Digital Device Freedom Means Happier Employees

Using your own digital devices to get the job done at work? No need to feel guilty – a new study Commissioned by VMware and conducted by Acorn Marketing & Research Consultants has revealed that companies who support “Bring Your Own Device” (BYOD) policies in the work place have a happier, more motivated, and more productive workforce.

More than 60 percent of the people participating in the study revealed that they were happier at work when they could use their own devices. Almost as many indicated that they preferred working with companies that were open-minded about digital devices and the hardware and software the employees used to get the job done.

Digital Devices- White Tablet

This is an important study for companies and for people on the hunt for a new job. Companies who want happy, thriving workers need to consider the possibility of supporting BYOD policies and developing the IT infrastructure that will allow employees to be happier and more satisfied on the job, since that leads to better motivation, more productivity, and better retention. Job hunters may want to ask potential employers what their BYOD policies are and make that part of their overall decision when choosing where to work.

While the challenge is still on company IT departments to develop effective policies and safety protocols to make it work, more than three-quarters of the 2,000+ people surveyed during the study reported that they use their personal devices for work. More than half looked for web-based solutions that let them do their jobs more easily. Two-thirds of the participants indicated that being allowed to bring their own device to work made them more efficient.

Companies are not keeping up with the trend, with almost 60 percent not providing any kind of BYOD tech support. A third of the respondents said that the restricting IT policies imposed by their employers made them less efficient, and nearly as many believed that restrictive IT policies made it more difficult for them to solve problems.

In a world where more people work flexible schedules or in virtual positions than ever before, a BYOD policy can make a lot of sense. Andrew Dutton, in an interview with ZDNet Asia, explained, “No one is trying to [avoid following] company policies. People just want to get their job done and … find the best and most productive way to do it. The personal life and work life now exist on the same devices.” Dutton went on to predict, “What all this means is the old, big-brother approach of IT [policies] where you can lock a PC and software on a desk has gone away and will never come back.”

Dutton pointed out that tools like a stronger infrastructure and software virtualization make it easier for companies to be more supportive of a Bring Your Own Device approach in the workplace, which is happy news for many employees.

2 thoughts on “Digital Device Freedom Means Happier Employees”

  1. Bringing my own laptop to work helps me be more efficient because I’m familiar with it, I know how it works, and it lets me do my work more quickly. I think most people use the same cell phone for personal and work use (almost everyone in my office receives work e-mails on their BlackBerry or iPhone). Given this, it’s surprising to read that over half of employers don’t offer any tech support for people’s own devices. I would think they would b/c happier and more productive workers would be a win-win for everyone.

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  2. I would be included in the minority of people who don’t use their personal device for work. I keep my cell phone strictly personal (I rarely make work-related calls on it) and use the phone in my office for work calls. If I used my cell phone for both, I think I would be working all the time. While I can understand why people blend personal and work and understand your points above, Henry, it works for me to leave work in the office so my job doesn’t become a 24-hour job (which it easily could!).

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