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.
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“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.