51% of Americans say checking their phone during work may boost productivity

Employee playing on his smartphone at work.

Contents

In this guide:

Workplace smartphone statistics
Need a cheaper data plan for scrolling at work?
Methodology

America’s smartphone addiction is hitting the workplace, as half of employees admit to using their phones while on the clock. This trend isn’t limited to remote employees with limited supervision. While many companies are cracking down on remote work, 51% of the people using their phones during the workday are already in-office employees at least part of the time. Surprisingly, many of these employees claim that their smartphone usage has no impact on their productivity and may even increase it.

We’ve got the details surrounding smartphone usage by employees and the steps you can take if your phone is interfering with your work. We can also help you find a cheaper phone plan if your habit is biting into your wallet.

Workplace smartphone statistics: How many American employees use their phones on the clock?

Half of Americans admit to using their phones at work, but some generations are more guilty of the practice.

50% of Americans admit to using their phone on the clock.
Millennials are the most likely generation to be on their phones at work, followed by Gen Xers.
51% of people who use phones at work are in-office workers all or part of the time.
Social media apps are the most popular things to check during work hours, followed by video and music streaming apps.
34% of people browse shopping apps at work, while 27% are gaming on the clock.
Over half of people who use their phone at work say their productivity has stayed the same, even when they frequently check their phone, and 1 in 3 say it actually increases their productivity.

With employees surfing social media or playing mobile games, it's easy to see how managers would worry about smartphone distractions in the workplace. That said, there are appropriate times to use phones at work that can provide benefits to employees. Great examples are streaming music during a repetitive task or workers rewarding themselves with a quick mental break during the day.

Productivity and phone use: How to cut back

If you discover your phone is impacting your productivity at work, here are some quick ways to cut down on the habit:

Smartphone focusing features: Devices have built-in features to limit unnecessary notifications and increase productivity, such as the iPhone’s Focus Mode.
Measure your usage: Measure which apps are sucking up your time and mobile data using one of these data monitoring apps.
Turn off your device: If the temptation to use your phone is too great, turn it off during the workday unless you need it.

Remember that smartphone addiction can also impact other things in your life. You may also be tempted to drive distracted or ignore your friends and family.

Need a cheaper data plan for scrolling at work? We promise we won’t tell your boss.

If you’re part of the majority of Americans who believe that smartphone usage doesn’t impact their productivity at work, you should consider getting a cheaper phone plan. Most people are paying too much for their wireless plan. Luckily, smaller carriers called MVNOs offer discounted service on the nation's leading networks. You can get a phone plan operating on the AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon networks for a fraction of the cost.

Here are some of the most popular MVNO plans:

XFINITY Mobile	XFINITY Mobile Premium Unlimited Plan Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data Available on 1 Major 5G Nationwide network in select areas with compatible devices 30GB mobile hotspot data $50.00/mo View Plan	$50.00/mo	View Plan
PureTalk	PureTalk Unlimited Data w/ 30GB Hotspot Plan Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data AT&T 5G Network in select areas with compatible devices 30GB mobile hotspot data Deal: Get this plan for only $32.50 for the first month of service with new line activation. Plan renews at standard pricing thereafter. $64.99/mo + $3 Upfront View Plan	$64.99/mo + $3 Upfront	View Plan
Red Pocket	Red Pocket Premium Annual Plan (GSMA) Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data AT&T 5G Network in select areas with compatible devices 10GB mobile hotspot data Deal: Get 2 months FREE of service and pay only $300 for 12 months of service (equals to $25/mo.) $300.00 Only $300 for 12 months (equals to $25/month);<br> Regular rate is $360/year or $30/month View Plan	$300.00 Only $300 for 12 months (equals to $25/month);<br> Regular rate is $360/year or $30/month	View Plan
Lyca Mobile	Lyca Mobile Unlimited Plus Plan Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data T-Mobile 5G Network in select areas with compatible devices 15GB mobile hotspot data Deal: Get this plan for only $12.50/mo. or 74% off for the first 9 months of service. Auto-renewal enrollment required. $12.50/mo Pay $12.50/month for the first 9 months<br>Regular rate is $49/month View Plan	$12.50/mo Pay $12.50/month for the first 9 months<br>Regular rate is $49/month	View Plan
Google Fi Wireless	Google Fi Wireless Unlimited Essentials for 1 Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data T-Mobile 5G Network in select areas with compatible devices No mobile hotspot data Deal: Get 50% off this plan for 12 months when you bring your own phone and activate a new line on Unlimited Essentials plan $18.00/mo View Plan	$18.00/mo	View Plan

Methodology

We surveyed 1,000 American adults using Pollfish. Results are post-stratified.

Max McCaskill

Sr. Staff Writer

Max is a Senior Staff Writer at WhistleOut, specializing in mobile plans, operating systems, and carrier news. He regularly tests and reviews dozens of phone plans firsthand, evaluating real-world data speeds, coverage reliability, and plan features. He's been featured in publications such as Yahoo Finance, AARP, AP News, and GoBankingRates.

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