Emailing on commute ‘should count as work’

COMMUTERS are spending so much time sending emails during their journey to the office that it should be counted as part of the working day, say researchers.

A study surveyed the habits of passengers on train operator Chiltern Railways’ London to Birmingham and London to Aylesbury routes as free Wi-Fi became more available.

Over 40 weeks, usage rose from 54 per cent to 60 per cent on the London to Birmingham route.

Many travellers emphasised the importance of fast internet access and many considered their travel to and from home as time to ‘catch up’ with work outside office hours.

One said: ‘I am a busy mum and I rely on that time. It’s really important to my sanity that I can get work done on the train.’

Dr Juliet Jain, from the University of the West of England’s centre for transport and society, said smartphones and internet access on-the-go had caused a ‘blurring of boundaries’ between work and personal life.

With the study suggesting commuters were working longer hours as a result, Dr Jain said counting the daily commute as work time could ease the number of people trying to get to work at peak hours by allowing more staggered travel times.

But she said it would also mean employers would want ‘more surveillance and accountability’ on commuters to ensure they were working. Researchers added that investment was needed from train operators and telecom companies to provide power sockets, tables and continuous internet connectivity.

However, business leaders warned internet access could also affect productivity.

Jamie Kerr, of the Institute of Directors, warned: ‘This increasing flexibility has the potential to radically shift the work-life balance for the better – but it also leaves open the door to stress and lower productivity.

‘With the concept of clocking on and clocking off no longer straightforward, defining where leisure begins and work ends will be vital for both employers and individuals, as well as a complex task for regulators.’