74% of Americans Working During the Holidays, According to National Survey by InterCall

CHICAGO, Dec. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Employees may get away from the office during the holidays, but most of them will be taking their work with them. Just as technology has made it simpler than ever to work on the go, it's also easing holiday stress.

Findings from a national survey by InterCall, the world's largest conferencing and collaboration provider, revealed that 74% of the workers surveyed plan to work over the holidays. Additionally, 72% of those surveyed find that the ability to work remotely makes their lives easier.

According to the survey, workers use a combination of conferencing, instant messaging, cell phones, landlines and e-mail when working away from the office. The primary technologies used are e-mail and mobile phone, although 21% will use conferencing to remotely connect with colleagues and customers during the holidays this year.

The survey also revealed where Americans will be working from:

  -- 85% will use their home office;
  -- 24% will work at a family member's home;
  -- 18% ignore travel delays at the airport by working;
  -- 17% report working while shopping and running errands;
  -- 15% work while they're vacationing at a resort or hotel;
  -- 6% plan to work in bed;
  -- 2% work while working out at the gym; and
  -- 2% are working instead of mingling at holiday parties.

Technology today is allowing people to become more connected than ever, and workers are taking advantage of that luxury. The result of this connectivity is that lines are being blurred between work and play. Today, workers are using technology as productivity tools to build a better balance between work and their everyday life. Clearly, technology is evolving from a convenience to a benefit.

According to Bob Wise, vice president of marketing and strategic development for InterCall, "Technology is empowering workers to take control over where and when they want to get work done. People can get more done when they use technology in the way that's most productive for them."

InterCall is the world's largest conferencing and collaboration provider, offering audio, video and Web conferencing services, unified communications and other business communication tools. For more information on the company's products and services, please visit http://www.intercall.com/.

The survey was conducted online among a nationally representative sample of American workers in December 2007, with 2,836 workers responding.

Source: PRNewswire