retailworld
27-02-2007, 10:36
Trains are increasingly being used as mobile offices, freeing up more of employees' time and improving work-life balance, according to a report in the Sheffield Star.
Researchers at the University of Sheffield discovered that improvements in communication technology are changing how workers manage travel, demonstrating that many people use train travel as an important part of their working day.
Out of the 350 business travellers surveyed, most tend to travel alone and carry out independent tasks, such as reading through documents and typing up reports. Laptops are used quite frequently by 38% of commuters, but using a pen and paper is still the favourite method.
Mobile phones are found to be unpopular on trains, with the majority of respondents commenting that they did not like using them, either due to signal constraints, not wanting to disturb others, or the fact that people can listen in.
Some people said they routinely leave work early and use the train journey as work time, while others leave early on a Friday because they say working on the train helps them get ahead.
Dr Carolyn Axell, of the University of Sheffield, said: "The findings reveal that working on trains impacts people's work-life balance, as they can use their travel time constructively which can save them from having to work in the evening or weekend, or at least take the pressure off.”
[Source: Business Link 27th February 2007]
Researchers at the University of Sheffield discovered that improvements in communication technology are changing how workers manage travel, demonstrating that many people use train travel as an important part of their working day.
Out of the 350 business travellers surveyed, most tend to travel alone and carry out independent tasks, such as reading through documents and typing up reports. Laptops are used quite frequently by 38% of commuters, but using a pen and paper is still the favourite method.
Mobile phones are found to be unpopular on trains, with the majority of respondents commenting that they did not like using them, either due to signal constraints, not wanting to disturb others, or the fact that people can listen in.
Some people said they routinely leave work early and use the train journey as work time, while others leave early on a Friday because they say working on the train helps them get ahead.
Dr Carolyn Axell, of the University of Sheffield, said: "The findings reveal that working on trains impacts people's work-life balance, as they can use their travel time constructively which can save them from having to work in the evening or weekend, or at least take the pressure off.”
[Source: Business Link 27th February 2007]