Objective |
Sample |
The objective of the Digital Distraction & Workplace Safety Survey was to examine the impact of digital distraction at work, with an emphasis on workplace safety.
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This survey was fielded April 7-9 of 2020. It involved 1,019 US employees, aged 18-74, working in a broad spectrum of industries, and had a margin of error of + or - 3%. The sample was balanced by race and geographic distribution, and respondents were classified by level of authority as executive, manager/surpervisor, and all other.
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Employees are spending an enormous amount of time during each workday accessing digital content that is unrelated to their jobs.
This serves as a real distraction at work, and it is putting employees at risk for accidents. Respondents reported that accidents had occurred in their workplace because someone was distracted by their phone. These accidents damaged property owned by both the employer and third parties, and they caused injury and death. It's especially dangerous in industrial settings where heavy machinery, equipment, and vehicles are used. |
Half of employers have in place policies restricting the use of smartphones, and the vast majority of respondents say their employer has clearly explained why the policies are in place. Despite this, employees continue to use their phones for non-work content at an alarming rate, which suggests that both compliance and enforcement are major challenges.
People want help. 1/5 want help, 1/4 of industrial workers. COVID. Problem. More distraction. |
Respondents estimate the average employee at their workplace spends 2.5 hours each workday accessing digital content that is unrelated to their job.
This number contrasts with a previous survey we had conducted. In that survey we asked respondents to estimate the time they themselves spend using digital content unrelated to their job during the workday, and the average was 1.4 hours. |
We believe that the We assumed respondents would underestimate their own use, and either more objectively assess others's use, or, project their own real use onto others. Either way, we expected the estimate to be higher. At 2.5 hours it indeed was.
Therefore, we believe believe the truth lies somewhere between the two estimates --- that the average employee is spending between 1.4 and the 2.5 hours at work using digital content that is unrelated to their job. |
If we break down estimates by age group, we see younger people provide an estimate that is higher than the average, and older people provide an estimate that is lower.
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The difference in the estimates across age groups may be the result of projection, or that younger people tend to work with other younger people,
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14% of all respondents said accidents have occurred in their workplace as a result of people being distracted by their smartphones.
If we examine just the sub-set of of those respondents who work in industrial settings we see that accidents occurred at a higher rate --- 26% of those respondents working in an industrial setting said an accident had occurred at their workplace as a result of someone being distracted by their phone. |
Those who drive a vehicle or work with heavy equipment.
In the section below titled "examples of accidents" quotes from respondents describing the accidents that had occurred at their workplace as a result of people being distracted by their phones, and the list was stunning. |
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Office Setting
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Industrial Setting
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Screen Education tackles issues at the intersection of information technology and human wellness through research, seminars, and consulting. Visit www.ScreenEducation.org.
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EMI Research Solutions is a leading online sample provider to the market research industry. They leverage more than 150 partners in over 95 countries to provide the B2B or consumer sample that best fits their client's project. To learn more about EMI, visit www.EMI-RS.com.
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Stark Statistical Consulting provides statistical support for researchers, innovators, and entrepreneurs. Visit www.StarkStatistics.com.
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