Work-Related Communication Technology Use Outside of Regular Work Hours and Work Life Conflict

Abstract This study investigates how the transition to remote work during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic is experienced by employees. We investigate to what extent perceived work stressors relate to psychological strain through perceptions of social support, work–life conflict, and adjustment to remote work. The findings expound the mechanisms underlying psychological strain in the context of sudden organizational change. Specifically, this study shows that both challenge stressors and hindrance stressors have negative impact on adjustment to remote work, whereas hindrance stressors are more strongly negatively related to social support. The study further demonstrates that there is hardly any buffering impact of job control, work structuring, and communication technology use on the implications of these work stressors. These findings contribute to our theoretical understanding and provide actionable implications for organizational policies in facilitating employees' adaptation to remote work.

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Association between Information and Communication Technology use and Ocular Axial Length Elongation among Middle-Aged Male Workers

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-019-53423-8 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Toru Honda ◽

Toru Nakagawa ◽

Yuya Watanabe ◽

Takeshi Hayashi ◽

Tadashi Nakano ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Information And Communication Technology ◽

Communication Technology ◽

Axial Length ◽

Technology Use ◽

Word Processing ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Work Related ◽

Ict Use ◽

Information And Communication ◽

Male Workers

AbstractThe use of Information and Communication Technology devices (ICT) has spread globally; therefore, increasing exposure to these display devices is an important health issue in the workplace. The association between ocular axial length (AL) elongation and ICT use was investigated among 7334 middle-aged Japanese male workers. Detailed ICT use information was obtained using a self-administered questionnaire. The high AL group was defined as the group with AL above the 75th percentile for each 5-year age interval. Logistic analysis showed that the odds ratio (OR) for the high AL group of >8 hours/day, adjusted for potent confounding factors, was significantly elevated relative to <1 hour/day. Notably, there was a strong association in the older groups (OR = 6.60, 95% CI = 3.92–11.12), based on work-related uses: word processing, sending e-mails, preparation of presentation materials, and browsing websites. In addition, among workers with extended ICT use for these work-related purposes, a significant lateral difference was observed in AL. However, these associations were not observed for private use, such as playing games. The results of our prospective cross-sectional study show that increased time spent on work-related ICT uses was associated with AL elongation, particularly in older workers.

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Clarifying the effect of work hours on health through work-life conflict

Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources ◽

10.1111/1744-7941.12065 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 53 (4) ◽

pp. 448-470 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Erich C Fein ◽

Natalie Skinner

Keyword(s):

Work Life ◽

Work Hours ◽

Work Life Conflict

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After-hours availability expectations, work-related smartphone use during leisure, and psychological detachment

International Journal of Workplace Health Management ◽

10.1108/ijwhm-07-2015-0050 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 146-164 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

Christin Mellner

Keyword(s):

Boundary Control ◽

Working Life ◽

Work Hours ◽

Content Type ◽

Work Related ◽

Psychological Detachment ◽

Smartphone Use ◽

After Hours ◽

Regular Work ◽

The Impact

Purpose – Modern working life is characterized by increased expectations for employees to be available to deal with work issues outside regular work hours and by using new communication technology. This implies more individual freedom in organizing work in time and space, but also places increased demands on employees to manage the boundaries between work and personal life. This, in turn, can be expected to be crucial to their ability to mentally detach from work during free time. The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether individual perceptions of boundary control moderate the impact of after-hours availability expectations and work-related smartphone use during off-work hours on psychological detachment. Design/methodology/approach – The study population comprised 2,876 gainfully employed professionals from four large organizations in both the public and private sector, representing various businesses and occupations. Univariate correlations and multiple, linear hierarchical multiple regression analyses were performed. Findings – High after-hours availability expectations, high frequency of work-related smartphone use, and low boundary control were associated with poor psychological detachment. Furthermore, boundary control moderated the relationships between both after-hours availability expectations and work-related smartphone use, respectively, and psychological detachment. As such, boundary control mitigated the negative effects of both after-hours availability expectations and work-related smartphone use during leisure on psychological detachment. Practical implications – Modern work organizations would benefit from introducing availability policies and helping employees reduce their work-related smartphone use outside regular work hours, thus helping them achieve successful boundary control and subsequent psychological detachment. Originality/value – In a working life characterized by blurred boundaries, employees’ ability to achieve boundary control can be regarded as crucial.

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