The emerging trend of digitalisation is blurring the lines between work and personal life. A growing culture of work-related communication outside regular working hours, facilitated by various forms of contact such as phone calls, emails, social networking services, social media, and other applications, is leading to cognitive fatigue. This, in turn, negatively impacts the emotional well-being of employees.
According to a Harvard Business Review report, employees frequently interrupted by digital notifications experience higher levels of stress and frustration, which can lead to burnout.
The human cost
Asif (name changed), a production unit employee in the pharmaceutical industry, shared his concerns about the impact of WhatsApp messages on his work-life balance. “My job is already taxing,” he said. “After returning home exhausted, I continue receiving professional instructions, assignments, and deadline reminders, requiring me to be online and responsive outside office hours.”
This constant vigilance and responding to messages after duty hours causes cognitive fatigue. Moreover, ensuring language accuracy in responses is time-consuming. As a result, I have limited time for my family and children, and household chores suffer, leading to an unbalanced life.
A public servant who asked not to be named conveyed a similar version.
“I am an employee in a subordinate position, and I find WhatsApp, when used as an official communication tool, to be a headache. Without any standard operating procedures (SOPs), it disrupts my rest, my leave time, and both my social and personal life. While jobs have designated duty hours, WhatsApp has turned employees into 24/7 workers. I don’t have any spare time; I truly cannot spend a day with my family or friends without being distracted or in a good mood. Official alerts, notifications, and messages follow and haunt me day and night. Disappointingly, I sometimes face reprimands and warnings from my superiors for disobedience and non-compliance if I miss any official notification or message. On the other hand, I cannot see any advantages or progress—despite the toll on my health—in terms of official productivity. WhatsApp is not used as an alternative but rather as an additional burden alongside regular tasks. Consequently, it adds to the workload of employees and complicates official processes."
Digital wellness experts are convinced that unregulated digital correspondence between lower and higher levels in the hierarchies of power and managerial desks is unleashing psychological problems such as stress, fear of losing jobs, and retribution emanating from failure to live up to availability expectations .This is going take a toll on the health of those expected to be present on the digital landscape for routine departmental instructions and implementation roadmaps.
To promote digital boundaries, leaders can start by setting clear expectations and models for healthy digital behaviours
According to an article published in the Journal Of Occupational Health, titled "Beyond working hours: the association between long working hours, the use of work-related communication devices outside regular working hours, and anxiety symptoms." Based on cross-sectional data from the Sixth Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS), specifically the responses from 46,055 workers, the use of work-related communication devices outside of regular working hours, long working hours and anxiety symptoms were assessed. This cross-sectional study came up with the following findings, which should be an opener for the industries and organisations in Pakistan that have normalised work-related communication outside regular working hours.
The study revealed that the use of work-related communication devices outside regular work hours is associated with an increased risk of anxiety. Furthermore, it was confirmed that using work-related communication devices outside of working hours was associated with a greater risk of developing anxiety symptoms than long working hours. It was found that using work communication devices outside of working hours is associated with increased the risk of anxiety symptoms, regardless of gender. The use of such devices outside regular working hours can lead to excessive work engagement and hinder work detachment in employees. Work engagement refers to the emotional involvement or commitment of workers toward their work, and when excessive it can disrupt the balance between work and personal life. This can lead to an increase in fatigue, stress, burnout, and consequently induce anxiety symptoms. Contrastingly, work detachment refers to an individual’s sense of being away from work situations. According to other studies, detachment from work during off-hours is beneficial for workers’ well-being and job performance. However, when work-related communication devices are used outside regular working hours, work detachment is compromised, which negatively affects rest and stress relief. This can potentially manifest as heightened anxiety symptoms and adverse mental health effects.
Moreover, this study suggests that using work-related communication devices outside of working hours poses a greater risk of developing anxiety symptoms than working long hours alone. Although long working hours may have a defined end time, the use of work-related communication devices can extend beyond working hours. This blurs the boundaries between work and private life, leaving workers disconnected from their daily lives and negatively affecting their mental health. Moreover, the unpredictability of work-related contact can negatively affect mental health by limiting autonomy and control over one’s life."
Challenges faced by employees
Both public and private sector employees expected to be online shared identical complaints of digitally-induced stress.
They complained that such demanding duty causes cognitive fatigue, ultimately undermining concentration and subsequent planning and performance. Another concern conveyed by the employees was the slow cellular internet service in Pakistan, which is also hampering digital correspondence and causing delays – consuming more time in terms of responding to communications, not to mention inflated charges of cellular internet packages thanks to the government’s failure of regulatory oversight when it comes to ensuring internet service and price controls.
