FINDING A BALANCE

The human cost of the digital transformation of the workplace

For a while now, the digital experience in our personal lives has surpassed our digital experience at work. We’re able to connect with others and share ideas more quickly than ever. We have access to information and content anytime, anywhere. There is an abundance of intuitive self-service applications that make our lives easier every day. Individuals have now come to expect the same high-touch experience at work as they do in their personal lives. As the digital experience at work continues to catch up to our personal lives, a transformation is taking place as our work lives are increasingly disrupted by technological advancements that can be to the detriment of worklife balance.

Collaboration and Connectivity Tools

Collaboration tools have no doubt made it easier for us to connect to colleagues across different geographies, and the ability to work remotely has enabled people to balance their work with their personal lives. But there are unintended consequences to the benefits afforded by these opportunities — the “human debt,” the cost associated with technological advancements. In his book, Back to Human, Dan Schawbel explains that “despite the illusion of 24/7 connection, in reality, most workers feel isolated from their colleagues, their organization, and their leaders.”[i] In addition to the feelings of isolation at work, the value from always being connected has reframed the notion of work-life balance into work-life integration, as 53 percent of Americans work over the weekend and 52 percent work outside designated working hours, according to the American Psychological Association. [ii]