Technology Hinders Relaxation

Whilst it is widely recognised that technology has benefited society and eased many time-hungry activities like vacuuming and washing up, newer technological advances can be perceived as a double-edged sword.

Modern communications, for instance, mean that many people can now work at home, in remote offices or even from their cars.  However, it also means that many people are never able to totally divorce themselves from the office whilst on holidays.

New research by VCCP digital, an advertising agency specialising in the digital field, has found that 65% of people receive at least one phone call from their office or work during a week's holiday; whilst as many as 17% receive, on average, a call a day.

Steve Vranakis of VCCP digital says: "Modern communications are fantastic and have changed the whole business landscape, freeing people from being tied to the office.  Yet, people need time to relax and recharge themselves and holidays really should be sacrosanct, with as few interruptions as possible."

Over 9,000 people are asked to fly home each year during their holidays to attend to work commitments, 95% of these are unplanned returns and done at the last minute, most of the requests are made by mobile phones, but 13% by emails to PDA (Personal Digital Assistant).

21% of holiday makers use the internet whilst away with 12% of the thousand people interviewed admitting to using it everyday; 65% of use is for business.

19% of holiday makers phone the office from the airport, this figure would rise to 42% if the majority of holiday flights did not depart on a weekend.  Vranakis says: "Modern technology can sometimes be abused by the user.  It is often the user who is to blame not the technology."

59% of those interviewed who phoned work admitted that being constantly in touch with the office did not effect the out come of any situation and that others in the office could handle the work as well.  Vranakis says: "Sometimes people are too obsessed with their own self importance; using only a modicum of initiative their colleagues could handle the situation perfectly well."

The average amount of time people spend working on holiday is now four hours over a week long period, this is a dramatic increase over the last fifteen years, when interruptions were minimal.

Of those interviewed 16% cancelled an excursion, whilst on holiday, to attend to work matters.

The most popular places from which to phone the office are: beach 25%; golf course 20% (although most courses have a rule to turn mobiles off!); poolside 16%; hotel room 15%; restaurant 12%; others 12%.

However, 65% of holiday makers expressed annoyance of having to listen to other people's business conversations whilst in these locations.  Vranakis says: "People should be considerate when talking business on a mobile phone whilst in certain holiday oriented locations; obviously using a PDA's email capabilities and texting is less intrusive."

Vranakis concludes: "A holiday is meant to be a break from the humdrum of modern life.   We are contactable 24/7 these days.  Mobile phones and the internet have made work life easier, faster and more efficient, but there is a time to just chill out.  So whilst a mobile is great to talk to friends and family when on holiday it may be best to leave office work until you return."

20 August 2007