Survey findings identify counter-productive and unsafe digital behaviors in the workplace
TRUCE Software, the global leader in contextual mobile device management technology, today announced its survey results timed to National Day of Unplugging that confirm a ‘tug of war’ between employees and their mobile devices. These hand-held devices can be leveraged to improve employee productivity and safety but can also create workplace distractions and safety risks – a dynamic that is easily blurred.
“The majority of respondents (89%) admit they put their phone on silent mode at various times throughout the workday just to minimize the interruptions,” said Joe Boyle, CEO, TRUCE Software. “While this is a promising statistic, the challenge to keep distractions at bay is exacerbated with more than 80% of respondents admitting they have some level of automated alerts set up on their phones, sending them alerts throughout the day – many of which are non-work-related.”
To coincide with National Day of Unplugging, an annual call to take a 24-hour technology break, TRUCE Software surveyed 1,500 employees across varying occupations nationwide to gauge how smart devices are influencing their workday. In addition to the above findings, the survey identified both counter-productive and unsafe behaviors regarding mobile device usage on the job, including:
- Lingering in the car, the restroom or taking an extended break to finish reading or watching something on a phone before returning to work (57%).
- Taking work-related calls while driving to or from work (51%).
- Hiding a phone while in a meeting to continue to check messages or text with a coworker (24%).
- Tripping, bumping into something or someone, or experiencing another embarrassing misstep while looking at a phone (18%).
“The extent to which we are tied to our devices, all day, at work and at home is the reason behind a holiday like National Day of Unplugging,” continued Boyle. “Employees and their employers are struggling with this seemingly never-ending clash between the need to stay connected and the need to get things done. At TRUCE, we’re helping companies of all sizes solve that conflict by providing a platform to manage the safe and productive use of mobile devices when and where it’s needed.”
To enhance effective mobile device policies, TRUCE Software’s Contextual Mobile Device Management platform automatically adjusts access to mobile apps and features based on a given work environment and additional contextual indicators. Employers can utilize CMDM to proactively eliminate device distractions within corporate offices, industrial settings, construction jobsites or when driving – all without compromising employee productivity. Simply put, TRUCE Software takes the guesswork out of whether employees are using their phone at the right time and right place during the workday. Best of all, the platform works only when needed and does not affect an employee’s mobile device outside of designated zones or on their personal time.
To learn more about National Day of Unplugging, TRUCE Software and to download the infographic, visit: https://trucesoftware.com/unplug/.
Methodology
A nine-question survey was fielded to U.S. respondents between Jan. 31, 2020 and Feb. 2, 2020. During this time, 1,502 responses were captured. Results of any sample are subject to sampling variation.