Despite calls to better understand how new workplace technologies shape employees’ lived experiences, particularly in the context of growing workforce diversity, including an increasing prevalence of employees living with mental health conditions (MHC), research has yet to fully examine how different patterns of technology use influence well-being. Drawing on sociotechnical systems theory, we propose that workplace technology is most supportive when digital tools are aligned with the social demands of work, including employees’ efforts to use digital tools at work to better manage demands and maintain relational connections. We conducted a two-wave field study with healthcare and social assistance workers (N = 67) to examine how their use of technology at work for different purposes (i.e., to reduce work demands versus to maintain relationships) influences well-being outcomes. We found that the use of technology to reduce work demands was associated with employees’ reporting a greater sense of control at work and subsequently, better wellbeing outcomes (lower burnout and higher thriving). These benefits of purposeful technology use to reduce work demands were stronger for employees living with MHC compared to employees not living with MHC. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications for workplace technology research, sociotechnical systems theory, and the design of more supportive digital work environments.


Authors:

Ryan Cheng, The University of Sydney (Presenting Author)
Helena Nguyen, The University of Sydney
Karyn Wang, The University of Sydney
James Donald, The University of Sydney
Mina Askovic, The University of Sydney
Anya Johnson, The University of Sydney
Arian Kunzelmann, Edith Cowan University
Anu Jolly, University of Western Australia
Sharon Parker, Curtin University