Leader: Skiving - or diving for flexibility?

New research published today talks about 'desk skiving' and how about 14 days per employee per year are lost to this phenomenon. This term - which we're not entirely happy with, for reasons we'll get to - refers to doing one of "a dozen fun things" other than the task at hand while sitting down to work.

Could be looking at popular websites (ahem, ring any bells?), playing online games, checking accounts or contacting friends by email, phone, IM and so on.

But the research at least gives an insight into the reasons for such behaviour. Some respondents cite 'needing to get something done in a hurry', while fewer talk about 'needing a break' or 'boredom'.

Getting fully on the soap box, surfing dodgy websites because of 'boredom' isn't acceptable. However, 'skiving' probably doesn't best sum up what's going on here.

This writer about six months ago found himself on stage at an event hosted by one of the big mobile operators, along with a prominent CIO. Behind us was a map of the world with all the areas where said company's mobile coverage stretches. The subject turned to being always available and, while the matter wasn't quite the same as 'desk skiving', what he said was instructive.

"If I'm going to be available on my Blackberry or whatever any time, then during work hours I have to be able to conduct my private life too," he said. Or words to that effect.

He happens to be a senior executive at a multibillion dollar company, but it's a situation that is increasingly facing many millions of us.

For the 14 days that the study finds average employees are now 'desk skiving', how many days are worked in unpaid overtime? Quite often more than said fortnight, we'd wager.

Some employees clearly do abuse the freedom and technology at their fingertips that their workplaces allow. However, many more face situations where they have to get a certain amount of work done in a certain amount of time. Grabbing a deal on a holiday at an online travel site in the afternoon using an office's fast connection, while finishing off an important presentation at home that same evening is clearly far from bad news.

Flexibility by both employer and employee must be the answer.

We would like you to tell us how you prefer to remain in touch when you're traveling on business through this five-second poll.