GenMobile is a term coined by Aruba Networks, a provider of network access solutions for the mobile enterprise. It refers to a growing demographic of young ones, including me, who list Wi-Fi as an integral addition in the 2K14 rewrite of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs — something that is equally important as safety and love.
Some would argue that safety or love could be replaced with Wi-Fi as well. I wouldn’t, since my better half also belongs to the #GenMobile and will probably see this article on Twitter… through her smartphone… at work… connected to her office’s Wi-Fi. She is lucky, but many are not.
As the #GenMobile youth graduate to a #GenMobile workforce, this new breed of employees has a few issues with the archaic system currently in place in most organisations. Information from a recent survey by Aruba Networks, conducted early this year, says majority of the current workforce in the UAE want Wi-Fi.
It is because in terms of mobile device ownership, the UAE is ranked one of the highest in the world. And the #GenMobile troop makes up the majority of the 84 per cent respondents in the country that own three or more connected devices. Additionally, 75 per cent of respondents prefer Wi-Fi over other connections (4G, 3G or wired).
It doesn’t stop there. When asked to choose between working from home for two to three days a week, or a 10 per cent pay rise, 48 per cent of us (including me), would prefer working from home. This statistic could be attributed to the fact that we enjoy far superior hardware, software and connectivity at home, when compared to a generic workplace.
It also could be due to our warm beds, our music systems and the lack of an appropriate dress-code, but since my bosses will be reading this too, I’ll stick with the excuse of superior computing and the advanced technology available at home.
This could also be the reason for 42 per cent of employees in the UAE believing that they are more efficient working from home rather than their offices.
For those who wonder why connectivity and BYOD (bring your own device) is such an issue, allow me to put things into perspective. About 25 per cent of us — again, me included – would rather have the permission to bring our own devices to work than have an office with a window, while 67 per cent would rather have their company pay for their choice of device than provide them with food.
Let that sink in for a minute: They would prefer to be provided with devices and gadgets rather than food. Since the majority of us probably have no hope in the near future to work remotely, work from home for half the week or have devices supplied to us, the most that we can campaign for right now is for our dear HR and IT departments to supply us with a basic human right — Wi-Fi.
If you feel that same way, join the conversation on Twitter @GNFocus #WeWantWifi
UAE workers want Wi-Fi
#Genmobile workforce in the UAE want Wi-Fi in their offices