Britain's deskbound workforce is becoming increasingly
uncommunicative and unhealthy with mobile technology an answer to
the problem, according to a new study.
Performance consulting firm HB Maynard said forcing end-users to
get out their chairs and talk to people could lift depression and
motivate people to higher levels of productivity.
Modern deskbound, immobilised workers are less healthy, more
prone to injury and less motivated, according to the study. Exactly
half of all office workers feel they are chained to their desks and
80% of those interviewed felt that their health and productivity
could improve if they were allowed to be more mobile.
We are currently allowing technology to demotivate people,
commented Philippe Vanhoutte, managing director of Plantronics,
which commissioned the study.
"Older workers are complaining about the longer hours they have
to work, while younger workers want technology to be more suited to
their working practises," he said.
In controlled testing over an eight day period, workers were
given headsets and asked to make phone calls rather than
communicate by e-mail. They were encouraged to move around the
office as much as possible and make calls on the go.
According to the study, workers reported higher morale, lower
fatigue levels and fewer phone-related physical complaints.
A University of Surrey study recently found that headset users
suffer 31% less neck pain and are 16% less likely to suffer lower
back pain.