50% of office workers feel they are chained to their desks and those rising through the ranks are starting to challenge the long hours and traditional working methods that have become standard practice in most workplaces.
Plantronics research reveals that four out of five office workers believe that the modern workplace requires a greater ability to multi-task compared with five years ago. 80% of those interviewed also felt that their health and productivity would be better if they could move around more at work and in a manner more suited their own work-style.
Independent research by performance consulting firm HB Maynard has confirmed the role of headsets as efficient workplace technology, improving productivity as much as 43%. In controlled testing over an eight day period, workers equipped with headsets also reported higher morale, lower fatigue levels and fewer phone-related physical complaints.
There is a measurable risk for anyone using the phone for as little as two hours a day; especially in terms of phone cradling between head and neck. The University of Surrey in a report titled ‘The Effect of Telephone Headset Use on Working Posture and Self Reported Musculoskeletal Symptoms: An Intervention Study’ confirms that headset users experience a reduction of 31% in neck pain and 16% lower back pain.
With long term sickness absence caused by back pain, costing the UK £6bn a year in benefits, treatments and lost production, a headset is a simple and cost effective piece of technology to implement explains Philippe Vanhoutte, managing director, Plantronics EMEA.
“The new generation of executives are more likely to integrate new technology into their working life and work in a smarter way. Adoption and interest in new wireless equipment is highest for workers in their 20’s (84%). New standards need to evolve to create a healthy working environment and attract and retain the best young talent who are looking at their work-life balance with fresh expectations and ideas,” explains Philip Vanhoutte, managing director, Plantronics EMEA.