Slow network speeds frustrate mobile workers the most

Dive Brief:

Sluggish network speeds top mobile workers' list of tech pain points, according to NetMotion Software's The Mobile Employee Experience Report. Network connectivity issues and mobile applications that function worse than their desktop versions also topped the list of remote workers' digital pet peeves, NetMotion said. The company said that as the remote workforce grows, employers must address these issues to improve mobile employees' experience.
More than 41% of respondents cited connectivity issues as their top frustration due to slow networks, frequent disconnects and other connectivity shortfalls, and 62% of respondents rated battery issues as among their top 10 frustrations, a widespread problem stemming from inferior devices.
The report also found that while few respondents reported "a lack of quality collaboration tools" as frustrating, more than half noted a lack video conferencing as problematic.

Dive Insight:

As this study points out, many more people are working remotely now than in the past. Working on sub-par devices or struggling with connectivity issues aren't the only problems for mobile workers.

The lines have somewhat blurred between work and personal time due to more connected tech. A GoTo study released in June found that the tools designed to make workers more productive are often distracting because they enable them to switch between work tasks and personal tasks. In addition, the use of personal devices by remote employees can also create network security problems. HR managers may want to monitor such situations to ward off security breaches, burnout and productivity losses, while talent professionals could consider how the tech workers must use impacts their overall employee experience.

Although technology is driving much of the way people are working today, experts have said that the future of work must also be people-centric. In a recent report by Workhuman, the human capital management firm concluded that despite the fear of automation taking over workers' jobs, employers can "leverage the previously untapped creativity and innovation of people — to prioritize humanity and emotional intelligence at work." For workers to thrive, Workhuman said that companies must adopt programs and "human applications" that promote respect, trust, autonomy, gratitude, appreciation and equity.

Organizations must also inject a higher "sense of purpose" into the employee value proposition, a 2018 Mercer study said, and use technologies to enhance employee experience.