One in ten Brits ‘talk to their boss in bed’

Nick Elvin

Thirty-one per cent of workers say they are routinely expected to take calls outside of working hours and after 7pm, according to new research from Unicom.

However, only 18% feel empowered enough to actually refuse to answer their phone once they’ve left the office.

The research highlights that nowhere is sacred when it comes to work calls, with a conscientious 17% even checking their work phone while they’re using the bathroom. Another one in five (19%) regularly interrupt dinner to talk to the boss.

Romantic meals aren’t off limits either with 16% admitting they’ll take calls while on a date and 27% during a film. The research also revealed that one in ten talk to their boss while in bed.

Meanwhile, 57% say logging on to check calls and emails is the first thing they do every day while 45% do the same thing at night.

While older workers were happy to take calls after 7pm they are less likely to compromise time with friends or family. Therefore only 13% would pick up their phone during a meal and 5% over a romantic dinner. Conversely, 25% of young people check their phone in the bathroom, compared to just 2% of those aged over 55.

Sixteen per cent of those questioned for the survey, which canvassed the opinions of 1,000 business owners and decision makers, feel this ‘on call’ culture is ruining their so-called leisure time. Another 19% hate it but accept it’s a fact of modern working life, while only 29% said they actively don’t mind this change in work life balance.

Speaking about the findings, Unicom’s CEO, Chris Earle, said: “Mobile communications have revolutionised the way we live and work and for many of us, striking the right balance is tricky.

“Finding ways to stay in the work loop and be present for friends and family is something we’re all working hard to do. Nevertheless, mobile phones are an essential business tool that no business can do without.”