New research has revealed an increasing dependency on e-mail and electronic communication as a vital means of keeping in touch with the office.
A survey conducted by ICM Research for software provider Nasstar, found that half of 25- to 34-year-olds said they could not function without access to e-mail.
This figure dropped to four in 10 teenagers admitting their reliance on e-mail, but increased to 44% among 35- to 44-year-olds.
The survey revealed that 43% of respondents in the South East said they would struggle without e-mail access, against only one-third of respondents in Wales and the South West.
Four in 10 women admitted they would find life difficult without e-mail contact, compared to 38% of men.
Charles Black, chief executive of Nasstar, said: “Thirty and 40-somethings have fitted e-mail into their busy lives as a vital form of communication. It’s not restricted by time; you can e-mail in the middle of the night without disturbing anyone. And now it’s no longer restricted by location.
“While teenagers are passionate about their mobile phones and texting in particular, the older generations are relying more and more on e-mail because of its use in a business capacity. E-mail really works for business people on the go,” Black said.