
a broad range of industries to explore what's at stake for companies
with an increasing mobile workforce relying on mobile devices to
conduct business. The prevalence of mobile device usage has created an
unprecedented need for email reliability because unexpected downtime
has major business implications. Eighty percent of respondents believe
their senior manager's ability to make critical, time-sensitive
decisions would be affected without access to mobile e-il.
Forty-eight percent indicate that backing up mobile data is important
or very important, yet only 39 percent are confident that their mobile
messaging platform is fully protected against downtime.
"The study shows that while IT is aware of the possible risks
associated with mobile devices, not all companies are taking the proper
precautions to protect their businesses and employees," said Andrew
Barnes, senior vice president of corporate development at Neverfail.
"Email downtime puts further pressure on employees as they try to catch
up with lost hours. It's important that organizations make every effort
to avoid email downtime for the sake of their business, and the health
of their employees. Having a predictive, business continuity solution
in place puts companies on the right path to avoiding downtime and
maintaining business operations in the event it does happen."
For an executive summary of "Mobile Messaging Market Trends 2008-2011"
by Osterman Research sponsored by Neverfail, please visit www.neverfailgroup.com/osterman or contact Neverfail at info@us.neverfailgroup.com.