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​Digital technology has revolutionised the way we work, communicate, and live. 

While advancements in digital tools have undoubtedly enhanced productivity and efficiency, the constant presence of the ‘black mirror’ has caused many to become burnt out.  

Managers have a responsibility to support their employees’ wellbeing, which can have a twofold impact: affecting performance as well as how people feel about their work. If left unchecked, the pressure of overwork can lead to long-term sickness or cause people to look for a new job.  

Understanding digital burnout

Digital burnout refers to the mental and emotional exhaustion occurring from prolonged exposure to digital devices and online activities. It manifests as feelings of fatigue, anxiety, apathy, and disengagement, ultimately impairing cognitive function and diminishing overall wellbeing. Burnout in general is an extreme form of stress – stress is when your battery is running low; burnout is when it’s gone completely flat. 

As employees are flooded with incessant notifications, overwhelming workloads, and blurred boundaries between their professional and personal lives, employers must implement strategies to support their workforce. 

Zoom fatigue

Remote workers are at even greater risk of digital burnout, with no opportunity to unplug for coffee breaks with colleagues or in-person meetings that hybrid or office-based workers have.  

Research published in 2023’s Nature journal, suggests that face-to-face communication is more beneficial than video conferencing because it provides more nuanced personal and social information (body language, voice pitch, gaze, head position etc.) promoting trust between participants.  

The authors of the report speculated that video calls can cause mental tiredness and anxiety, due to “a focus on appearance, prolonged eye contact, larger faces due to screen size, and the perceived dominance of a communication partner due to low camera position; and a cognitive burden due to a slight technological asynchrony of video calls”.  

Traditional phone calling can eliminate a lot of these elements, reducing eye strain and anxiety and increasing the focus on the content of the conversation, but face-to-face communication is still the healthiest option. 

Supporting employees experiencing digital burnout

Despite more than 78% of employers adopting hybrid working, for desk-based roles post pandemic, a recent KPMG CEO Outlook survey found 63% of UK leaders predicted a full return to full-time office working by 2026. Already, many employers, such as Boots, have mandated a full return to the office. But is that the answer? Remote working offers too many benefits to rule it out completely.  

Employers play a pivotal role in mitigating digital burnout and fostering employee wellbeing while employees work from home. Here are some practical strategies to support your workforce, whether they work remotely, hybridly, or five days a week in an office:  

Promote work-life balance

Encourage employees to establish clear boundaries between work and personal life. Implement policies such as designated 'unplugged' hours or days, where employees are discouraged from checking work-related communications outside of allotted times. 

Demonstrate healthy digital habits and boundaries as leaders within the organisation. Encourage managers and executives to model balanced work practices, such as setting clear communication expectations and respecting employees' time off.  

Digital detox initiatives

Organise digital detox challenges or workshops aimed at promoting mindfulness, stress reduction, and digital wellbeing. Encourage employees to disconnect from digital devices periodically and engage in offline activities to recharge and rejuvenate.  

The 20-20-20 rule is widely advised to prevent eye strain – looking away from a screen for 20 seconds, 20 feet away, every 20 minutes. Although, some suggest those who work an eight-hour shift should get up from their desks for 5-10 minutes per hour.  

Communication and education

Provide training and education on digital literacy, time management, and stress management techniques. Equip employees with strategies to effectively manage digital distractions, prioritise tasks, and maintain a healthy work-life balance. At Reed, we host internal and external webinars and training courses as well as providing dedicated courses for our staff. 

Create a culture of open communication where employees feel comfortable discussing their challenges and seeking support. Check in regularly with team members, offering a listening ear and empathy. Offering flexible work arrangements, such as remote work options or flexible hours empowers employees to manage their schedules, fosters autonomy and reduces the pressure to be constantly connected. 

Conclusion

Digital burnout poses a significant challenge for today’s workforce, but with proactive support and intervention, employers can mitigate its impact and create a culture that prioritises employee wellbeing, therefore safeguarding organisational success.    

If a new employer is the answer to digital burnout, or you’re just looking for someone new to join your team, contact your nearest Reed office.

​​In the past, workplace monitoring was relatively simplistic: employers relied on visual supervision and basic timekeeping systems, and the concept of privacy was limited.

Fast forward to the digital age. Employee monitoring has reached new levels of sophistication and become common practice for employers seeking to boost productivity, enhance security, and ensure compliance with regulations.

Improved productivity and deeper insights

With the advancement of technology, including GPS tracking, computer monitoring software, and biometric identification systems, surveillance can provide employers with detailed insights into employee activities and performance.

One of the key benefits of employee monitoring is the ability to track and improve productivity levels. By monitoring employees' activities, employers can identify inefficiencies, analyse workflow processes, and provide targeted feedback to enhance performance. This data-driven approach allows companies to optimise their operations, allocate resources effectively, and ultimately improve their bottom line.

Monitoring can also help employers identify and address issues such as time theft, excessive breaks, and unauthorised activities in the workplace. With real-time monitoring tools, employers can detect irregularities and take corrective actions promptly, therefore improving accountability and integrity among employees.

Employee monitoring can also aid in compliance with regulations and industry standards. By keeping a close eye on electronic communications, websites visited, and files accessed, employers can ensure that employees adhere to data protection laws, maintain confidentiality, and comply with company policies. This proactive approach minimises the risk of data breaches and security incidents and also protects the company from potential legal liabilities.

Balancing surveillance and ethics

Despite the clear advantages of employee monitoring, it is crucial for organisations to approach this practice with sensitivity and respect for staff privacy. As a matter of course, employers should establish clear policies regarding monitoring practices, communicate openly with employees about the purpose and scope of monitoring, and ensure transparency in the use of monitoring tools.

Prioritise the protection of sensitive employee data by implementing robust security measures, restricting access to monitoring data, and complying with data protection regulations such as GDPR. These considerations can ease employees’ minds about any surveillance and even instil appreciation for such measures. After all, workplace security is in everyone’s best interests.

Download our best practice guide to employee monitoring

Our eBook, ‘Employee monitoring: a guide to best practices’ provides insight into how employers might best integrate employee monitoring into their organisation, and considerations for what the impact may be on employees. With opinion from thought leaders, it addresses everything from pre-employment checks to the tracking tech that might be right your organisation.

Looking to hire top talent for your organisation or to find your next dream role? Get in touch with one of our specialist consultants today.

​Employee monitoring can help ensure productivity and accountability among employees, as managers can track their work progress and identify areas where improvement is needed. Monitoring enhances data security by detecting and preventing unauthorised access or data breaches and additionally, it enables you to adhere to regulatory and compliance requirements, reducing legal risks. 

The key thing to remember is that workplace surveillance is perfectly acceptable, as long as you can legally justify your reasons, and it is always better to be ‘overt’, not ‘covert’.  

A report shows that despite normality returning to working life post-pandemic, demand for employee surveillance software is 49% above 2019 levels. 

Our eBook, ‘Employee monitoring: a guide to best practices’, provides insight from top experts in the field including:    

Keith Rosser, Director of Group Risk and Reed Screening, Reed 

Hayfa Mohdzaini, Senior Research Adviser, CIPD

 By downloading this eBook, you will discover:   

• What employee monitoring is 

• Whether it's needed for your business

• Considerations for introducing workplace monitoring  

• The benefits and drawbacks  

• Potential impact of surveillance on the workforce 

• Your duties as a responsible employer 

“Monitoring software that employees see as intrusive and unnecessary is more likely to erode mutual trust in the employment relationship. Employers need to show how using monitoring software can benefit employees, while respecting their privacy.” -Hayfa Mohdzaini, Senior Research Adviser, CIPD.