Australian workers are increasingly technophobic with almost half yearning for a time before mobile phones, email and text messaging, according to research.

A survey of 1,000 Australian office workers by recruitment agency Talent2 found 54% of them believed that technology, including mobile phones, mobile emails and laptops, made their working day far longer.

It has also made workers more accessible to bosses, with 21% of respondents saying their employers text, email or phone them out of office hours to discuss business.

But 76% said out-of-hours calls, texts or emails from the boss were out of order; rather than a normal part of working life. Only 8% said they resented the intrusion.

Australian workers firmly believed things had got worse at work because of technology.  Thirty nine per cent said technological advancement had detracted from their personal lives and they would rather go back to a slower-paced time where workers could not be contacted after hours.

Australians have developed a 24 hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week mentality, Talent2's Jonathon Morse said.

"As a result they are putting in 40 to 50 hours a week, surrendering their leisure time because of technology such as the mobile phone and email," he said.

"Mobile emails are just making things worse."

Morse warned employers against working their employees too hard, saying they would burn out.
 
"There is a tangible downside to overwork from on-the-job injuries to sickies, to demotivation and mental health problems," he said.