Have Mobile Devices Changed Working Patterns in the 21st Century? A Time-diary Analysis of Work Extension in the UK

It is commonly claimed that ubiquitous connectivity erodes the boundaries that onceseparated work from other aspects of life. Mobile devices in particular enable peopleto perform work-related activities anytime anywhere. Surprisingly, however, we knowlittle about how people nationwide organise their daily working time over a periodthat has witnessed rapid technological change. Using the United Kingdom Time-UseSurveys 2000 and 2015, covering this period of technological change, we studiedwork extension practices, and the links between work extension, total work hours, andsubjective time pressure. We found a significant, though small, increase in workextension, and evidence that it was significantly associated with time pressure in2015, but not in 2000. Additionally, work extension increased total work time, whichwas concentrated entirely in time working with a mobile device. We discuss ourresults in light of some taken-for-granted narratives about mobile devices allowingwork to colonise life