Smartphone use in the workplace can have a “positive impact” on employees' work-life balance, a new study has suggested. 

The study, carried out by the University of Galway (UG) and the University of Melbourne, investigated smartphone use at the European branch of a major pharmaceutical company.

On Breakfast Briefing this morning, UG Professor Eoin Whelan said the company had had a blanket phone ban in place since the 90s.

As part of the study, the company allowed 14 employees to use their phones at work and compared them to 14 workers who were not allowed to test once and for all whether the ban was effective.

Dr Whelan told Shane Beatty that “no decrease in productivity was found” with those in the company who had been using their phones as part of the trial.

“What we did find in the group who started using their phones was there was a significant decrease of work-life conflict for them,” he said.

“This is the perceived conflict between work and family life and the stress associated with that.

“Through the phone, you are able to manage family issues on the fly and this reduced stress and had a positive impact on employees who were using their phones in the workplace.”

Modern society

Dr Whelan said people in modern society feel they need to be connected to the outside world at all times.

“The boundaries between your work life and family life are always eroding because of digital technology,” he said.

“A lot of people who worked for the company were parents and wanted to manage issues with their children if they were sick in school or look after elder care for a relative.

“They felt disconnected from the outside world and management was put under pressure to revoke the ban.”

Dr Whelan said this doesn’t mean there should be no rules against phone use in the workplace.

“We would advise companies that a blanket ban on smartphones in the workplace is not the way to go,” he said.

“What’s a better approach is to establish the climate and expectation that we want from workers relating to smartphone use.

“Things like not using a phone in meetings, the canteen, or when you’re having a conversation, could be better than a blanket ban.”

Wider lessons

Wider societal lessons can also be learned from the study, suggested Dr Whelan.

“Everyone has their own expectations and own preferences around the blurring of the boundaries between private and personal life, he said.

“Like a lot of things in life, moderation is okay and it’s only a problem where we are excessively using our phones.

“If it gets to such a high level where we are ignoring other people and not engaging in the real world as such.

“But if it’s at a moderate level, putting it away at meal times or when you are having a conversation with someone is a good strategy to have.”

Dr Whelan added how a similar study into phone use in secondary schools is also underway by the University of Galway.

Main image: A construction worker uses his smartphone at work. Credit: Igor Kardasov / Alamy Stock Photo