Tech update: American employees check work email around the clock

We’re all guilty of it — logging on to the work email while sitting in front of the television on a weeknight, or a few times during the weekend and even while on vacation. Now GFI Software, an email and network security company, has put the email habits of American workers at small and mid-sized businesses into tangible numbers with their survey of 503 employees at such companies.

GFI says it’s clear that email has become a 24/7 cycle. More than 81% of respondents say they check their work email on weekends, 55% check it after 11 p.m. and 59% stay up-to-date with it while on vacation. Sixty-four percent check email during off-hours at least once a day.

“Email has transformed the way we do business globally, but it has also had a fundamental impact on the work/life balance for many employees, especially in smaller organizations where speed of response to orders and queries is critical in retaining a competitive advantage against larger competition,” says Phil Bousfield, general manager of IT operations at GFI Software.

The survey also asked about email habits within the work day. Seventy-six percent of respondents say they respond to emails within one hour during work hours and 32% say they reply even more quickly, within 15 minutes. About 58% say they use email not just for communicating but for storing information so they can retrieve it at a later date.

GFI serves small and mid-sized businesses under 1,000 employees and surveyed people for this poll under the same criteria. GFI offers products for small and mid-sized business owners to help their employees better manage email.

 

Photo: ThinkStock

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