New report shows the impact of hardware on employee wellbeing
Employees feel the least sense of control over technology in the workplace, according to a new report, which could explain why some workers continue to prefer working from home despite office-return orders.
Fresh findings from Logitech revealed a "control tax" that employees are experiencing when it comes to tech tools provided in the workplace.
This "control tax" stems from small hardware frictions that employees encounter throughout their day, including a lagging video call connection or friction when switching between devices.
The office is a hotspot for these frictions, Logitech pointed out, saying it "ranks dead last for control."
"That disconnect has a real emotional cost. Employees who have personalised, even high-performance, setups at home often walk into offices that offer none of that same comfort or command, trading the tools that help them thrive for a standard that few would choose on their own," the report read.
"The result is a jarring contrast between confidence and flow at home, and frustration and lack of focus in the office – the very place calling for workplace productivity. For hybrid workers especially, that inconsistency may affect mood, focus and energy on the very days they are expected to collaborate and perform in person."
In fact, the report found that poor tech quality can result in feelings of frustration, anxiety and anger (64%), as well as helplessness, embarrassment or exhaustion (46%).
Another 58% experience physical discomfort, such as wrist pain, eye strain and neck fatigue, at least monthly from their tech setup.
Opportunity for employers
The report underscored that employers have an opportunity to make things better for employees.
"When companies invest in equipment and setups that give employees autonomy and physical comfort, they are removing the very fiction that gets in the way of the performance they want," the report read.
Experiencing a sense of command of their tools at work can make 85% of employees more confident at work, the report found.
Having a good tech setup in the workplace can also help employees experience focus and peak performance, according to another 82% of workers.
Tech quality also impacts the job satisfaction of 69% of employees, and can even affect the overall mood of another 64% after work hours.
"Control over workplace technology can bring big advantages to individual workers. So, imagine how that multiplies at the team and organisational level," said Art O'Gnimh, Vice President and General Manager, Mice and Keyboards at Logitech, in a blog post.
The report urged employers to start measuring the human impact of tech tools provided at work, even through a short survey twice a year, in order to gain insights that leadership can address.
Employers should also learn from employees about what's working for them at home and why, recognising that their personal setups are the "clearest blueprint" of what can keep them focused.
"The next step is simple: ask people directly what is making their day harder than it needs to be, and what would make it easier," the report read.
