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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Emails while commuting 'should count as work' | Emails while commuting 'should count as work' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Commuters are so regularly using travel time for work emails that their journeys should be counted as part of the working day, researchers say. | Commuters are so regularly using travel time for work emails that their journeys should be counted as part of the working day, researchers say. |
| Wider access to wi-fi on trains and the spread of mobile phones has extended the working day, a study from the University of the West of England says. | Wider access to wi-fi on trains and the spread of mobile phones has extended the working day, a study from the University of the West of England says. |
| The study examined 5,000 rail passengers on commuter routes into London as wi-fi became more available. | The study examined 5,000 rail passengers on commuter routes into London as wi-fi became more available. |
| "I am a busy mum and I rely on that time," one commuter told researchers. | "I am a busy mum and I rely on that time," one commuter told researchers. |
| "It's really important to my sanity that I can get work done on the train," she said, on the Aylesbury to London route. | "It's really important to my sanity that I can get work done on the train," she said, on the Aylesbury to London route. |
| Never switching off | Never switching off |
| The study, to be presented at the Royal Geographical Society on Thursday, found that 54% of commuters using the train's wi-fi were sending work emails. | The study, to be presented at the Royal Geographical Society on Thursday, found that 54% of commuters using the train's wi-fi were sending work emails. |
| Those on the way to work were catching up with emails sent ahead of the coming day - while those on the return journey were finishing off work not completed during regular working hours. | Those on the way to work were catching up with emails sent ahead of the coming day - while those on the return journey were finishing off work not completed during regular working hours. |
| "It's dead time in a way, so what it allows me to do is finish stuff and not work in the evenings," said a commuter on the London to Birmingham route. | "It's dead time in a way, so what it allows me to do is finish stuff and not work in the evenings," said a commuter on the London to Birmingham route. |
| The study examined the impact of free wi-fi being upgraded on the London to Birmingham and London to Aylesbury routes. | The study examined the impact of free wi-fi being upgraded on the London to Birmingham and London to Aylesbury routes. |
| It showed that as internet access improved it had the effective consequence of extending working hours, using laptops and mobile phones. | It showed that as internet access improved it had the effective consequence of extending working hours, using laptops and mobile phones. |
| For commuting parents, it was also seen as a "transition", where they switched roles from being part of a family to a working environment. | For commuting parents, it was also seen as a "transition", where they switched roles from being part of a family to a working environment. |
| There were other commuters who liked the "buffer" of being able to work when travelling. | There were other commuters who liked the "buffer" of being able to work when travelling. |
| "The majority of the time it's an option for me to, you know, clear the decks for the day, relax and put work behind me more than anything else," said a passenger on the London to Birmingham route. | "The majority of the time it's an option for me to, you know, clear the decks for the day, relax and put work behind me more than anything else," said a passenger on the London to Birmingham route. |
| Work-life balance | Work-life balance |
| But the findings raise questions about the work-life balance - and whether it is healthy to stretch out the working day with people routinely answering emails beyond office hours. | But the findings raise questions about the work-life balance - and whether it is healthy to stretch out the working day with people routinely answering emails beyond office hours. |
| If the journey has become part of work, should it also be recognised as part of working hours? | If the journey has become part of work, should it also be recognised as part of working hours? |
| Researcher Dr Juliet Jain said smartphones and mobile internet access had caused a "blurring of boundaries" between work and home life - and this now applied to the journey to work. | Researcher Dr Juliet Jain said smartphones and mobile internet access had caused a "blurring of boundaries" between work and home life - and this now applied to the journey to work. |
| "How do we count that time? Do workplace cultures need to change?" she asked. | "How do we count that time? Do workplace cultures need to change?" she asked. |
| Instead of technology giving people more flexibility over working, the study showed that people were working extra hours on top of their time in the office. | Instead of technology giving people more flexibility over working, the study showed that people were working extra hours on top of their time in the office. |
| "There's a real challenge in deciding what constitutes work," said Dr Jain, from the university's Centre for Transport and Society. | "There's a real challenge in deciding what constitutes work," said Dr Jain, from the university's Centre for Transport and Society. |
| Counting the journey as work could "ease commuter pressure on peak hours" travel, she said, allowing more staggered travel times. | Counting the journey as work could "ease commuter pressure on peak hours" travel, she said, allowing more staggered travel times. |
| But Dr Jain said it would also mean that employers would want "more surveillance and accountability" for how commuters were spending that time before arriving at their desks. | But Dr Jain said it would also mean that employers would want "more surveillance and accountability" for how commuters were spending that time before arriving at their desks. |
| Business leaders recognised the difficulties of setting boundaries around such work emails and mobile technology - and warned it could damage productivity if work became too pervasive. | Business leaders recognised the difficulties of setting boundaries around such work emails and mobile technology - and warned it could damage productivity if work became too pervasive. |
| "This increasing flexibility has the potential to radically shift the work-life balance for the better - but it also leaves open the door to stress and lower productivity," said Jamie Kerr, of the Institute of Directors. | "This increasing flexibility has the potential to radically shift the work-life balance for the better - but it also leaves open the door to stress and lower productivity," said Jamie Kerr, of the Institute of Directors. |
| "With the concept of clocking on and clocking off no longer straightforward, defining where leisure begins and work ends will be vital for both employers and individuals, as well as a complex task for regulators." | "With the concept of clocking on and clocking off no longer straightforward, defining where leisure begins and work ends will be vital for both employers and individuals, as well as a complex task for regulators." |
| Do you deal with work emails on your commute? What is your reaction to the issues raised in this story? You can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | |
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