There is no doubt that the internet has led to many changes in the ways we work. More and more people are now able to work remotely, or from home, meaning flexible hours, increased comfortability and for some it means they can spend more time with their family.
However, this leads to the issue of switching off.
“In the “always on”, networked, wireless world of the contemporary
office, traditional labour and management claims based on formal
working hours or the idea of full-time, part-time and casual employment
find significant challenges.”
Gregg, M 2009
Digital tools can provide many benefits, although they can also generate a lot of stress. It’s unsustainable for employees to be ‘always-on’, eventually most people become overwhelmed and crack under the pressure or burn out (McAllister et al. 2020).
It’s becoming increasingly difficult for people to monitor and stay on top of a never-ending flow of information. The chronic task of sorting through hundreds of emails only to receive two hundred more is reality for many workers. This, ’email overload’ is one of the most common experiences for the modern worker.
When we can send messages instantly we expect replies instantly. This just isn’t reasonable or realistic in most cases.
References:
Gregg, M 2009, Function creep: communication technologies and anticipatory labour in the information workplace, p.13.
McAllister, C, Steffensen D, Perrewe, P, brooks, C, Wang, G 2020, ‘How to Cope with That “Always-On” Feeling, Harvard Business Review, webblog post, May 21 2020, <https://hbr.org/2020/05/how-to-cope-with-that-always-on-feeling>
ALINA HAGER 
I really enjoyed reading this blog post. We both really expanded on the effects that technology has on the work place. We also both quoted Melissa Gregs, however I chose a quote that talked about employee patterns and behaviours and your quote from her explores the ideas of traditional workplace structures. Keep up the great work!
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Hey there! I noticed that we have explored similar concepts this week! Melissa Gregs really hits it on the head when she talks about the concept of full-time work. I think you and I share similarly critical views on the whole premise of working from home. It makes me wonder about the experience of the elder generation who are perhaps not as technologically literate and how they are dealing with working from home. I also fear the impact the ‘burn out’ effect will have on us as we enter the communications workplace where having a constant online presences is necessary. Great work!
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Hey! I loved the GIF in this blog post, VERY relatable and a great way to interact and connect with users on this week’s topic. I really like your research and it was a very clear and easy ready, not too long but just right and straight to the point. Great job 🙂
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This is a well researched blog, I think we have similar ideas about this topic! The only thing I would critique is to try and make your remediation a more central aspect to your blog. Overall it was great though.
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