Escalating Trends Toward Internet Usage @ Work.

According to the August 2001 Xylo Report: Internet Usage in the Workplace, nearly seven in ten American workers now have access to the Internet at work, compared to less than five in ten a year ago. Along gender lines, men and women seem to use the Internet equally; but among younger age groups (18 to 34 years old), women are 20 percent more likely to use it at work than men, and men are 21 percent more likely than women to use it for personal reasons. When using the Internet at work for personal reasons, men and women also seem to derive different benefits from the practice – more women say that it makes them happier and less stressed, while more men say that it helps them be better workers.

The Xylo Report is a national survey on work/life issues conducted six times yearly by Wirthlin Worldwide for Xylo, Inc. Xylo is a leading provider of Web-based work/life solutions used by Fortune 500 and other thought-leading companies to attract and retain employees. The company commissioned Wirthlin Worldwide, a leading opinion research firm, to survey 1,001 U.S. adults over the age of 18 during the period of August 3 – 6, 2001. This survey has a margin of error of +/- 3.8 percent. Sixty-five percent of the 1,001 respondents qualified for this survey by being employed.

The August 2001 Xylo Report: Internet Usage in the Workplace is studying the changes in public opinion today as compared to responses to the same questions asked a year ago in August of 2000. The topics revisited include:

Use of the Internet at work.
Use of the Internet and productivity.
Use of the Internet at work for personal reasons.

Compared to last year, more employees have access to the Internet at work and more report boosts in productivity because of the Internet usage.

Access to the Internet at work continues to grow as 66 percent of American workers now report having access in the workplace, compared to only 44 percent of the respondents in the 2000 survey. An overwhelming 97 percent of this year’s respondents reported that personal use of the Internet at work has no negative impact (86 percent in 2000) while more than 50 percent continue to think that personal use at work has a positive impact (54 percent). Sixty-seven percent of employees now think the Internet boosts their productivity at work, indicating a 21 percent increase from last year (46 percent). This year’s survey also found that people who use the Internet a lot every day are more likely to say that it enhances productivity, compared to people who use it only once or twice a week (86 percent vs. 49 percent). Of those who use the Internet at work, 64 percent use it for personal reasons, an increase from 49 percent last year

Young women use the Internet more at work, but more young men use the Internet at work for personal reasons.
Men and women seem to use the Internet equally at work (39 percent and 43 percent respectively), but significant differences are observed in the 18-34 age group. Of the people who have access to the Internet in the workplace, 52 percent of women in that age group report using the Internet – nearly 20 percent more than men in the same age group (33 percent). However, 21 percent more young men than women use the Internet at work for personal reasons (80 percent vs. 59 percent). In addition, young men are more inclined to say that Internet usage at work enhances productivity (79 percent vs. 61 percent). The difference in Internet usage levels at work disappears in older men and women who are 35 to 54 years old (46 percent vs. 45 percent respectively).

Personal use of the Internet in the workplace impacts some groups more than others.

The general trend is that people who frequently use the Internet at work for personal reasons are more likely to report that it has a positive impact, such as making them happier and less stressed, or helping them do a better job. Seventy-two percent of those who use it several times a day, compared to 48 percent of those who use it once or twice a week, say it has a positive impact. More men than women report that personal use of the Internet has a positive impact (59 percent vs. 47 percent). Women, however, are more likely to say that it makes them happier and less stressed (31 percent vs. 24 percent). In contrast, 35 percent of men and only 16 percent of women say that the practice helps them do a better job for their companies. Almost half of all married adults report that using the Internet at work for personal reasons has a positive impact (46 percent of married adults and 44 percent of married parents). Singles are even more likely to appreciate the benefits of personal use of the Internet at work – 72 percent of singles and 85 percent of single parents say that it has a positive impact. “This month’s report confirms the increasing and growing importance of using the Internet in the workplace and in the daily lives of American workers,” said Norman Behar, president and CEO of Xylo, Inc. “As a tool, the Internet can not only drive increased productivity, but also actively help people meet the growing demands of work and life.”

For more information at http://www.xylo.com.