Jobs: Women are more likely to be email cowards and send bad news electronically

One in five British workers is choosing the cowards’ way of delivering bad news by email, with an amazing one in 10 using text messages, rather than doing it face-to-face according to a survey.

The survey also found women are 20 per cent more likely than men to turn to text, email or instant messaging to send bad news.

The statistic is part of a study into the way workers communicate in an ever-changing landscape, which includes video calling, social media, instant messaging, internet-based phone systems, SMS, MMS and of course good old fashioned talking.

The survey of 2,000 professionals in the UK was commissioned for the launch of a new communications system, Orbit.

Andrew Jackson, group chief executive of Intercity Telecom, said: “Choosing the right way to communicate can make all the difference to the relationships that we build and helps avoid being misunderstood and email certainly isn’t the only way to communicate.”

With such a wide choice of communications methods being used in the modern office the study revealed 69 per cent of UK workers have lost track of a conversation as it switches between different channels.

The variety of communications tools available means workers are having to choose the appropriate one for different situations, with the study highlighting some key trends. For example, more than one in 10 (13 per cent) respondents declared they wouldn’t have the courage to sack someone face-to-face, choosing the phone, email, or even text to deliver the life-changing news.

Half of people (52 per cent) would use text or email to end a business relationship, rather than plucking up the courage to pick up the phone.

More than a third (38 per cent) of British workers have texted or emailed in sick, with 22 percent admitting this was because they were pulling a sickie and were feeling too guilty to call.

The survey also revealed that nearly half of all British workers (47 per cent) email someone every day who they’ve never actually spoken to.

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