Vodafone Ireland and the Small Firms Association develop a 'Guide to mWorking' following significant research

Vodafone Ireland has today released the findings of its most recent research "Meet the Irish mWorker" which highlights that a clear sociological evolution is underway in the Irish workforce as employees continue to embrace mWorking. The research also debunks popular misconceptions about the impact of mWorking on work/life balance, relating to colleagues and career prospects. Key highlights from the research include:

• 75% of respondents to the research project say mobile working has been good for them personally and 71% would recommend it to colleagues indicating a continually expanding "M-Generation".
• 62% say there is no change to their working hours as a result of mWorking (16% work more, 11% work less hours) while 55% said the quality of their work improved, highlighting how mWorking does not mean employees have to work 24/7 but does deliver tangible productivity benefits.
• Female mWorkers are more comfortable working independently than men - 44% of females surveyed said they prefer to work independently vs. 30% men. Male mWorkers preference for team work is also supported by the fact that men maintain more frequent contact with the office than their female counterparts. 36% of men and 26% of women increased the number of social calls to colleagues while 61% of men and 44% of women increased the overall number of calls to the office.
• 33% feel their promotional prospects have improved as a result of mWorking.

This is the most in-depth research ever conducted in Ireland on mWorking and demonstrates that there is a clear cultural transition taking place which is rapidly changing the way our society views 'work'. The often-used cliché that 'work is what you do, not where you are' is in fact becoming the reality for a large proportion of the workforce who are using an array of new technologies to stay connected with the office without having to punch in," said Colm McVeigh, Director, Business & Enterprise, Vodafone Ireland.

"This research is extremely beneficial to businesses who are considering mobilising their workforce. Results clearly demonstrate that employees really value the increased flexibility and trust put in them to manage their own workloads through mWorking and are in turn more productive, more loyal to their employer and better able to meet the needs of their customers. To this end, we are working with the Small Firms Association to use the insights from this research to develop a Guide to mWorking which will gives businesses tips on how to best manage and motivate an mWorkforce," continued McVeigh.

"This is a significant piece of research into the changing work culture in Ireland as it confirms the advantages to employers and employees of facilitating mobile working. Using these new insights, the SFA is developing a Guide to mWorking, which will give practical assistance to our members in becoming mWorking organisations by outlining existing best practice through company case-studies, and providing sample policies and guidance on implementing mWorking," said Patricia Callan, Director, Small Firms Association. "This will undoubtedly lead to efficiency and effectiveness gains for small businesses and will improve overall company productivity level which is essential in these more competitive and challenging times".

Importantly, the research has provided an insight into the profile of an Irish mWorker. 65% of mWorkers are men and 46% are people managers. On average, today's M-Worker spends about two days in the office each working week, two days on the road and a day working from home.

Additional key findings are:

• 41% say that mobile working has improved their willingness to remain with their employer and 37% rate their motivational levels as improved.
• Greater flexibility and increased freedom are the most satisfying aspects of mWorking for 34% and 25% of mWorkers respectively. Ability to work faster, closer relationship with clients and better job satisfaction were also cited by many mobile workers as key benefits.
• 35% of mWorkers say that mobile working has reduced stress levels, with only 7% saying their stress levels have worsened since becoming a mobile worker.
• 68% rarely or occasionally receive interruptions to time off as a result of work related communications while 27% often receive interruptions
• 45% said their relationship with customers/suppliers improves.
• 50% rated their ability to service customers as improved

"The bottom line seems to be that mobile working is not simply about increasing productivity and efficiencies for employers. The end benefits on offer go much deeper for both the employer and the employee. This research has clearly shown that while mobile workers are more productive, they are also happier and as a consequence, more inclined to stay with their employer – a win-win for all", concluded McVeigh.