Vodafone survey reveals stress over email

I just read a fascinating bit of research that Vodafone (NYSE: VOD) had commissioned regarding the impact that email has on (UK) businesses. To mak no bones about it, the reason that Vodafone sponsored the research is because they want to push their mobile email as a solution for the issues that were found – but aside from that, the summary data itself makes for interesting reading.

The first stat(s) that struck me were that a third of UK businesses continue to expect an email response to their new business enquiries within two hours – more alarmingly however is the growing number of businesses (up 11% on 2007) where patience levels are wearing even thinner – expecting a reply to their enquiry by email in half an hour!

A shocking (but perhaps not surprising) pair of figures, I am sure you might agree. Certainly in the conversations that I have had with many colleagues, email is variously seen as either an essential tool, or the bain of some peoples’ lives! Moreover though, as email is still pretty much a “fire and forget” medium (i.e. often you won’t know if your email has reached the recipient, or, if they have read it), then expecting a response within a couple of hours might be a tad bit much!

Lack of access to email (and here comes the mobility bit) is cited as a reason for stress and anxiety in the workplace – more than a third (36%) of UK workers are aware of occasions where lack of access to email, whilst on the move, has caused unnecessary stress and conflict in the workplace, rising to 48% for those working in London.

I am sure many of us have had those situations where you have had a call asking why you haven’t replied to (or seen) something on email, despite the fact the person you know is aware you are travelling! I wonder whether these people are also the ones stabbing away at their “Mobile Email Devices” whilst lying in bed at 2 in the morning!

Anyhow, there were some other stat highlights, so I pulled a couple for you:

• Mobile Email for the Masses – 42% of all workers now say they need to be able to access and respond to emails when away from the office during work hours, simply to keep the wheels of business turning
• Mobile Email as Stress Solution – Three out of ten workers suffer stress when encountering a very full inbox upon returning from meetings – rising to more than a third of younger workers, while 17% feel anxious when they are ‘offline’
• Time critical – 35% of the workforce also feel that the absence of mobile email access or availability leads to wasted time (such as in between meetings or travelling to events). The average time wasted across a typical working month equates to 4 working days per month – 31hrs a month – (or a fifth of the working month)

I am glad it was recognised that returing to a “full inbox” can cause stress, as for those of us that work in IT know, coming back from perhaps a holiday and finding 500+ email in your inbox really doesn’t make for a relaxed start to work!

[Via: 3G.co.uk]