The lower tier of management is already facing difficulties in terms of covering long distances to reach workplaces by public transport, which is poorly managed. Those in higher levels of managerial hierarchies, sitting and traveling in air conditioned offices and vehicles, don't feel the burden in question.
Reportedly, in Pakistan, the private sector employs 90% of the labour force, while the public sector only employs 10%. Small and medium-sized companies, as well as large multinational corporations, are all part of the private sector which have the potential to generate jobs in many different fields, including IT, banking, agriculture, textiles, telecommunications, manufacturing and service industries.
Expecting employees to be online beyond working hours is nothing but modern-day slavery. Shrinking time for private and practical life is psychologically depressing in every imaginable way. The authoritarian atmosphere prevalent in the private job market silences employees, forcing them to relinquish their fundamental right to advocate for a healthy work-life balance and safeguard their personal well-being.
Employees in private jobs also face several significant challenges. Economic instability and inflation contribute to precarious work conditions, leading to fears of layoffs and unemployment. Unlike government jobs, private sector roles often come with high expectations for performance and productivity. Many private jobs offer fewer benefits compared to public sector employment, impacting job satisfaction and financial security. The demand for flexibility can lead to burnout, as employees struggle to balance work and personal life. Also, a mismatch between employee skills and job requirements can hinder career advancement and job security.
The positives
In response to my inquiry about the growing culture of work-related communication through WhatsApp offices, a senior bureaucrat, speaking anonymously, also cited benefits such as:
1-Faster communication between individuals and institutions
2-Reduced postage expenditures
3-Lower stationary expenses in public sector offices
However, another bureaucrat disputed these claims, arguing that while communication may be faster, expenditures are not entirely avoidable. He explained that hard copies are still sent for official records and proper documentation, given the vulnerability of digital files to be hacked and corrupted.
What can be done
Human Resources departments have a critical role to play in mitigating these issues.
By establishing clear boundaries and promoting work-life balance, HR can help minimise anxiety and optimise employee performance. It's essential to recognise the human cost of relentless digital connectivity and take proactive measures to protect employees' mental health.
The author of A Digital Wellness in the Workplace: Why it Matters? Stefanco Calvetti has offered some prescriptions.
To promote digital boundaries, leaders can start by setting clear expectations and models for healthy digital behaviours. They can communicate expectations: clearly define work hours and communication protocols outside those times.
Moreover, they can lead by example, by avoiding sending late-night emails or scheduling unnecessary meetings outside of work hours.
They can also encourage communication by creating a culture where employees feel comfortable discussing their workload and requesting time off to disconnect.
Healthy boundaries are a clear demonstration of respect for team members' personal lives, creating a more balanced, productive work environment.
Workplaces can organise workshops or training sessions on topics like digital minimalism, time management tools and techniques for managing distractions.
Provide Resources: Share articles, apps, and other resources that promote healthy tech use and mindfulness practices. It will be crucial also to create a safe space for employees to discuss their digital well-being challenges and share tips.
Naureen, who works in a garments factory, said, “When I return home from work, my children demand undivided attention as they excitedly share their stories about school or home activities. However, they get irritated when they catch me scrolling through my phone while responding to work-related messages. But what can I do? I'm expected to be available online. After all, it's a matter of livelihood."
Sameena, an employee at an English language teaching organisation, shared a similar story. Even holidays, she says, are not spared. “I get emails asking me to fill out work forms, which is really alarming and unprofessional”
According to Basecamp co-founder Jason Fried, work should not consume your life; it ought to enhance it.
The primary goal of employment is to secure a satisfying and meaningful life. Yet, excessive work demands, particularly digital correspondence beyond regular hours, can erode peace of mind and personal well-being.
Policymakers and organisational leaders must prioritise creating a supportive environment that fosters employee well-being, encourages disconnection from work outside office hours, and promotes a sustainable balance between professional and personal life.
Digital health experts warn that an unregulated or undefined digital presence is very harmful to the mental well-being of employees. They are not machines. They need time for their families, recreational activities and household chores.
No one can deny the benefits of modern communication methods. Nevertheless, research-based approaches suggest that unregulated digital connectivity beyond working hours constitutes an encroachment upon employees' personal lives. This issue demands that policymakers and organisational leaders prioritise introspection and subsequent strategic planning to establish a healthier -work-life balance.