Workers stressed by new technology

Workers are being left stressed and miserable by technological advances in the workplace, a new survey has shown.
Pressure to reply to excessive emails, the constant bleep of the BlackBerry and problems with the photocopier are just some of the pressures and interruptions bemoaned by 3,000 office workers polled by the business forum Leaders in London.
Three quarters of those surveyed said that the endless onslaught of new technology made them feel under pressure to be constantly available, even outside of working hours, and 28% felt less productive because of it.
A quarter said that they struggle to keep up with the most basic office equipment and 22% admitted wasting up to 30 minutes a day trying to get printers, photocopiers and faxes to work.
A total of 43% check their PDAs and BlackBerries as often as every ten minutes. Three quarters of those surveyed said that they had checked their emails at numerous social occasions, including weddings, birthday parties and even romantic dates. 26% take time out of their holidays to check their inboxes.
Nearly two in three felt that the pressure to be regularly on call meant that they spent barely 15 minutes working without interruptions during a typical day.
Ros Oxley, managing director of Leaders in London said: "Our busy and hectic lifestyles, both in and out of the office, means that we often rely on technology designed to help us to work smarter wherever we are.
"Leaving the Blackberry off can be a good thing, as everyone needs a balance between work and play. Ensuring that there are choices in the way we communicate in the work place is essential for British business to continue thriving."
Source: The Press Associations