Consider this common scenario: It’s early Monday morning and we do a final check of the stuff we have in our bag: car keys, wallet, mobile phone.
On our way to work, in the midst of the traffic buildup, we glance at our phone to check for missed calls and text messages.
As we settle down on our desks piled with work left over from the previous week, we place our mobile phones in a special corner so we can glance at the screen every so often.
As the day progresses, we use the device to answer text messages and voice calls.
An emergency meeting comes up and what do we bring with us in the conference room? The mobile phone on silent mode.
The mobile phone has become such an integral part of our lives.
To find out how the cellular phone has indeed affected our lives in the workplace, the Ateneo Center for Organization Research and Development carried out a study asking survey respondents work-related questions regarding its usage, function and cost.
Mobile phone use at work
A total of 169 readers responded to the survey. Of the respondents, more than half (64 percent) said that the cellular phone is sometimes useful for the kind of work they do, 24 percent admitted that they cannot work without one, 9 percent responded that they can work fine without the cellular phone.
Only 3 percent mentioned that cell phones distract them from work related duties.
The majority of respondents (61 percent) said that they entertain business related calls after office hours, and yes, during weekends. A third responded that they only entertain business related calls if there is a sense of urgency.
Company subsidy
Given that a large number of respondents appear to use their phones for work, does the company provide cell phone subsidy?
Three of four responded that they spend for their own use (my phone, my expense). Only 11 percent said that their company provided the phone, less than 9 percent are given allowances for phone expenses and the remaining 7 percent get reimbursed for business related use.
When it comes to cost, half responded that they spend less than P500 on business related phone expenses. A third spend between P500.01 and P1000, around 15 percent use up P1,001.00 to P2,500. The remaining 3.6 percent spend more than P2,500.
The cell phone phenomenon has been an object of interest and wonder for researchers because of its unexpected wide acceptance in Europe and Asia, especially in the Philippines. Why is it such a hit?
First is the cost. Unlike its predecessors that only catered to the rich and famous, this device has become affordable to everyone, regardless of socio-economic status. Second would be its size and mobility. A communication tool that can fit in someone’s pocket and thus, can be carried around anytime and anywhere. Cell phones have compensated for the absence of pay phones and landlines, especially in far-flung areas.
And third, the short messaging service or texting feature has made communication surpass the boundaries of space and time. People no longer have to meet face-to-face to discuss issues and events. With the cellular phone, one carries the power to be connected yet disconnected at the same time.
Caveats
Despite their popularity and functionality, there is a downside to cellphones as well, especially for employees.
Findings show that most organizations do not subsidize cell phone expenses even if the cell phones are used by employees for work-related matters. This means more out-of-pocket expenses for employees who do have cell phones.
Perhaps in the future, cell phone allowances should be included among employee benefits.
In addition, results show that majority of users attend to calls or messages even outside office hours. This may make it more difficult for workers to establish work-life balance.
We have heard horror stories of how bosses call their staff at ungodly hours, making their employees feel they are on-call 24 hours of the day. On the other hand, some employers also complain about intrusion of cell phone during work hours. To prevent this, organizations should consider articulating policies on cell phone use.
Challenge
What is apparent is that the cell phone is both boon and bane. However, like it or not, they are here to stay. What employees and organizations need to do is learn how to maximize its use without letting it disrupt the balance between personal and work life.
(The authors are faculty members of the Ateneo de Manila University. This article is an abridged version of a study published in the Pinoy@Work [ORP, Loyola Schools, ADMU, 2007]. To know more on issues pertaining to technology in the workplace, attend Ateneo CORD’s Trendwatcher series on Nov. 6, 2009. For inquires and reservations, please email ateneocord@admu.edu.ph)
