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ABSTRACT
This article examines digital communication in the workplace and its association with wellbeing at work. The analysis is based mainly on workshop discussions and is complemented with log data (N = 36). Content analysis was applied to the workshop discussions, while the log data were analyzed by quantifying frequencies. Six themes were found to affect wellbeing at work: the volume of digital communication, expectations of constant connectivity, the quality of the messages, adaptation of new tools, technical problems, and flexibility in communication. In relation to wellbeing at work, digital communication was mostly perceived as demanding. However, some of the factors perceived as demanding could also provide flexibility, which was seen as enhancing wellbeing by increasing autonomy and control. Social factors, such as work habits, practices, and conventions in the workplace, seem to play an important role in the manifestation and management of the digital communication-induced load at work.
KEYWORDS
Communication technology / digital work environment / information ergonomics / technostress / wellbeing at work
Introduction
Today's knowledge work is characterized by digital communication and constant connectivity, which may have various implications for wellbeing at work. Digital tools can, for example, provide flexibility and autonomy but also lead to an increase in job demands and unclear boundaries between work and nonwork life (Hoonakker, 2014). A major part of the workday can be spent in asynchronous communication, which causes task fragmentation (Wajcman & Rose, 2011). Previous research has shown that even in asynchronous communication, there is often normative pressure to react immediately, which may manifest, for example, in repeated communication activities or in the sending of a copy of a message to other people to pressure the recipient to reply quickly (Barley et al., 2011). This kind of telepressure has been associated with stress-related effects, such as burnout, sleep problems, and health-related absenteeism (Barber & Santuzzi, 2015). Asynchronous communication and telepressure also often increase spillover from work to free time. To manage work-related matters, employees often check email at home (Barley et al., 2011). This behavior has a negative effect on recovery and can cause work-life conflict (Barber & Santuzzi, 2015; Diaz et al., 2012). In addition, the large amount and poor quality of email have been associated with emotional exhaustion, especially if the workplace...