How can remote communication channels create more stress in employees?
By Samuel Porter
Remote working is more popular than ever. With the time and money saved on a daily commute, it’s no surprise that employees are happy working from home.
However, there are some aspects of working remotely which all employees (and employers) should be aware of. Of course, teams need to keep up communication with one another – but remote communication channels can cause unnecessary stress when there are no clear guidelines on how to stay in touch remotely.
The most common causes of stress as a result of remote communication channels are due to the following factors:
When you work remotely, it can be hard to establish a clear boundary between when you’re working and when you’re not – especially if you work from your own home.
#1 They create an always-on culture
Add to this the constant nature of communication channels and it can be a recipe for disaster. You may check your emails in the evenings or be on your phone in the morning before you’re at your desk
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Having notifications turned on means you’ll always get told when someone has tried to contact you – regardless of whether they need a quick response or not. And when you have numerous communications channels (emails, instant messages, software alerts etc.), it can feel like you’re always working.
#2 There tends to be a lack of clarity on expectations
For employees, it’s important to have clear times when you’re working and contactable and when you’re not. You may also decide to have focus time at work during which you aren’t expecting to reply immediately. Communicating these preferences helps to keep everyone on the same page and sets the right example for maximising digital workplace wellness.
Numerous businesses made the rushed switch to remote working during the coronavirus pandemic. The situation wasn’t ideal in terms of getting employees set up for success at home, especially with all of the additional worries at that time.
As a result, a lot of companies don’t have established guidelines on remote communications – including guidelines on response times, which channels to use for what, and so on. This confusion can create stress for employees when everyone is doing different things.
Establishing some clarity around all of the channels you use is beneficial for everyone. If you’re an employee and feel like you’re lacking this guidance from your manager, start the conversation sooner rather than later.
#3 Notifications keep us hooked
There’s a reason we feel a pull towards our notifications and screens, whether that’s work or personal. In fact, we can get addicted to the little dopamine hits we get from our notifications. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that helps us feel pleasure and keeps us coming back for more, checking our phones over and over again in search of that next fix because anticipation of a reward can be just as powerful as the reward itself. So when we see a notification pop up, our brains get ready for a dose of dopamine.
And it’s not just notifications – anything that can give us a quick and easy dopamine hit (think: likes on social media, new emails, etc.) can keep us coming back for more. So be aware of the role dopamine plays in your relationship with your devices, and try to break the cycle when you can.
Author Bio
Samuel Porter is a business advisor and technology expert who helps businesses balance productivity and wellbeing with the help of automation. Samuel has worked in a wide range of industries, developing an in-depth understanding of how to best apply automation in order to improve efficiency.
The views and opinions expressed in this post are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect all or some of our beliefs and policy. Any links on this page do not necessarily mean they have been endorsed by Defying Mental Illness.
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