BUSINESS
E-mail burdens cut into holiday getaways
11-07-2003
by
British holidaymakers are finding it increasingly difficult to 'get away,' as more workers are taking their laptops with them when abroad, a new survey says.
According to a British Computer Society (BCS) survey, there has been a 20 percent rise in the number of British executives bringing their laptops on holiday with them. Roughly 15 percent of the executives polled said they tool their portable computers to keep in touch with the office and keep abreast of work-related e-mail.
BCS spokesperson Chris Webb said the results of the survey were surprising. Webb added that according to the BCS research, many of the executives taking their computers away on holiday do so in order to avoid having to cope with a mountain of e-mail upon their return.
The report also said that another 8 percent brought their laptops on holiday to stay in contact with friends and family and to search the Web, particularly for information about amenities and restaurants in the locality, and in connection with use of other technology such as digital cameras.
Nearly half of executives reported spending at least one hour daily dealing with work on their laptops during their holiday. While the survey showed that executives felt more rested after the holiday having kept on top of work e-mail, it did not reveal whether it created problems for the executives with their travel companions and family members. BSC did advice, however, that executives should set aside a fixed time range for working on-line and let clients and customers know that they would only be available during those times.
BCS also recommended that workers use laptops discreetly in public places, because laptops now compete with mobile phones in the overseas theft rankings. The BSC also advises users to ensure the laptop is fully insured on either on a work or personal policy and that passwords are secure.
This survey is part of a wider study by the BSC on laptop and e-mail usage, due to be released in early August.
Using the subject line to get noticed: Denise Cox argues that to get results you have to make every word work in a subject line.
