Boston.com: Survey: 1 in 5 managers read e-mail in the loo
January 8 2007
A new dimension to thinking about a "home office"....
Nearly one in five small business managers read work-related e-mails and other documents while in the bathroom, and 49 percent say they work while driving, according to a new survey commissioned by Staples Inc., the office-supply retailer with headquarters in Framingham.The driving one boggles my mind. I've recently seen someone on a hand-held cell phone in one hand, holding a document over the steering wheel, writing with a pen in the other hand. In stop-and-go traffic. How can this be smart?
As for reading in the loo...that's why the phone's "mute" button is so important to work-at-home employees.
Link: Boston.com: Survey: 1 in 5 managers read e-mail in the loo > (Thanks, Pete)
Post a Comment
- 2
Jan-Piet Mens http://fupps.com | 1/8/2007 12:18:58 PM
Having been in Germany, you might recall seeing the "... und wer faehrt?" ({ Link } ) signs, asking "... and who is driving?", suggesting that simultaneously holding a drink, and using a phone in the car might be dangerous.
- 3
Alex | 1/8/2007 12:41:29 PM
Why would someone put wireless in their home. ;-) Just make sure you don't have a video conference scheduled.
- 4
Patrick McAllister | 1/8/2007 12:48:14 PM
@2
There was some show about the history of Porsche on TLC or one of the Discovery network stations not too long ago and he was asked what the resistance was to putting drink holders in the new Cayman, his response was something to the effect of "Why? I do not put a steering wheel on your coffee table do I?" Well, I thought it was funny at any rate :)
- 5
Ted Stanton http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/blogs/page/InsideLotus | 1/8/2007 12:55:11 PM
With mobile devices like Blackberry, you can do more then just read emails in the loo :-)
- 6
Dan Silva http://dansilva.blogspot.com | 1/8/2007 1:40:51 PM
Reading e-mail in the bathroom? I hope it's the "print out" kind, and no the "with the laptop or your lap" one...
:)
- 7
Henry Ferlauto http://www.geniusinside.com | 1/8/2007 2:07:22 PM
I wonder how many e-mails have been read in one of these...
{ Link }
Hint: Follow the links for the video demonstration...
If you can't find it, search for it on Google Video (not YouTube).
- 8
Bob Warth | 1/8/2007 2:58:28 PM
@6
The original thinkpad slogan was "use it wherever you think best!"
- 9
Bill Brown | 1/8/2007 2:59:34 PM
Email, no. Magazines and newspapers, sure. And I refuse to answer the cell phone there. Only call I've ever taken on the can was someone I didn't like talking to anyways... And he heard the flush when I finished.
Why do hotels put phones in the bathroom?
I used to work at a law firm and it wasn't unusual to see the attornies dictating while using the urinal. Presumably the did the same in the stall too. The secretaries used to complain about the background noises as they transcribed. Just a little too personal!
- 10
Ed Maloney http://genericparts.blogspot.com/ | 1/8/2007 4:20:31 PM
Ick... and you just know that they don't wash their Blackberry when finished. This does however explain the content of many e-mail messages from managers.
- 11
Gerco Wolfswinkel http://www.domino-weblog.nl | 1/9/2007 5:19:33 AM
There's a 140 euro penalty in The Netherlands for using the phone while driving, unless you're using a handsfree set.
I think this applies to reading email on your blackberry while driving, too :-)
- 12
Irv Schor | 1/9/2007 10:31:49 AM
What amazes me more is how many times folks have cell phone conversations in the 'loo', with their 'neighbor's' flushing away (or whatever?!) as the conversation takes place. Now, how'd you like to have your ear on the other end (pardon the pun) of THAT call?!! :-)
- 13
jimmy bracco http://www.lotus911.com | 1/9/2007 8:04:48 PM
I make it a habit of making the most rediculous noise when i hear someone on a cell in the stall nextdoor :) PS I have done my share of Domino Support from the loo with my crackberry....
- 14
Liz Ryan http://www.worldwit.org | 1/11/2007 8:45:07 PM
Speaking of working in the loo - when I was at the Boston startup called Ucentric Systems, one of our engineering managers was phone-screening a candidate. In the middle of the phone call, our guy hears a loud noise on the other hand of the line - specifically, a toilet flushing. Ouch. "Dude," he said to the candidate, "maybe we should talk another time." Working from home should only go so far.
Why is the mute button important. If your phone call interrupts important business you may hear that. And yes, that business is more important than a phone call. :-)