Smartphones are increasingly versatile, often taking on many of the qualities and features that our computers offer us. Not to mention the innovations we see year-on-year. Mobile phones are quickly becoming more integrated with our professional lives – exceeding the singular use of a communication device. However, with this integration and innovation, we’re seeing an increase in how important smartphones are to our working lives. So the question has to be asked: how do we separate the two, and how much do smartphones impact on our ‘work-life’ balance.

The survey revealed that 80% of individuals use their phone in relation to work, whether this is on occasion or with notable frequency. But, of course, the explicit benefits of utilising our smartphones in this capacity are numerous; ever-evolving devices allow us to access and edit work documents from a remote location, communicate with our professional contacts without restriction and additionally provide us with an amendable digital calendar. But what keeps working individuals glued to their smartphone?

The research looked to identify the most prominent functions that prompted individuals to utilise their smartphone for professional purposes. The research found: 33.22% of respondents did so for text messages, 26% frequently accessed their emails, and 25% used their device primarily for calls – demonstrating a stark correlation between communication and professionalism. Somewhat surprisingly, only 4% of respondents most used their device for booking appointments or other such organisational tools – in fact, more individuals claimed that access to social media platforms was of more importance than this. This might indicate that the use of smartphones in the workplace is more vital in day-to-day tasks for those in a tertiary occupation, and less so for those in more manual or traditional sectors.

But our digital preferences are not contained to our contracted working hours alone, indeed ¾ of individuals admitted to checking their smartphone for work purposes whilst enjoying their free time – demonstrating the temptation to blur the professional with the personal.

Find out more: https://www.loveitcoverit.com/always-online-do-smartphones-ruin-a-work-life-balance/

About loveit coverit:
Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, loveit coverit is a trading name of Pier Insurance Managed Services. Providing mobile phone and gadget insurance for almost 30 years, the company has insured over 900,000 devices to-date and all claims are handled by their UK based, in-house team.