Saturday, April 23, 2005

E-mails 'hurt IQ more than pot'

According to a survey carried out by TNS Research and commissioned by Hewlett Packard, workers distracted by phone calls, e-mails and text messages suffer a greater loss of IQ than a person smoking marijuana, a British study shows.

The survey of 1,100 Britons showed:

Almost two out three people check their electronic messages out of office hours and when on holiday

Half of all workers respond to an e-mail within 60 minutes of receiving one

One in five will break off from a business or social engagement to respond to a message.

Nine out of 10 people thought colleagues who answered messages during face-to-face meetings were rude, while three out of 10 believed it was not only acceptable, but a sign of diligence and efficiency.

The article states that the constant interruptions reduce productivity and leave people feeling tired and lethargic.

If this is true, what should we do? Should we limit ourselves on the computer, should we limit the work load individuals are faced with, should we take more breaks during the day, or should we just sit at home and smoke pot?

1 comment:

Morgan K said...

I think that the email system helps in keeping everyone in touch, thus a stronger and more efficient work environment. I don't see the emails as a distraction, but as a way of keeping employees closer and more updated with every change occuring.