[May 19, 2013] Workzone: Digital distractions developing in office Tweet May 19, 2013 (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- To some, crass has replaced cool when it comes to smartphones, tablets and other digital devices in the office. Crass as in checking email or texts while someone is talking to you. Crass as in surfing the Web during staff meetings. Crass as in answering that call while you're, er, otherwise engaged in the restroom. While cell phones, tablets and other electronic devices have the potential to improve performance in the workplace, they also can become huge digital distractions. In fact, 64 percent of chief information officers recently surveyed by Robert Half Technology, a staffing firm, said higher use of gadgets has led to more breaches in workplace etiquette in the last three years. That's up from 51 percent in a similar survey in 2010. Only 4 percent said in the most recent polling that the number of breaches in workplace etiquette had decreased in the last three years, down from 6 percent in 2010. The most recent poll surveyed more than 2,300 chief information officers from U.S. companies with 100 or more employees in 23 major metropolitan areas. John Poling, branch manager for Robert Half in Pittsburgh, said the most common etiquette breach in the workplace when it comes to digital devices is surfing on your phone or tablet while someone is talking to you. Such behavior can convey a callous disregard for others. "If you're doing that, sometimes people would think" -- hold that thought, I have an email -- "that you're disengaged with them," he said. "It could be perceived" -- wait, I have to answer this text -- "as a lack of respect." While some might consider multitasking during a meeting as a sign of industriousness, it also can be perceived as a sign of disinterest -- a definite no-no -- particularly when the boss is talking. Robert Half suggests those who bring their digital toys to meetings resist the temptation to use them to surf the Web, check email or to tweet about all the other things they could be doing. Mr. Poling said another common breach of etiquette is leaving long-winded voice mails. Robert Half suggests limiting such communications to 30 seconds unless it's a delicate or complicated issue. "If it's longer than that, you need a different medium," Mr. Poling said. And it should go without saying -- but, unfortunately, it can't -- that it's bad form to fire or reprimand someone in a text, email or instant message. Such issues are best dealt with face to face or, at the minimum, over the telephone. Other digital dilemmas aren't so black and white. Do you answer a call on your smartphone while you're engaged in a conversation It depends, Mr. Poling said. If it's during a job interview, definitely not. But if it's your boss on the line while you're talking to a colleague, you may have to politely excuse yourself to take it, he said. As for taking a call while in the restroom "I don't recommend that," Mr. Poling said. "The best case scenario there is picking it up and saying, 'Hey, can I call you back in five minutes ' " None of this means that navigating the digital age has to be difficult. Mr. Poling had two simple pieces of advice. One is knowing the culture of the company where you work. "The other is somewhat similar to the golden rule: Treat people the way you would like to be treated," he said. As for other tips, Mr. Poling noted that -- hold on a second, let me check this email on my iPhone ... Mark Belko: [email protected] or 412-263-1262. ___ (c)2013 the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Visit the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette at www.post-gazette.com Distributed by MCT Information Services [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]