PDA or the wife? Give me the PDA, say Germans

SINGAPORE – Technology-addicted professionals around the world are never disconnected to the office, work harder than they did five years ago and can’t go more than one hour without checking e-mail, according to a new work-life study from Sheraton Hotels & Resorts today.

Despite feeling connected to the office 24/7, most people say they love their PDA, and new technology helps them enjoy life more and spend more quality time with family and friends.

The global study was conducted in five countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, China, Germany and Australia.

Globally, 70 percent of executives say that because of new technology they work more now than they did five years ago, and three-quarters (75 percent) feel compelled to be connected to work matters 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

This is especially true for professionals in the U.S., where 85 percent of respondents say they need to be connected 24/7. This is less so for UK and Australian execs, where just 64 percent and 65 percent, respectively, say they work more now than they did five years ago.

No matter where we live, work and personal life continue to blur.

PDAs are a big presence at home, and there is no such thing as downtime anymore. Globally, 78 percent of working professionals check their PDAs just before going to bed and as soon as they wake up in the morning, three-quarters admit to sneaking a peek at e-mail in the middle of the night and 79 percent check their e-mail before their first cup of coffee.

Executives in China and the U.S. tend to be most tethered to the office, with 82 percent claiming to check their e-mail before going to bed and first thing in the morning, vs. 64 percent of professionals in the UK who are least likely to log on during this time.

Just to what extent are we addicted to technology? Globally, a whopping 88 percent of people bring their PDA into their bedroom – especially the Chinese, who virtually all (95 percent) say they bring their PDA to bed.

And, 27 percent of professionals surveyed say that their PDA is so important, if they had to choose they’d even pick their PDA over their spouse!

Americans and Germans are more likely to choose their PDA over their spouse (tied at 35 percent), while the Chinese were least likely to trade technology for love, with only 18 percent agreeing to this statement.

Our affection for animals is apparently stronger than for lovers, and only 16 percent of folks surveyed say they’d pick their PDA over the family pet.

Despite the fact that new technology increases the quantity of time we spend working, it also appears to increase the quality of our lives.

More than a three-fourths of professionals (76 percent) surveyed said that cell phones and PDA’s allow them to spend more time out of the office, 72 percent feel that technology gives them more quality time and flexibility with family and friends, and 72 percent say their PDA helps them enjoy life more.

These scores are consistent around the world, with the exception of the UK, where professionals seem to view technology more skeptically, with only 60 percent saying that new technology gives them more flexibility and only 58 percent believing that their PDA helps them enjoy life more.

Sheraton commissioned the work-life study to launch a new signature offering: “Link@Sheraton experienced with Microsoft,” a unique lobby lounge that enables guests to stay connected, work and socialise through free Wi-Fi and Internet-enabled computer stations, video-chats, televisions and daily newspapers.

The study was conducted by STUDYLOGIC LLC, who surveyed 6500 workplace professionals by phone, with an individual income of $50K+, 2+ business trips per year and a Blackberry or mobile email device.