A significant portion of the UK workforce feels compelled to always appear available online, driven by status indicators.
- 44% of UK employees report stress related to maintaining a continuous online presence.
- 26% feel pressured to demonstrate productivity through status indicators.
- 14% of workers perceive a lack of trust from their employers due to online availability demands.
- Despite their challenges, status indicators help some in understanding colleague availability and time management.
A significant portion of the UK workforce feels compelled to always appear available online, driven by status indicators. The recent findings from a report by Perkbox Vivup reveal that 44% of UK employees experience pressure to seem continually available. This pressure primarily stems from workplace tools such as Microsoft Teams and Slack that utilize status indicators.
44% of UK employees report stress related to maintaining a continuous online presence. The study, which surveyed 600 desk-based employees in September 2023, highlights the anxiety and stress caused by the expectation to be constantly visible online. This expectation leads to a sense of having to always be ‘on,’ impacting their mental health significantly.
26% feel pressured to demonstrate productivity through status indicators. These individuals feel a persistent need to keep their status set to ‘available’ to show they are working. For 12% of workers, this translates into an inability to disconnect from work, leading to increased stress and anxiety.
14% of workers perceive a lack of trust from their employers due to online availability demands. A portion of the workforce feels that the push for online visibility reflects a lack of trust, causing further tension. As Karl Bennett, Wellbeing Director at Perkbox Vivup, notes, employees are not always aware of how these indicators impact their mental state and may resort to changing their status to manage stress.
Despite their challenges, status indicators help some in understanding colleague availability and time management. Interestingly, over half of the respondents found these tools beneficial for gauging when colleagues are available. Additionally, 25% felt that status indicators facilitated better time management.
The interplay between technology and workplace culture necessitates clear boundaries and mutual trust to mitigate stress among employees.
