According to the August 2001 Xylo Report: Internet Usage in the Workplace, nearly seven in ten American workers now have access to the Internet at work, compared to less than five in ten a year ago. Along gender lines, men and women seem to use the Internet equally; but among younger age groups (18 to 34 years old), women are 20 percent more likely to use it at work than men, and men are 21 percent more likely than women to use it for personal reasons. When using the Internet at work for personal reasons, men and women also seem to derive different benefits from the practice - more women say that it makes them happier and less stressed, while more men say that it helps them be better workers.

The Xylo Report is a national survey on work/life issues conducted six times yearly by Wirthlin Worldwide for Xylo, Inc. Xylo is a leading provider of Web-based work/life solutions used by Fortune 500 and other thought-leading companies to attract and retain employees. The company commissioned Wirthlin Worldwide, a leading opinion research firm, to survey 1,001 U.S. adults over the age of 18 during the period of August 3 - 6, 2001. This survey has a margin of error of /- 3.8 percent. Sixty-five percent of the 1,001 respondents qualified for this survey by being employed.

The August 2001 Xylo Report: Internet Usage in the Workplace is studying the changes in public opinion today as compared to responses to the same questions asked a year ago in August of 2000. The topics revisited include:

-        Use of the Internet at work.

-        Use of the Internet and productivity. 

-        Use of the Internet at work for personal reasons.

Key Findings

Compared to last year, more employees have access to the Internet at work and more report boosts in productivity because of the Internet usage.

This year´s survey also found that people who use the Internet a lot every day are more likely to say that it enhances productivity, compared to people who use it only once or twice a week (86 percent vs. 49 percent).

Young women use the Internet more at work, but more young men use the Internet at work for personal reasons.

Men and women seem to use the Internet equally at work (39 percent and 43 percent respectively), but significant differences are observed in the 18-34 age group. The difference in Internet usage levels at work disappears in older men and women who are 35 to 54 years old (46 percent vs. 45 percent respectively).

Personal use of the Internet in the workplace impacts some groups more than others.

More men than women report that using the Internet at work for personal reasons has a positive impact (59 percent vs. 47 percent), such as making them happier and less stressed, or helping them do a better job. However, they derive different benefits from the practice.