Mobile Workforce

Mobile technology has reached a tipping point in business, and for good reason. Not only has mobile adoption reached a critical mass among employees, but many businesses are finding that those employees are willing – and in some cases even eager – to leverage their own devices for business applications. While companies originally feared mobile would be more of a distraction than a benefit, they are today finding the opposite to be true.

The drive to and from work can be a grind at times…endless traffic jams, road congestion or the sheer ennui of making the same journey day in and day out is enough to make the nerves jingle-jangle. We know that calming music eases anxiety, and at the same increases concentration, by lowering blood pressure, slowing down the heart rate, and reducing stress. I

Whether it’s a personal car or a company truck, millions of workers call a vehicle their primary office. Some might say being on the road makes for a lonely life. But we live in such a connected, networked, always-on society that sometimes the car is the only chance we have to enjoy your own space.

It’s no secret. Music is ubiquitous. Just take a glance around – no matter where you go (whether it be a subway station, to city sidewalks, to employees in their desks or cars), the majority of society, chances are, has a pair of headphones on and is listening to music or some version of it.

What does it mean to be part of the mobile workforce? For photojournalist Noel Montenegro, it’s about leveraging technology to do his best work on the go, every day. “Journalism has always been mobile,” Montenegro says. “Now that technology has caught up, it hasn’t just made it easier—it has made it faster!”

Life as a mobile employee undoubtedly requires lots of focus, energy, attention to detail, and patience. Whether you’re a sales rep for a large pharmaceutical company or you’re stocking shelves from one grocery store to the next, certain every day challenges are sure to surface and stifle your ability to conquer. The reality is, we now live in a society that is dictated by technology. There seems to be an app for everything nowadays, allowing for all of us to navigate through life with more at our fingertips. In a world where the workforce is becoming exponentially more mobile, employees are blessed with opportunities to stay more organized, resourceful and (perhaps most paramount), increasingly more productive in the field. Without further ado, here are five really cool applications that are absolutely essential to the mobile employee’s success.

There’s no question that maintaining work-life balance is an important part of cutting stress and keeping your workforce healthy and happy. A recent study by the American Psychological Association found that a whopping 60 percent of Americans report work as a major cause of stress – and even more alarming – that stress is proving to have serious health effects. Workers with high job demands are 50 percent more likely to be diagnosed with a medical condition than those without this stressor.

Even if you haven’t seen the film Office Space, you have likely lived it. The cult-classic stars Ron Livingston as Peter Gibbons, an office worker caught in an existential crisis. His work is unfulfilling, his office culture is non-existent, his workspace is little more than a prison cell. We’ve all been there at one time…

Let’s set the record straight: no, the IRS mileage rate is not a required mileage reimbursement rate. Set by the IRS, the standard business mileage rate serves as a “safe harbor” to calculate the tax deductible costs of operating an automobile for business. The IRS mileage rate is calculated annually and is meant to reflect…

Today’s mobile employees not only have a lot of distance to cover, but they also have a lot to get done when they’re not driving. With 96.2 million mobile workers – and growing – making up 60% of our workforce, it’s time for businesses to start thinking about how to help their mobile workforce succeed….