Hyperconnectivity in the workplace leaves employees overwhelmed and anxious

Digital working has been found to increase employee anxiety and productivity, according to a new study from the University of Nottingham. The study shows how digital workplaces lead to psychological and physical problems among employees, as they have to be constantly online and in contact with technology. Although digital workplaces have brought endless benefits, they have also created some problems and organizations must address these if they want to control the well-being of their employees. Researchers named this new feeling “Digital Workplace Technology Intensity (DWTI),” which speaks to the emotional and mental effort employees have to put in to always stay connected and check their notifications for any work. They also have to deal with information overload as well as technical problems that can arise during the work.

Digital workplaces enable flexible, collaborative work that employees can do anywhere, but employees also feel overburdened by the constant workload, making them more tired and straining their mental health. There is a feeling of pressure on employees who work digitally, as they always need to be informed, active and following work-related messages. Even when they are on vacation or enjoying their free time, they are still under pressure to check their work emails in case they miss something.

The study conducted in-depth interviews with 14 employees aged 27 to 60 from different industries working in a digital workplace. The results of the interview highlighted five key characteristics that employees had to deal with. The first was hyperconnectivity, which blurs the lines between their professional and personal lives, with employees feeling like they need to be connected to their work at all times. Another issue was productivity anxiety, as employees report fearing being labeled as unproductive when working remotely. There was also FOMO (fear of missing out) at work, as employees felt they might miss important updates or messages if they weren’t constantly connected. There is also “technology overload” with many digital communication and work tools, which can also lead to technical difficulties at any time.

Employees say that it is very difficult to leave work at work because there are many technology tools and online connectivity options that allow you to work anytime and anywhere. The researchers also mentioned some suggestions for employers, such as developing stronger professional skills in employees, addressing issues related to technology platforms that overwhelm employees, ensuring that employees establish boundaries between personal life and professional and understand their needs and preferences when using digital. functioning.

Image: DIW-Aigen

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