The Ecology of the Mobile Worker
Excerpt 3
- Mobile Work and Communications
Becker, F., Quinn, K. L., & Callentine, L.
U. (1995). The Ecology of the Mobile Worker. Ithaca, NY:
Cornell University International Workplace Studies Program.
Employee feedback indicated that there were two
important components of communication: the ability to communicate
about work with co-workers (professional communication) and the
ability to socialize with co-workers (social communication).
Over 77% (n=81) of the respondents reported that
professional communication at work was somewhat or much worse
since the mobility program began, while slightly over 14% (n=15)
reported professional communication as unchanged. Nearly nine
percent (n=9), however, rated professional communication as better
or much better.
Eighty-eight percent (n=93) of the mobile workers
rated their ability to socialize with their co-workers as worse
or much worse, 9% (n=9) reported it as unchanged, and 3% (n=3)
said it was better or much better.
Employee acceptance of an integrated workplace
strategy where one key component of the workplace system is the
opportunity to work at home (as well as in other workplace settings)
is largely unaffected by household composition (whether or not
the employee has children or family members at home) or the nature
of the home workspace (whether or not work at home is done in
a dedicated room or a dedicated area within a room used by other
family members for family activities).
