Excessive use of digital tools is driving burnout among employees
The widespread use of technology in workplaces is driving digital burnout among employees, highlighting the need for employers to encourage the smarter use of digital tools at work.
New findings from Shift revealed that 62% of users experience digital burnout either occasionally or regularly, while 31% rarely or never intentionally unplug.
This burnout is a result of people's excessive use of digital tools either at home or at work.
According to Shift's findings, 50% of employees use three to five applications a day for work. They also spend four to six hours of their workday online.
Another research from Ezra Coaching also indicated that half of employees find it difficult to "switch off" from work after their shift, further driving digital burnout.
"Digital burnout has become one of the biggest threats to aspirational young professionals and entrepreneurs alike, affecting millions of workers across the Millennial and Gen Z demographics," Hello Ezra said.
"And while it's an issue that has been growing for several years, the pandemic has caused a significant increase."
On alert for digital burnout
Employers are warned that digital burnout is a recipe for business disaster, stressing that it can hurt the business and employees directly.
There are various signs of digital burnout among employees. According to e-learning platform DynDevice, its symptoms include:
- Decreased physical energy
- Decline in attention
- Loss of motivation
Employers can address digital burnout by encouraging smarter use of digital tools, DynDevice suggested.
"For example, introduce a digital project and task management tool that helps your employees divide their days into blocks dedicated to a single task," it said.
"This will safeguard the time and attention they devote to that specific task and reduce their work overload."
It also discouraged the use of computers or phones during meetings to avoid employees getting distracted by a notification or email.
"It's what's called multitasking, but it can severely undermine the well-being of your employees," it added.
Employers should also encourage breaks to ensure that employees don't spend a lot of hours in front of their screens. They should also set limits on the workday to ensure that employees are not invited to meetings and other events outside their working hours.
"The many factors that cause digital employee burnout can be solved with small changes in the way the organisation and leaders interact with employees on a daily basis and show recognition and appreciation for the work they do," DynDevice said.
