Have Smartphones Created a World of Workaholics?

With today's technology, the traditional 8-hour workday is becoming obsolete (and nearly impossible). Smartphones, which give us easy access to things like social media, texting, and e-mail, are making it easier and easier to stay connected around the clock. Unfortunately, it appears we are becoming addicted to being plugged into work 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In an effort to get ahead, 43 percent of employees check their work emails via their smartphones, according to a study by Cisco. According to a study sponsored by the mobile security company Lookout, almost 60 percent of people surveyed said they don’t go an hour without checking their phones. Not only that, 54 percent said they check their phones right before bed and again first thing when they wake up. This constant stream of work is great for business, however, it can take a toll on employees' personal lives. Studies show that people who work longer than 8 hours a day have a higher risk of developing depression, according to Shape Magazine. By constantly being connected to the office, it can be difficult to escape work, even when you're on vacation or with your family. However, not everything about this shift to an around-the-clock workday is negative. A survey conducted by Mozy, a data-protection company, found that bosses are becoming more and more laid-back about their employees showing up late for work. Why? Because they realize that their workers are on their smartphones sending e-mails before bed and calling clients before work. What does that mean? It could mean being with the family a little longer in the morning, or more time preparing yourself for the day. What do you think? Is the 24-hour workday the new norm? Smartphone workaholics image from Bigstock