Most employees surveyed in the various countries have internet access from their workplace. At the top rank are India and China (93%), Malaysia (89%) and Japan (83%). Canada meanwhile shows that 76% of employees can surf the internet at the office. About half of respondents have a personal smartphone that lets them access their work emails. The Asian countries lead again with 84% for China, 79% for Hong Kong and 71% for India and Malaysia. Nonetheless, very few employers provide their staff with such a tool.
Canada is at the average level with 47% of employees having their own smartphone and 15% having one provided by their company.
The internet, a distraction
In the countries best equipped with internet access and smartphones, employees say they are less efficient. They admit being distracted by emails and telephone calls (51% in India, 46% in China and Hong Kong, 43% in Malaysia) and also think they are less productive (37% in India, 35% in China, 32% in Hong Kong and 30% in Malaysia). The trend is lower in Canada since only 20% feel less attentive to their work and 18% less efficient.
Towards a rational management
Randstad Canada recognizes as legitimate the concerns companies have about security and productivity. The firm recommends properly equipping employees and controlling the comfort level at which they use the resources available on the web. Use of the internet and email can have positive effects in particular by providing good communication between employees, improving customer service, strengthening research capabilities, limiting long distance communication costs… Finally, proper management of these tools also helps to retain the best employees and keep them from looking for competing companies that are better equipped in this respect.