Over two-fifths (44%) of the UK workforce feels the pressure to appear continuously available at work.
The findings come from a newly published report from Perkbox Vivup, the employee benefits, wellbeing and engagement experts, who surveyed 600 UK desk-based employees in September 2023 about their views on their desktop or laptop status indicator.
The ‘Always On’ Work Status report, which examines how workplace tools impact employee stress, found that online tools that use status indicators, such as Microsoft Teams and Slack, are impacting employee’s feelings of anxiety, stress and lack of trust.
Twenty-six percent of UK workers said the indicators make them feel continual pressure to show they’re working, while 14% said they don’t feel trusted. At the same time, 12% expressed the view that status indicators make them feel unable to turn off from work.
Karl Bennett, Wellbeing Director at Perkbox Vivup, said:
Employees potentially aren’t fully aware of the impact the status indicator has on their mental health and physiology. Indeed, there is a case to be made that employees who feel trusted and connected to their employers are less likely to be concerned about the status indicator and what it might negatively represent. However, we need to remember that we are biologically wired to react to threats by engaging our fight or flight response – this means many people who experience anxiety may feel an overwhelming desire to escape certain situations – or avoid them entirely.
Karl Bennett, Wellbeing Director at Perkbox Vivup
The survey further highlighted employees’ habits when managing online tools – 84% of individuals manually change their status indicators at some point. For instance:
- 10% manually change their status indicators to give the impression they’re busy
- 11% do so to not appear online when working overtime
- 9% manually change their status to ‘hide’ from managers and colleagues
- 52% said they changed it to accurately reflect when they are available
- 49% do so to avoid distraction during focus periods
- Over two thirds of respondents leave their signal on ‘available’ even when taking a break, perhaps making a cup of tea, using the toilet or talking to someone at home.
Jennifer Healy, Group Chief People Officer at Perkbox Vivup, added:
Many employees worry that their status is a reflection of their work and can lead to a perceived lack of trust – which can have a huge impact on culture. To ensure they’re creating an inclusive culture based on trust, employers need to provide clarity and share expectations, allowing employees to set boundaries and remain productive in their working day.
Jennifer Healy, Group Chief People Officer at Perkbox Vivup
There is a bright side to using status indicator tools – just over 50% of UK respondents said it helps them understand when their colleagues are available. In addition, 25% said it helps them manage their time.
However, the vast majority (83%) of employees overall don’t believe the status indicator helps their productivity. Healy believes there are steps organisations can take to prevent employees from feeling anxious. This includes:
- Employee surveys to understand issues unique to their organisation
- One-on-ones to discuss the impact of status indicators and employee’s view on productivity and trust
By defining the importance of status indicators and promoting team etiquette, organisations can enhance communication, build a respectful environment and increase productivity.
Joanne is the editor for Workplace Wellbeing Professional and has a keen interest in promoting the safety and wellbeing of the global workforce. After earning a bachelor's degree in English literature and media studies, she taught English in China and Vietnam for two years. Before joining Work Well Pro, Joanne worked as a marketing coordinator for luxury property, where her responsibilities included blog writing, photography, and video creation.