The urge to reply to work emails at home could be affecting our physical and mental health
Responding to work emails during leisure time is associated with poorer physical and psychological health, according to a new study.
The study, Email engagement in leisure time and health and productivity, by Dr Elizabeth Braithwaite, Senior Lecturer in Psychology at Manchester Metropolitan University, also explains that this is an unintended consequence of agile working. The pressure to answer work emails at home is part of a phenomenon called Work-home interference (WHI).
Dr Elizabeth Braithwaite said: “It’s really interesting to look at how email engagement links with health, mental health and productivity in white collar workers. Advances in technology have changed our working lives, often for the better. But one of the unintended consequences of having technology- driven jobs is that we’re constantly chained to work through a kind of ‘electronic leash’.”
The term ‘electronic leash’ was coined by French politician, Benoit Hamon. According to Dr Braithwaite, there are many reasons why it can be difficult for us to disengage with work in a digital age, including societal pressure to even the pressure we put on ourselves.
Dr Braithwaite added: “With emails accessible on your phone, it’s so easy to check. If, for example, you get a positive email, you almost want to keep checking to see if you get that kind of hit of reward again.
“It was much clearer 20 or 30 years ago when you drove to work, sat in your office, drove home and didn’t think about work. But now, during our leisure time many of us are thinking about work and able to access it. We know that the increase of work-home interference is related to stress in the workplace, but also stress at home.”
Work-related stress is a significant issue globally, with the World Health Organisation reporting that an estimated 12 billion working days are lost every year to depression and anxiety.
You can read Email engagement in leisure time and health and productivity by following the link here.
