Using Mobile Phones at Work in Personal and Professional Information Processes

Abstract

Employees use mobile phones for several information processes at work, either in relation to their work or their personal life. This study uses descriptive statistics and regression analysis in order to identify which information processes are accessed by employees to reach their personal and professional goals when using mobile phones at work, using a sample of 368 professionals from different fields in Romania. The results of the study show that messaging applications (e-mail, sms, Messenger, Whatsapp, etc.) and searches for information on the Internet are the biggest time consumers for personal purposes, while telephone conversations (voice only) and searches for useful information on the Internet are the biggest consumers of working time for professional purposes. Based on the opinions of employees, we found that the most important effect of mobile phone use at work for personal purposes lies in the fact that it helps employees be more productive through a better work–life balance. The mobile phone was originally designed as a personal device, but today, since employers are allowing or requiring its use, during work, it is also used for professional purposes.