Interview with Dr. Carolyn Axtell – Dark side of mobile working
Tuesday, December 13th, 2011 Karen Ambrose Hickey, EditorAfter their presentation about mobile “over-workers,” we caught up with Dr. Carolyn Axtell, Institute of Work Psychology, The University of Sheffield and Barbara Nelson, CTO of iPass.
Their presentation at GigaOM NetWork, Remote Over-Workers: Stressed and Alone, discussed a new paper that Dr. Axtell has written on the Well-Being of the Mobile Workforce.
This interview discusses the “dark side” of mobile working, the benefit of ubiquitous connectivity, the value of social network tools, and why picking up the phone still works.
Highlights from the interview:
Tags: mobile workforce, Reports
- The main downside of mobile working is “too much of a good thing.” You can use your dead time, creating good opportunities for work, reducing stress. But, this goes too far when connected time moves into leisure and family time.
- Ubiquitous connectivity allows mobile workers to juggle work wherever – and get connected whenever. Less work can be done while disconnected.
- Value of Facebook in the workplace: For mobile employees, working alone, social networks could be a way to stay in touch with colleagues and friends
- Richer media, such as phone, Skype, or face-to face, provides shared understandings. These tools give “hallway conversations” to strengthen peer relationships.
