Friday, January 21, 2011

Bridging the Gap: Texting at Work

Texting is ubiquitous. It has become the perferred mode of communication amongst the younger generation. Some consider it less intrusive than a phone call, while others (usually the older generation) find it less efficient and rude.

Over the last few weeks I have met a few people that have shared with me their struggles with younger coworkers texting or using their cell phones while at work. Texting while at work is seen as disrespectful to clients and coworkers. Also, the texters are not as focused on their work, which may lead to safety issues in some workplaces.

Yet, on the other end of the spectrum younger workers may view texting as socially acceptable and not disruptive to their work duties. Some may even argue that it is better than spending an inordinate amount of time actually talking on the phone.

Conflict can arise in the work place because the generations do not understand each other. As more people are retiring many workplaces have seen an influx of younger workers. Sometimes the younger crowd are able to take on supervisory or management roles. In such cases people closer to retirement may have a hard time adjusting to a new supervisor who appears to not be working as hard as he or she should.

Many companies have adopted policies that define cell phone use during work hours. Yet, policies are not likely to ease tensions, especially if they are not enforced. How are we then to get along? I am a big fan of helping people take responsibility for their actions and choices. On the other side of that coin is the fact that we cannot let the behaviors of others to unduly upset us at work. The caveat is that we must allow our supervisors handle the issue and concentrate on our own work.

I am in my 30's and feel a bit caught between the two different worlds. A woman in her 40's commented that she saw using cell phones at work as the equivalent of reading a magazine. What a great insight! We all use down time differently. Perhaps it is just an issue of perspective. The same woman also said that the use of cellphones cut down on the number of phone calls to the workplace from family members.

How should we bridge the gap? By appreciating that we all have our distractions and that they tend to change over time.

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