The rise of digital technologies in the workplace was supposed to herald an era of flexible work where we wouldn’t be tethered to our desk 9-5.  It would enable work to be less location and time dependent and give us the freedom to work where, when and how we liked, just so long as the work was done on time and to the desired quality.

At least that was the dream, except most workplaces didn’t really get that memo.  Instead of being freed, many workers report being enslaved by digital devices.  They’re still largely tethered to the rigidity of 9-5 office life, but are now expected to be available at all other times as well.

A recent study from Virginia Tech highlights how dangerous this can be to the health and wellbeing of employees, with the constant demand to be online leading to anxiety and a range of other health issues, both for the employee themselves, and their family.

“The competing demands of work and nonwork lives present a dilemma for employees,” the researchers say, “which triggers feelings of anxiety and endangers work and personal lives.”

It’s fairly well known that stress in the workplace tends to be taken home with us and have an impact on our personal life.  This is especially so when the act of bringing work home with us prevents us from fulfilling any nonwork roles we have.

Porous boundaries

The study amply demonstrated that it is not necessary even to spend actual time on work tasks out of office hours to experience these harmful effects.  All it takes is for there to be an expectation of availability for employees and their families to be put under strain.

This impact is particularly damaging because whereas blatant work-related demands make clear calls on your physical and psychological resources, the impact of being ‘always on’ can often go unaccounted for.  Indeed, in many circumstances it can be regarded as a benefit by being more convenient or giving people more autonomy and control over their work-life balance.

“Our research exposes the reality: ‘flexible work boundaries’ often turn into ‘work without boundaries,’ compromising an employee’s and their family’s health and well-being,” the authors say.

Maintaining the balance

So what can we do, both as managers and employees to ensure that the balance is maintained?  The most obvious first step is to implement clear policies that reduce the expectation on employees to monitor and respond to electronic communication outside of work hours.

If that’s not possible, managers should establish clear boundaries as to what is and is not acceptable to communicate via email or instant message outside of normal office hours.  The authors even suggest establishing a period of time during which out of hours emailing is acceptable and employees might be expected to respond.

It’s also important to make sure that any expectations are not only transparent, but communicated clearly and upfront when someone joins an organization.  If people know what is expected of them, it’s likely to reduce the amount of tension and anxiety they feel when at home with their family.

From the individuals perspective, they could engage in things such as mindfulness or meditation to reduce any anxiety they might feel, or indeed engage in various other activities that help to reduce their stress levels when they get home.

“Employees today must navigate more complex boundaries between work and family than ever before,” the authors conclude. “Employer expectations during nonwork hours appear to increase this burden, as employees feel an obligation to shift roles throughout their nonwork time.”