Blurring work-life communication – are you always on?

We talk about it a lot, but does a “work-life balance” really exist? What does it mean for people – and is it even a remote possibility in our age of hyper-connectivity?

Over the last decade, technology has become an even bigger part of our working lives, with companies regularly giving employees mobile phones,  laptops, and occasionally tablets. Many employees in Poland also use these connected devices for personal reasons outside of office hours, further blurring the lines between work and free time.

What has this done for our impression of a balanced life?

This blurring of the lines between what constitutes ‘work’ and what makes up ‘free time’ has an impact on happiness. How does this topic make today's working population feel about their professional life – and their private one?

Michael Page, part of PageGroup decided to investigate this phenomenon by conducting a survey of 543 people in Poland, over the period of July 2018. The results show significant levels of ‘blurring’between what constitutes their work life and their ‘free time’with 83% of Poland’s professionals using at least one connected work device outside of business hours.

More employees equipped with professional connected devices

It appears the old saying ‘always on call’ has never been so true. Over 83% of respondents are equipped with at least one device (mobile, laptop, tablet) from their company. When asked about what they use the device for, overall 40% said they only use it for professional purposes. However, the more senior a profile, the more the lines of separation blur, with 59% of managers saying they use the device for both professional and personal use.

Are employees "prisoners" of their devices?

 77% of people agree that their work devices have changed their lives, with 61% saying it was a negative change. The data shows that professional life really is encroaching on the personal. Over 70% of people answer their emails or take business calls outside of office hours. Is this really the ‘new normal’ for busy office workers and executives? Why?

Two main ideas point to why employees connect outside of hours – responsibility (65%) and obligation (42%). Interestingly, the split between these two ideas differs when it comes to gender, with 55% of women are required to be available compared to 72% of men.

Nearly 48% people work during their holidays

Interestingly, 48% of respondents said they would work during their vacation period. Even if this is a simple check of an inbox, or answering a phone call (or two), does this mean that disconnecting from work is a growing challenge in the 21^st century?

European and Polish labour laws are there to protect employees from overworking, stress and burnout, but are they fit for purpose? One route to help both the employer and the employee find that balance is remote working.  

Remote working: a good compromise?

Remote working lets employees work outside the office, normally on a voluntary basis, by using the connected devices that the company provides them.

A benefit to remote work for the employee (manager or non-manager) is the increase in control they have over their schedule – meaning that they can balance their workload with their other responsibilities.

About the study

Sample: the survey was conducted among a sample of 534 people in Poland,  including unemployed people, employees, and managers.

Methodology: the representativeness of the sample assured by an adjustment of the data (gender, occupation of the interviewee, proportion of people in a job).

Collection method: the interviews consisted of self-administered questionnaires completed online from July 2018. 

If you are looking for other ways to improve your happiness at work, check out our other advice articles on how to achieve a better working life.