Safety

Electronic Communication Does Not Replace In-Person Interaction at Work [Infographic]

March 12, 2013

A new infographic from TrackVia suggests that despite advances in electronic communication technology, many workers still prefer face-to-face communication in certain situations.

Laura Walter

From texting to emailing to video chatting to instant mesaging and more, workers today have a variety of communication methods at their fingertips. Despite these options, a recent survey of 300 U.S. knowledge workers shows that most workers still approach work-related communications the old-fashioned way: in person and face-to-face.

“When it comes to increasing workplace productivity, it’s clear that tools like email and instant messaging help, but don’t replace personal collaboration,” said Charles Var, vice president of marketing for TrackVia. “Context also matters as people’s preference for communication appears to change based on what they’re doing.”

While in-person communication clearly remains important and relevant in the workplace, TrackVia’s infographic also reveals how electronic communication can help employees make friends at work, stay in touch with their families, and even gossip or flirt. View the infographic below to learn more:

Ehstoday Com Sites Ehstoday com Files Uploads 2013 03 Virtual Workplace Infographic

About the Author

Laura Walter

Laura Walter was formerly senior editor of EHS Today. She is a subject matter expert in EHS compliance and government issues and has covered a variety of topics relating to occupational safety and health. Her writing has earned awards from the American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE), the Trade Association Business Publications International (TABPI) and APEX Awards for Publication Excellence. Her debut novel, Body of Stars (Dutton) was published in 2021.