With the advancements in technology , the way we work has seen unprecedented changes. The digital workspace has undoubtedly become more convenient and accessible, but the hidden cost of the hyperconnected workspace means that, mentally, one never truly leaves work. Every workspace is digital, regardless of mode—onsite, hybrid, or online.
A study by the University of Nottingham, published in Frontiers in Organizational Psychology, delved deeply into the dark side of digital work, its challenges, and the mental pressure of always staying connected to work through digital technology. ALSO READ: Year ender 2024: Mental health trends and habits in workplace that everyone is talking about Challenges of digital workplace The researchers extensively examined the consequences of the interconnected digital workspace and formulated some key concepts based on their observations and experiments. The first concept is Digital Workplace Technology Intensity (DWTI), which captures the extreme strain of mental and emotional efforts required to keep up with the hyperconnected work environment.
Employees fear they will miss out on important work-related updates now that they are always connected via digital devices. If they don’t respond immediately, they fear what others will say—for instance, a work-from-home employee may worry that others will think, “What are they even doing at home?” This puts more pressure on them to always be active and not miss out on anything. It indicates the.