It is a
well-accepted fact that technology impacts nearly all
facets of our lives. New research from the PewResearch Center posits the idea that technology, namely the Internet and
cell phones, have transformed the American workforce. For most American workers,
“…life on the job means life online.”
Through use
of an online survey, data was gathered via a sample of working Americans who
answered questions regarding the role of technology in their work. One of the
main findings of the survey was that technology has changed the ways American
workers communicate. E-mail has become the primary method of communication, in
spite of the potential threats of spam, hacking, and phishing.
Although
many people assume that technology may prove a distraction to workers, just 7%
of workers feel their productivity has dropped because of the internet, e-mail
and cell phones. In fact, 46% of workers say they feel more productive through
the use of technology.
As a result
of the prevalence of the use of the internet and e-mail, employers find
themselves adapting to changing times as well. 46% of those surveyed mentioned
their employers blocking access to certain websites and limiting what content their
employees are allowed to post online. Despite this change in the rules
surrounding the use of the internet, it is interesting to note that these rules
appear to apply more to those in Office-Based positions. In contrast, among
those employed in service, skilled and semi-skilled positions, many workers
reported not being sure if employers controlled website access or enforced
rules about what workers are allowed to do online.
How has
technology changed your workplace?
How
do we decide the “rules” surrounding the use of technology in the workplace?
Is e-mail a tool to facilitate communication or a block to authentic connection at work?
Is e-mail a tool to facilitate communication or a block to authentic connection at work?
